State Electorate · Area profile
Gippsland South (Eastern Victoria)
7,266 km²
Far older than the state and national averages, Gippsland South (Eastern Victoria) is a mature community where a quarter of residents are seniors. This rural region has a small population of 60,218 that has grown by 6.7% since 2011. It is a predominantly Australian-born area with very low cultural diversity and a high proportion of homeowners. The community is defined by a quiet, spacious character with a strong presence of retirees and volunteers.
Gippsland South (Eastern Victoria) is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The typical resident is 47, which is far older than the national figure of 38. People aged 65 and over make up 25.0% of the population, a figure that rose 3.3 points since 2011 and is well above the Victorian average.
The area is less diverse than most, with only 12.1% of people born overseas, which is far below the 30.0% seen in Victoria. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, together accounting for over 83% of the community.
English is the dominant language, spoken by 87.6% of residents. Only 4.3% use another language at home, a figure far below the state average of 27.6%.
Nearly half of residents (48.3%) report no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. This has been a significant trend, with the number rising 20 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 41.2% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. However, the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose 5.5 points since 2011 to reach 15.4%.
Typical weekly family incomes are $1,635, which is well below the national figure of $2,120. This lower income level is consistent with the region's education trends, though the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week rose 9.7 points since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 7.0% of residents need help with daily activities.
The community is highly active in unpaid work, with 19.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure of 14.1%. This high level of participation is mirrored in the 14.5% of people who provide unpaid care.
Homes tend to be smaller in size, with only 2.3 people per home, but a high 30.8% of people live alone. This is well above the national average and reflects the larger population of seniors.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 92.6% of all homes. Home ownership is very strong, with 44.8% of houses owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.3% of people commuting by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and 15.4% of the workforce works from home.
The population is relatively stable, with 35.9% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals are also rare at just 7.3%.
Working or looking for work is less common here, with only 53.6% of adults in the workforce, well below the national figure of 61.1%. Key industries include health care, agriculture, and construction.
The region is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.3, far below the state average of 6.4. Only 40.0% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed, meaning most people must drive for basic needs.