Urban Centre · Area profile
Leongatha
7 km²
A significant population drop of 44% since 2011 has reshaped Leongatha into a community with a much older feel. The typical resident is now 45, and there has been a sharp increase in seniors, who now make up 27.5% of the population. This shift is reflected in the homes, where outright ownership is far more common than the national figure. It is a place where many people are now retired or caring for others, creating a quiet residential character in South Gippsland.
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The area is noticeably older than the state and national average, with the proportion of people aged 65 and over rising 11 points since 2011 to reach 27.5%. Children under 15 make up 18.4% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure.
English and Australian ancestries are the most common, while only 10.9% of residents were born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%, though the proportion of overseas-born residents has risen slightly since 2011.
English is the main language for 89.5% of the community. While the share of people using another language at home has risen to 5.3%, this remains far below the national figure.
A large number of residents report no religion, accounting for 47.7% of the population. This is well above the national figure and represents a 20 point increase since 2011.
Qualifications have risen since 2011, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher climbing to 15%. However, this is still far below the state average of 29.2%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,170, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While typical incomes have risen since 2011, only 9.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 7.9% of residents need help with daily activities.
Community spirit is high, with 19.8% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. Unpaid work is also common, as 26.7% of people spend 15 or more hours a week on housework.
Living arrangements are varied, with 33.4% of people living alone, a figure well above the national average. One-parent families make up 16.2% of households, while the typical home holds 2.3 people.
The housing stock is dominated by separate houses, making up 94.8% of all homes. Outright ownership is far more common than in the rest of the country, with 43.8% of homes owned without a mortgage.
Cars are essential for most, as only 0.1% of people commute by public transport. Only 9.1% of the workforce works from home, which is far below the national figure of 21%.
The community has seen significant movement, with 40.3% of residents moving house in the last five years. However, the share of recent arrivals from overseas has fallen since 2011.
The local job market has a very low unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is a little below the national figure. Most people work in health care, construction, or retail.
The area is somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.8. Most residents can easily walk to a school or health service, but fewer are within a 15-minute walk of a park compared to the state average.