Urban Centre · Area profile
Apollo Bay
3 km²
Tucked away in the coast of Victoria, Apollo Bay is a growing seaside town with a strong appeal for retirees. It is far older than most Australian communities, with nearly 30% of residents aged 65 and over. This shift toward a senior population is reflected in the housing, where many people live alone and a high number own their homes outright. The town's character is marked by a relaxed pace, high levels of volunteering, and a significant number of residents who have no religious affiliation.
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The community is far older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 51. This aging trend is clear, as the proportion of people aged 65 and over rose 7.2 percentage points since 2011 to reach 29.0%.
People born overseas make up 17.7% of the population, which is much higher than most similar areas. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries reported.
While English is the main language, the number of people using another language at home rose 5.7 percentage points since 2011 to 9.9%. This is much higher than in similar areas, though still far below the state average.
Nearly half of the population (49.6%) report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This trend has grown significantly, rising 20 percentage points since 2011.
The community is more qualified than most similar areas, with 20.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Those who finished Year 12 also rose by 9.8 percentage points since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,130, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, typical incomes have risen across the board since 2011, with the typical family income increasing by $530.
The area has lower rates of people needing help with daily activities (4.8%) and mental health conditions (8.0%) than most similar areas. Arthritis is the most common long-term health condition reported.
Volunteering is very common here, with 23.5% of people helping out, which is far above the Victorian average. However, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid is well below the national figure.
Homes are typically small, with just 2.0 people per household. This is consistent with the fact that 41.2% of people live alone, a rate far above the national average.
The town is dominated by separate houses (79.8%), and 42.9% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Renting is also more common here than in similar areas.
Cars are the primary way to get around, as 0.0% of people commute by public transport. About 11.8% of the workforce works from home, which is higher than most similar areas.
The population is quite mobile, with 38.6% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 14.4% of the community, which is much higher than in similar areas.
Many people work in accommodation and food services (24.9%), but the number of full-time employees is far below the national average. Only 52.0% of adults are currently working or looking for work.
The town is somewhat walkable, with 97.8% of homes within a short walk of a park and 80.1% near health services. This is far above the state average for health service access.