3293, VIC

The community is far older than the national figure, with 23.5% of people aged 65 and over. While the population is growing, children under 15 make up only 15.2%, which is well below the Australian average.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 88.4% born here. This is far below the national trend for overseas births, and the population is primarily of English, Australian, and Scottish descent.

English is the primary language for 94.3% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home is much lower than in most other areas, and no one reported speaking little or no English.

About 41.4% of residents report no religion, a figure that has risen by 19 points since 2011. This puts the area slightly above the state and national figures for non-religious residents.

Qualifications have risen since 2011, with 17.9% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many residents have backgrounds in agriculture and the environment, which is consistent with the local industry.

Typical household incomes are well below the national figure, at $1,256 per week. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more weekly has risen by 12 points over the last decade.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are particularly high, affecting 14% of the population.

This is a highly active community where 29.6% of people volunteer, a figure far above the national average. Unpaid care is also very common, with 20.4% of residents providing support to others.

Many residents live alone, accounting for 36.7% of households, which is far above the national average. Families tend to be small, with an average of 2.2 people per home.

Housing is very stable, with 50.4% of homes owned outright—far above the national figure. Almost all dwellings are separate houses, and 84.9% have three or more bedrooms.

The area is entirely car-dependent, as 100% of homes own at least one vehicle and no one commutes via public transport. Interestingly, 30.8% of the workforce now works from home, up 14 points since 2011.

Movement into the area is moderate, with 32.9% of residents having moved in the last five years. This is well below the state and national averages for migration.

Employment is dominated by agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which employ 55.6% of the workforce. The area has a very strong job market with a 0.0% unemployment rate.

While residents generally have high job skills, the area ranks in the middle for overall advantage and access to money and resources compared to similar regions.

The area is highly car-dependent with a walkability score of 1.9. There are no schools, grocery stores, or health services within a 15-minute walk for any resident.