Urban Centre · Area profile
Newlands Arm
2 km²
A far older population than the state average defines Newlands Arm, where the typical resident is 61. The community is predominantly made up of seniors, with those aged 65 and over making up 42.8% of the population. This shift has accelerated since 2011, as the area has become a haven for retirees and older adults. Most residents live in large, detached houses and enjoy a quiet, car-dependent lifestyle in East Gippsland.
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The area is significantly older than most, with a typical age of 61 and a huge proportion of seniors. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 11.4% of the population, which is well below the national figure.
While 76.3% of residents were born in Australia, the proportion of overseas-born people rose 11 points since 2011 to reach 15.6%. English is the most common ancestry at 49.6%.
English is spoken by 94.3% of the community, and the proportion of people using another language at home is lower than in most areas at 2.9%.
A high number of residents claim no religion, accounting for 49.2% of the population. This figure has risen by 27 points since 2011 and is far above the national average.
Higher education levels have increased, with 14.8% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, those who completed Year 12 are far below the state average at 35.1%.
Typical weekly incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the usual family earning $1,244. Only 6.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are very common here, affecting 43% of residents—a rate far above the national average. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 15.2%.
Many residents spend significant time on housework, with 31.7% doing 15 or more hours a week. There is also a notably high proportion of former Defence Force members at 6.6%.
Most homes are occupied by couples without children, who make up 55.3% of families. Households are generally smaller than average, with typically 2.2 people per home.
Housing is dominated by large, detached homes, with 87.7% having three or more bedrooms. A striking 65.4% of these homes are owned outright, far above the state average.
The community is almost entirely reliant on cars, as 0.0% of people commute using public transport. Almost every home has a vehicle, and 45.9% own two or more.
The area has seen significant movement, with 40.3% of residents moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas have fallen to 2.6%.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 38.2%. The unemployment rate is also much higher than the national figure at 9.9%.
The area is very car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.7. While 89.9% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, there are no schools or health services within that distance.