State Electorate · Area profile
South-West Coast (Western Victoria)
5,886 km²
Low mortgage costs and high home ownership define the South-West Coast (Western Victoria). It is an older community where the typical resident is 44 and many people own their homes outright. While incomes are generally lower than the state and national figures, the area has seen a growing population and a rise in the number of high-earning households since 2016. It is a predominantly Australian-born region with a strong leaning toward independent living and detached housing.
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The area is noticeably older than the national average, with 22.2% of people aged 65 and over. The population grew by 5.1% since 2016 to reach 65,902 people.
Those born overseas make up only 9.0% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the only language used at home by 89.9% of residents. Only 4.1% use another language, which is far below the state and national averages.
A large number of residents report no religion, accounting for 44.4% of the population. This figure is well above the national average and has risen 12 points since 2016.
Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 44.6% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,408, which is a little below the national figure. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 6.5 points since 2016.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.2% of people. Arthritis and mental health are the most reported conditions.
Volunteering is much more common than in most areas, though it fell from 27.0% in 2016 to 19.3% in 2021. Unpaid care is also more frequent than the state average.
About 29.1% of people live alone, which is well above the national average. Most households consist of couples with children (52.8%) or couples without (31.8%).
Detached houses are very common at 88.0%, and 40.0% of homes are owned outright. Weekly rent is much lower than the national figure, typically costing $277.
The area relies heavily on cars, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. About 11.2% of the workforce now works from home, up from 5.6% in 2016.
The community is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to most areas. However, recent overseas arrivals are slightly more common than the national average.
Unemployment is very low at 3.3%, which is a little below the national figure. Health care and social assistance is the biggest industry for local workers.
The area is only somewhat walkable, and most residents live far from services. Only 30.5% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, far below the state average.