State Electorate · Area profile
Gippsland East (Eastern Victoria)
27,538 km²
A typical resident is 50 years old, making Gippsland East one of the oldest areas in the region. This community is marked by a significant increase in seniors and a low proportion of children. With very few people born overseas and a high rate of home ownership, it is a stable, predominantly Australian-born population. The area is largely car-dependent and rural, where a high number of residents are now retired or living alone.
Gippsland East (Eastern Victoria) is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The population is far older than the national figure, with 29% of residents aged 65 and over. This shift is stark, as the number of seniors rose 17 points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 fell by 5.6 points.
People born overseas make up 11% of the community, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. Most residents have English or Australian ancestry, and the proportion of overseas-born residents fell 5.6 points since 2011.
English is the primary language for 88.9% of people, and the share of those using another language at home is among the lowest in the country at 3.7%. Very few people, just 0.5%, speak little or no English.
A large portion of the community reports no religion, at 48.1%, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. This is a growing trend, with the number rising 15 points since 2011.
Schooling levels are much lower than most areas, with only 38.9% of residents completing Year 12. Similarly, the 13.5% of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,155 a week. Only 9.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is among the lowest for similar areas.
Health challenges are more common here, as 34.9% of people have a long-term health condition. The proportion of people needing help with daily activities is also much higher than most areas at 7.4%.
The area has a high rate of volunteers at 19.3%, well above the national figure. Unpaid care is also common, with 14.4% of people providing unpaid care, which is among the highest for similar areas.
Living alone is common, with 30.7% of people in single-person homes, far above the national figure of 25.6%. This is consistent with the older population, as homes have become smaller with only 2.3 people per dwelling.
Home ownership is very strong, with 47.4% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 91.7% of all dwellings.
Car use is essential, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, with 38.8% owning two and 15.1% owning three.
The community is relatively stable, with 35% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much lower than most areas at 8.1%.
Only 50.2% of adults are working or looking for work, a figure far below the national average of 61.1%. Full-time employment has also fallen, dropping 8.1 points since 2011.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.0, far below the state average of 6.4. Only 33.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities.