Median house price
$853k
+12% change
VIC · Mount Alexander Council
Chewton, 3451
Est. population · Jun 2025
792
Growth (1 yr)
+1.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.3%
Median age
51
Median income
$1,245/wk
Employment rate
51.1%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$852,500
Languages at home
3.3%non-English
Most common: French
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Heritage area
- Education hub
Suburb profile
In Mount Alexander Council, Chewton keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Desirability lands around average here: softer parks and green space, plus community and employment weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with growth momentum, plus schools and education holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Chewton snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
792
+1.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.7%
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
#82
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
36th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
73rd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
89th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
- 43.0/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3252nd in Australia
- State rank
- 648th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #82 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #223 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $852,500
- Median price change
- +12%
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
792(June 2025)
+1.1% annual · +3.3% over 5 years · 73th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.1%
- 5-year growth
- +3.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +9
- Change in 5 years
- +25
- Growth rank in VIC
- 73th 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 (~850), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 763
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,245
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 32 of 366
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,517
- Employment rate
- 51.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 330 / 0 / 0 (+ 6 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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)
- 31
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 11
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 39.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 191 residents
- State safety percentile
- 36th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -51.6%
Most common offence types
- A81 Dangerous Driving2
- B21 Criminal Damage3
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception4
- D12 Prohibited And Controlled Weapons Offences3
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order10
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,119
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 89th
School list
- Chewton Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1119 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 54 students · Top SEA quarter 53% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
9 public transport stops in this suburb
- Adelaide St/Main Rd
- Adelaide St/Main Rd
- Loddon Prison/Hitchcock St
- Pitman St/Main Rd
- Town Hall/Main Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 9 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 14/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.31
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Swimming pool (2)
Other(3)
- Drinking water
- Chewton H86 Bushland ReserveNature Reserve
- Chewton H8A Bushland ReserveNature Reserve
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Chewton H86 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Chewton H8A Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Chewton Soldiers Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Castlemaine Health (6.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 30
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 37.9
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 27° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 115 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 133 mm · ~17 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 180 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 172 mm · ~22 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Heritage
11 heritage places
- ARCHBOLD GOLD TREATMENT WORKSNH1351
- CASTLEMAINE DIGGINGS NATIONAL HERITAGE PARKNH2047
- CEMETERY REEF GULLY CEMETERYNH1412
- CHEWTON RAILWAY PRECINCTNH1780
- CHEWTON TOWN HALLNH1015
- COBBLERS GULLY GOLD PUDDLING SITENH1249
- COBBLERS GULLY QUARTZ ROASTING SITENH1277
- FORMER CHEWTON POST OFFICENH1014
- GARFIELD WATERWHEEL QUARTZ GOLD MINING SITENH1356
- MONSTER MEETING SITENH2368
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Bendigo
- Member of Parliament
- Lisa CHESTERS (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 120,088
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +51.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.9 km away).
Coalition 21.2%Labor 78.8%
27.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +78.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- ChewtonLabor 80.8% · Coalition 19.2% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- CastlemaineLabor 78.0% · Coalition 22.0% TPP (2025)5.5 km away
- Campbells CreekLabor 66.4% · Coalition 33.6% TPP (2025)5.8 km away
- ElphinstoneLabor 53.2% · Coalition 46.8% TPP (2025)5.8 km away
- Castlemaine NorthLabor 84.8% · Coalition 15.2% TPP (2025)5.9 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Mount Alexander Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.