Council (LGA) · Area profile
Gannawarra
3,738 km²
A car-dependent lifestyle defines daily life in Gannawarra, where most residents live in large detached houses and rely on their own vehicles. This is a notably older community, with a typical resident aged 51 and nearly a third of the population aged 65 or over. With a population of 10,683 and a landscape dominated by separate houses, the area feels sparsely populated and quiet. Low rental rates and a high proportion of outright home ownership suggest a stable, long-term resident base.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with the typical resident aged 51 and 30.3% of people aged 65 or over. Children under 15 make up only 15.6% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 5.6% of people born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Scottish, and Irish ancestries are the most common beside Australian.
English is the dominant language, with only 2.4% of people using another language at home. This is far below the Victorian average of 27.6%.
Religious affiliation is split, with 48.6% of people identifying as Christian and 40.6% reporting no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 18 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas; only 29.9% of residents completed Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with the typical household earning $1,071 a week. Only 7.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are very common, affecting 36.5% of people, which is well above the national figure of 27.7%. About 7.4% of people need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is much higher here than in most areas, with 22.9% of people pitching in. Unpaid care is also common, with 14.5% of people providing support to others.
First Nations people make up 2.5% of the population. Typical personal income for this group is $465 per week, which is a little below the national figure.
Homes tend to be small in size, with only 2.2 people per home. This is consistent with the fact that 33.2% of people live alone, which is well above the national average.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (93.7%) and high rates of outright ownership at 51.3%. Typical weekly rent is just $195, far below the national figure of $375.
Car use is essential, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, with 36% of households owning two cars.
The population is relatively stable, with only 29.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
Working or looking for work is much less common here than in most areas, at 50.5%. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 22.2% of the workforce.
The area has an overall advantage score of 3 out of 10, which is lower than most similar areas. Population growth has also been negative since 2021, falling by 2.9%.
The environment is drier than the state average, with annual rainfall of 396mm, well below Victoria's 510mm. Summer temperatures are a little higher than the state average.
The area is quite safe, with a recorded offence rate of 5,364 per 100,000 people, which is much lower than in most other areas.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.9. Only 49.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far below the state average of 74%.