3464, VIC

The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with people aged 65 and over making up 23% of the population. Families are common here, as children under 15 represent 19.4% of residents, and de facto relationships have risen to 13.2% since 2011.

This is a very traditional area where 86.7% of people were born in Australia. Only 7% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the 30% seen across Victoria.

English is the primary language for 92.3% of the community. Very few people use another language at home (2.1%), and only 0.3% speak little or no English.

A shift toward secularism is evident, with the proportion of people reporting no religion rising 23 points since 2011 to reach 47.1%, well above the national figure.

Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 10.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While those who completed Year 12 rose to 39.4% by 2021, this remains far below the Victorian average of 61.8%.

Typical weekly household incomes are well below the state average at $1,205. While typical personal income rose by $190 since 2011 to reach $603, the area has far fewer high earners than most other regions.

Health challenges are more common here, with 35.7% of people living with a long-term condition—much higher than most areas. Arthritis (14.4%) and mental health (11.2%) are the most reported issues.

Residents are highly active in their community, with a volunteering rate of 20.8% that is well above the national average. Unpaid care is also common, as 16.9% of people provide support to others.

Homes tend to be larger, averaging 2.5 people, though nearly 30% of residents live alone. Couples with children make up the majority of households at 59.5%.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (94.4%), and many are owned outright. Rents are far below the state average, with a typical weekly cost of $223.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with a long 110-minute drive to the city and very few people using public transport. Almost every home has at least one vehicle, and 38.4% have two.

The population is relatively stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is much lower than most other areas. Recent overseas arrivals rose to 7.2% since 2011.

Fewer people are working or looking for work (55.1%) compared to the state average. The most common industries for local workers are health care, retail, and agriculture.

The area faces significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 20% of all regions for overall advantage and job skills.

Walking is impractical for most, as no homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services. This results in a walkability score of 2.0, meaning the community is mostly car-dependent.