Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Bairnsdale
63 km²
A strong presence of First Nations people sets Bairnsdale apart, with 6.1% of the population identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. This larger community is part of a population that is noticeably older than the national average, with over a quarter of residents aged 65 or over. The area is largely residential and dominated by detached houses, though many people live alone. Overall, it is a place where typical incomes are well below the state and national figures.
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Bairnsdale is an older community where the typical resident is 44, and 25.6% of people are seniors. This high number of older adults is consistent with the fact that many more residents here need help with daily activities compared to most other areas.
The area is predominantly Australian-born, with 80.3% of people born here. This means the proportion of overseas-born residents is far below the Victorian and national averages.
English is the main language for 85.7% of the community. While 6.4% of people use another language at home—which is higher than in similar areas—this is still far below the state and national figures.
Nearly half of the population (47.4%) reports having no religion, a figure that is well above both the Victorian and Australian averages.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 40.7% of residents completing Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%. This is reflected in the low proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher.
Typical incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the typical household earning $1,101 a week, well below the national figure of $1,746.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 36.1% of people living with a long-term health condition and 13% reporting a mental health condition.
Volunteerism is strong, with 16.5% of people volunteering, which is well above the state average. Additionally, a higher proportion of residents have served in the Defence Force compared to most areas.
Bairnsdale has a large First Nations community of 479 people. This group is noticeably younger than the state average, with a typical age of 21, though they face higher unemployment and lower school completion rates.
Living arrangements vary, with 37.5% of people living alone—far above the national figure—while one-parent families are also much more common than in most areas.
The housing market is dominated by separate houses (84.3%), and typical weekly rents are well below the national figure at $270. About 33.4% of households are renting, which is well above the state average.
Most people rely on cars to get to work, as only 0.3% commute via public transport. Working from home is also much less common here than in the rest of the state.
The community has seen significant movement, with 39.9% of people moving in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent arrivals from overseas.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas. Those who are employed often work in health care and social assistance, retail, or manufacturing.
The area is somewhat walkable, and most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school. However, far fewer people can walk to groceries or parks compared to the state average.