3289, VIC

The typical resident is 49, which is far older than the national figure of 38. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 24.4% of the population, a figure well above the national average, while the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is also higher than most areas at 4.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (6.3%) compared to the rest of the state. English, Scottish, and Irish ancestries are the most common among those with heritage from outside Australia.

English is the primary language here, with 93.4% of people speaking it only. The proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national figure, and no one in the area reported speaking little or no English.

Christianity is the most common religion at 57.8%. Those reporting no religion make up 34.7% of the population, which is well below the national figure, though this group has grown by 19 percentage points since 2011.

Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 12% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While 42.3% of residents finished Year 12, this is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,120, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.2% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this is an increase from 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.1% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 8.6% of residents need help with daily activities, which is higher than the national figure.

This is a highly active community, with 30.7% of people volunteering—a rate far above the national average. There is also a higher-than-usual proportion of former Defence Force members and people providing unpaid care.

Homes tend to be smaller in size, with only 2.3 people per home. A high proportion of residents live alone (32.9%), which is well above the national figure.

Housing is dominated by detached houses, and 51.8% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national average. Rents are also much lower than usual, with a typical weekly rent of $180.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, as no one reported commuting by public transport. However, working from home is much more common here than in most areas, accounting for 29.7% of workers.

The population is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the state average. There were no recent arrivals from overseas in the latest census.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 37.6% of the workforce. While full-time employment is slightly above the national figure, the overall rate of people working or looking for work is lower than most areas.

The area ranks lower than most other similar regions for overall advantage, with a score of 4 out of 10. This is consistent with the low typical incomes and lower levels of higher education seen across the community.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. While many homes are within walking distance of a park or school, no one lives within a 15-minute walk of groceries.