Urban Centre · Area profile
Dunkeld
6 km²
Walking to local shops and health services is a common part of daily life in Dunkeld, where most homes are within a short stroll of essential amenities. The community is far older than the state or national average, with a typical resident aged 50 and a high proportion of seniors. It is a small, predominantly Australian-born settlement of 511 people that has seen its population shrink by 19% since 2011. This shift towards an older, more settled population is reflected in a high rate of home ownership and a strong spirit of volunteering.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with 31.1% of residents aged 65 or over, a figure that has risen 6.4 points since 2011. The population is small and has shrunk by 19% over the last decade.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 7.2% born overseas, which is far below the Victorian average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the primary language for 90.8% of residents, and only 3.1% use another language at home. Consistent with the low overseas birth rate, no residents reported speaking little or no English.
A large proportion of the community identifies as having no religion, at 42.7%, which is well above the national figure. This has risen by 12 points since 2011, while Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 47.7%.
The area has seen a significant rise in qualifications since 2011, with 52.7% of adults completing Year 12. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 22.2% of adults, which is much higher than in similar areas.
Typical weekly family incomes are $1,854, which is a little below the state average. While 12.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, the typical personal weekly income of $687 is slightly lower than the national figure.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 32.3% of people, which is well above the national figure. However, only 3.1% of residents need help with daily activities, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
Volunteering is exceptionally high here, with 42.1% of people pitching in—far above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid housework is also more common than in most similar areas.
Homes here are smaller than usual, with a typical size of 2.1 people. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, who make up 35.1% of households.
A high 46.3% of homes are owned outright, far above the state average. Rent is much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly cost of $220, and most homes are separate houses.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 61.5% of workers driving to work. No one in the community uses public transport to commute, and 8.3% work from home.
The population is very stable, as only 28% of people have moved in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals make up 10.8% of the community.
The unemployment rate is very low at 1.2%, far below the state average. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, fishing, or the hospitality sector.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 87.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and groceries. However, very few homes are within walking distance of a school.