VIC · Bass Coast Council

Cape Woolamai, 3925

Est. population · Jun 2025

2,448

Growth (1 yr)

+2.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+13.2%

Median age

43

Median income

$1,471/wk

Employment rate

57.1%

University qualified

22.5%

Work from home

20.3%

Languages at home

5.5%non-English

Most common: Italian, Greek, French

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

43.8/100
Average

807th in VIC

Verified 87% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Beach
  • Green suburb
What Cape Woolamai is known for: Beach, Green suburb

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Cape Woolamai, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Cape Woolamai, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/cape-woolamai

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Suburb profile

Cape Woolamai is a coastal town in Victoria, in Bass Coast Council. It is close to the Phillip Island and Cape Woolamai State Faunal Reserve.

Recorded road crashes are a relative strength, with recorded road crashes 84% below the peer median, and reported crime is lower than in most comparable places. Reported offences have fallen 25% year on year, and green cover is an exceptional strength, well above typical levels for coastal towns, and population growth is an exceptional strength. Park access is thinner than in comparable places, with park access 48% below the peer median.

Overall, Cape Woolamai suits people prioritising lower crime over open space.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in Victoria (105)

Strengths

  • Recorded road crashes are a relative strength
  • Reported crime is lower than in most comparable places
  • Green cover is stronger than in comparable places
  • Population growth is a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Park access is thinner than in comparable places

What stands out

  • Cape Woolamai Beach
  • Woolamai Back Beach
  • Phillip Island
  • Cape Woolamai State Faunal Reserve
  • Cape Woolami

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Cape Woolamai compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$340/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

2,448

+2.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

52.3%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#9

among Coastal & beach · Emerging

Crime rate

23rd

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

87th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

22%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
43.8/100 — Average
National rank
3426th in Australia
State rank
807th in VIC
Peer rank
#9 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#91 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
87%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

2,448(June 2025)

+2.0% annual · +13.2% over 5 years · 87th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.0%
5-year growth
+13.2%
Change in 1 year
+48
Change in 5 years
+285
Growth rank in VIC
87th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~2,850), extrapolated at +3.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
2,301
Median age
43
Median household income / week
$1,471
Dwelling vacancy
52.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
898 of 1,717
Median monthly mortgage
$1,500
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$340
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
37.8% / 40.3% / 21.9%
Employment rate
57.1%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
20.3% / 0% / 60.4%
Walked or cycled to work
2.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
721 / 87 / 9

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

22.5% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 20.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified22.5% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified9.5% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational20.2% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below47.8% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Engineering and related technologies14.6%
  • Education14.3%
  • Society and culture13.7%
  • Management and commerce13.6%
  • Architecture and building11.9%
  • Health10.7%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$49,740

33rd percentile in VIC · -15% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$54,734

32nd percentile in VIC · -16% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
16.0%

78th percentile in VIC · +16% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$104,366

81st percentile in VIC · +65% vs Australia

Residents with business income
15.0%

85th percentile in VIC · +44% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3925 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
2,856
Taxpayers reporting net rent
456
Median net rent
$538
Taxpayers reporting business income
424
Taxable income vs state median
-7%
Salary / wages vs state median
-6%
Rental investment vs state median
+23%
Super vs state median
+30%
Business income vs state median
+36%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in VIC, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

5.5% speak a language other than English at home; 15% born overseas

Language at home
1,918 English only · 111 other
Non-English at home
5.5%
Born overseas
304 (15%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
26 (1.1%)
Australian citizens
1,960
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
5

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Italian12 · 38.7%
  • Greek8 · 25.8%
  • French4 · 12.9%
  • German4 · 12.9%
  • Croatian3 · 9.7%

Religion

54.9%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 54.9%, while Christianity accounts for 29.4%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion54.9%38.8%
Christianity29.4%40.9%
Other / not stated15.6%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic12.7%20.5%
Anglican8.3%6.5%
Christian (not further defined)2.1%2.5%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
70
Against the person
26
Against property
35
Rate per 1,000 residents
28.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 88 residents
State crime-rate percentile
23.3th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-32.7%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
8
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
3.27

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault6
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft4
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle6
  • Other Crimes Against The Person6
  • B49 Other Theft9

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

School list
School catchments
  • Bass Coast CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Newhaven Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

  • Victorian designated neighbourhood zones — Victorian Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published

Public transport

7 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Cape Woolamai/Phillip Island Rd
  • Cape Woolamai/Phillip Island Rd
  • Corona Rd/Woolamai Beach Rd
  • Goldensands Rd/Woolamai Beach Rd
  • Ocean Rch/Woolamai Beach Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

40 mapped amenities

1 cafes · 10 beaches

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
13/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.43
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.43
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.3
Food & drink(1)
  • Woolamai Beach cafeCafe
Sport & outdoors(14)
  • BBQ
  • AnzacsBeach
  • Aussie TrackBeach
  • Beach (2)
  • MagiclandsBeach
  • Mannings LaunchBeach
  • No DogsBeach
  • SpeediesBeach
  • The ColonnadesBeach
  • Woolamai Back BeachBeach
  • Phillip Island Bike PathCycling route
  • Public toilets
  • Cape Woolamai CircuitWalking trail
Entertainment(4)
  • Viewpoint (4)
Transport(1)

1 bus stops

Other(8)
  • Bench (5)
  • Information
  • Anzacs Beach ParkingParking
  • Parking (4)
  • Picnic Table (4)
  • Shelter
  • Shower (2)
  • Waste Basket (2)

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Sporting clubs

1 named sporting club in this suburb

  • Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club

    Surf Life Saving · +61 467 475 263

Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap sporting clubs — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Geofabrik australia-latest.osm.pbf

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
16.7%
Woodland / forest cover
15.9%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
8
Parks (OSM)
3
Typical summer maximum
24°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Wonthaggi Hospital (21.9 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
1

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Aged-care services
  • Nurse Next Door Bass CoastCAPE WOOLAMAIHome Care

Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
58
Participants per 1,000 residents
23.7

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
24° / 13°
Rainfall
155 mm · ~19 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 11°
Rainfall
186 mm · ~23 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
203 mm · ~25 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 9°
Rainfall
207 mm · ~26 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

30 planning-related records

2021· 15 proposals
  • September 2021

  • Development of land for a dwelling in the BMO1
    159 VISTA DRIVE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • August 2021

  • Additions to an existing dwelling in the BMO1
    99 TAMPA ROAD CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for two dwellings in the GRZ
    3 SECOND AVENUE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Erection and display of an internally illuminated, promotional sign
    1 VISTA PLACE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925NOD issued by a delegate
  • July 2021

  • Amendment to plans Original preamble - Alterations and additions to the existing dwelling in DDO1
    26 MAROUBRA DRIVE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Two lot subdivision and development of the land for a second dwelling
    4-6 MAROUBRA DRIVE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925NOD issued by a delegate
  • Development a dwelling exceeding 7m in the BMO and DDO1
    124 TAMPA ROAD CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Refusal issued by a delegate
  • June 2021

  • Construct or carry out works associated with a dwelling in the BMO1
    16 COTTOSLOE AVENUE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for two dwellings on a lot in the GRZ
    80 PANORAMA DRIVE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Removal of four trees in the VPO2
    96 PANORAMA DRIVE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2021

  • Development of land for a dwelling over 7 metres in DDO1 and HO180
    45 GROFAM COURT CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • April 2021

  • Subdivision of land into 2 lots
    12 Second AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Works on the Forrest Caves boardwalk comprising of screw piles and support beams
    FORREST CAVES BOARDWALK CONNECTING MAIN CARPARK TO THE BEACH CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2021

  • Buildings and works associated with a rooftop deck
    48 Beresford DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • January 2021

  • Variation to a registered building envelope PS716641T
    6 HOMESTEAD MEWS CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority
2020· 15 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Development of land for a dwelling in the BMO1
    26 Second AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • November 2020

  • Development of land for a dwelling in the BMO1
    27 Bunya DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with the construction of a dwelling - Amendment to plans
    43 BRIDGEVIEW DRIVE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for a second dwelling in the GRZ1 and BMO1 and removal of native vegetation
    39 SECOND AVENUE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Development of land for dwelling in DDO1 and BMO1
    12 BUNYA DRIVE CAPE WOOLAMAI 3925NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • October 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two lots
    11 First AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • September 2020

  • Development of land for a dwelling
    5 Bunya DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for verandah in association with dwelling
    8 Tampa RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • August 2020

  • Alterations and additions to an existing dwelling in a BMO2
    16 Beresford DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into two (2) lots in GRZ1
    5 Milton StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2020

  • Development of land for a dwelling in BMO1
    151 Woolamai Beach RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2020

  • Development of the land for dwelling BMO1
    30 Bunya DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • March 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two lots
    55 Pinedale AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • January 2020

  • Development of land for a dwelling and associated outbuilding in the BMO
    108 The EsplanadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for a second dwelling in GRZ1
    11 First AvenueNOD issued by a delegate

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • WOLLOMAI HOUSENH0666

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Heritage listings as established streetscape

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping. Flood cover uses inundation overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Monash
Member of Parliament
Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,463
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.2 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 17.4 km away).

Coalition 48.9%Labor 51.1%

5.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: 0.0 pp

Nearest polling places

  • San RemoLabor 40.4% · Coalition 59.6% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
  • NewhavenLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
  • RhyllLabor 55.4% · Coalition 44.6% TPP (2025)9.5 km away
  • KilcundaLabor 53.9% · Coalition 46.1% TPP (2025)11.5 km away
  • BassLabor 45.9% · Coalition 54.1% TPP (2025)12.5 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Bass Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.