# Gnarwarre

Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Located in: Victoria › Rest of Vic. › Surf Coast › 3221, VIC

Area: 69 km²

Tucked away in the Surf Coast region, Gnarwarre is a small, rural settlement where every single home is a separate detached house. It is a community of 297 people that feels more established than the state average, with a typical age of 43 and a high proportion of seniors. This is an affluent area with many large family homes and a well-qualified workforce, creating a quiet, residential character far from the city.

## Demographics & Identity

The community is older than the state and national figures, with over 21% of residents aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up 18.5% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 297 | -13.2% since 2011 |
| Median age | 43 yrs | -2.3% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 1.7% | +92.5% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 21.2% | +73.7% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 18.5% | +9.8% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 9.5% | +59.1% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 30.0%, Seniors (65+) 21.2%, Children (0–14) 18.5%, Young adults (25–44) 18.2%, Youth (15–24) 11.8%

**Marital status** — Married 57.0%, Never married 30.8%, Divorced 8.9%, Separated 3.8%, Widowed 1.7%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 9.1% of the population, a figure far below the national average. English, Scottish, and Irish ancestries are the most common heritages.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 9.1% | -5.8% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 82.8%, England 3.0%, New Zealand 1.7%

**Ancestry** — Australian 46.5%, English 44.4%, Scottish 14.5%, Irish 10.8%, German 7.1%, Dutch 4.4%

## Language

English is the primary language here, with 91.6% of people using it at home. Only 3.4% use another language, which is far below the Victorian average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 3.4% | -39.4% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.0% | — |

**Language used at home** — English only 91.6%

## Religion

Religious patterns are similar to the rest of the country, with 43.4% of residents identifying as Christians and 41.1% reporting no religion.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 41.1% | +71.3% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 43.4%, No religion 41.1%, Not stated 14.5%

## Education & Qualifications

The area is highly educated, with 61.6% of residents completing Year 12 and 25.3% holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is much higher than most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 61.6% | +24.7% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 25.3% | +16.9% since 2011 |
| Schools within 3 km | 0 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 61.6%, Year 10 16.4%, Year 11 11.4%, Year 9 or below 5.0%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 32.3%, Bachelor degree 21.9%, Advanced diploma / diploma 20.6%, Postgraduate degree 11.6%, Graduate diploma / certificate 5.2%, Certificate I / II 3.2%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 18.7%, Engineering & related 14.8%, Education 10.3%, Agriculture & environment 9.7%, Health 9.0%, Society & culture 8.4%, Architecture & building 7.7%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.2%, Creative arts 4.5%, Natural & physical sciences 3.9%, Information technology 2.6%

## Income

Gnarwarre is quite wealthy, with 35.5% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, far above the national figure. Typical household incomes are also well above those in Victoria and Australia.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $768 | +27.4% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $2,187 | +84.2% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,139 | +55.6% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 14.8% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 35.5% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 24.7%, $4,000 or more 22.6%, $650–$1,499 20.4%, $3,000–$3,999 12.9%, Under $650 11.8%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 41.4%, $650–$1,499 27.8%, $1,500–$2,999 16.5%, $3,000 or more 6.8%

## Health & Disability

Residents generally enjoy good health, as those with long-term health conditions (21.5%) and mental health conditions (5.4%) are both well below the state and national averages.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 21.5% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 5.4% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 3.7% | +39.5% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Asthma 7.1%, Other condition 5.7%, Mental health 5.4%, Arthritis 4.7%, Heart disease 4.4%, Cancer 4.0%, Diabetes 3.7%, Lung condition 1.0%, Stroke 1.0%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 70.7%, One condition 16.2%, Two conditions 3.4%, Three or more 3.0%

## Community Participation

Volunteering is common here, with 19% of people helping out, well above the state average. A higher than usual 26.2% of people also spend 15 or more hours a week on unpaid housework.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 19.0% | -27.0% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 6.3% | -43.4% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 22.4% | -28.5% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.0% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 26.2% | -12.7% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations residents are far younger than the state average, with a typical age of just 11. Their household and personal incomes are also far above the national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 5 | — |
| First Nations median age | 11 yrs | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $3,250 | — |
| First Nations household income | $4,750 | — |

## Family & Households

Homes are larger than usual, with 3.0 people per household and very few people living alone. About 58% of households consist of couples with children.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 3.0 | +7.1% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 14.0% | +180.2% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 8.6% | -25.9% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 58.0%, Couples without children 26.8%, One-parent families 14.0%

**Household size** — 2 people 41.9%, 4 people 19.4%, 3 people 16.1%, 5 people 11.8%, 1 person 8.6%, 6 or more 4.3%

## Housing & Dwellings

Housing is dominated by large, detached homes, with 89.2% having three or more bedrooms. While 46.2% of homes are owned outright, those with mortgages pay typical monthly payments well above the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $390 | +73.3% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $2,500 | -11.3% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 6.5% | -61.0% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 46.2% | +2.3% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 100.0% | +0.0% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 89.2% | +0.8% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 46.2%, Owned with a mortgage 35.5%, Rented 6.5%, Other tenure 3.2%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 100.0%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 37.6%, 4 bedrooms 37.6%, 5 or more 14.0%, 2 bedrooms 5.4%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 50.0%, $550–$749 50.0%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 24.2%, $1,800–$2,999 24.2%, $3,000 or more 18.2%

## Transport & Vehicles

The area is entirely car-dependent, as every home has at least one vehicle and no one commutes by public transport. About 19.7% of the workforce operates from home.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 0.0% | — |
| People working from home | 19.7% | +0.7% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.0% | -100.0% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 0 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 0.00 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 0.0 | — |
| Public transport routes | 0 | — |
| Drive time to the city (min) | 72 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 60.5%, Worked at home 19.7%, Car (passenger) 2.7%, Walked 2.0%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 45.6%, 3 vehicles 21.1%, 4 or more 18.9%, 1 vehicle 4.4%

## Migration & Movement

The population is relatively stable, with 31.9% moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. However, recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.8% of the community.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 31.9% | +14.1% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 14.8% | — |

## Jobs & Industry

The workforce is centered on management, professionals, and labourers, with a strong presence in agriculture and construction. The unemployment rate is 2.7%, which is lower than most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% | -11.0% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 62.9% | -12.5% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 52.4% | -11.3% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Agriculture, forestry & fishing 15.0%, Construction 11.6%, Retail trade 10.2%, Health care & social assistance 10.2%, Education & training 9.5%, Wholesale trade 7.5%, Manufacturing 6.8%, Professional & technical 6.1%, Accommodation & food 4.1%, Administrative & support 2.0%, Public administration & safety 2.0%, Other services 2.0%

**Occupations people work in** — Managers 27.9%, Professionals 17.7%, Labourers 17.7%, Technicians & trades 10.2%, Community & personal service 8.2%, Clerical & administrative 6.8%, Machinery operators & drivers 6.1%, Sales workers 3.4%

## Walkability

The area is completely car-dependent with a walkability score of 0.3. There are no shops, schools, or health services within a 15-minute walk, and no public transport stops available.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 0.3 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 0.3 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 0.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 0.0% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 0.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 0.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 32.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 0.0% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 26.9 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 0 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 5.8% | — |

## Nearby areas

[Murgheboluc](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL21835/murgheboluc) · [Buckley](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL20369/buckley) · [Mount Moriac](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL21805/mount-moriac) · [Barrabool](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL20151/barrabool) · [Stonehaven](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL22361/stonehaven) · [Moriac](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL21762/moriac) · [Gheringhap](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL20990/gheringhap) · [Bannockburn](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL20133/bannockburn)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL21050/gnarwarre