Median house price
$540k
+6.9% change
VIC · Hepburn Council
Clunes, 3370
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,827
Growth (1 yr)
+0.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+0.1%
Median age
51
Median income
$1,037/wk
Employment rate
43.6%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$540,000
Languages at home
3.5%non-English
Most common: Italian, Mandarin, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Clunes is a regional smaller community in Hepburn Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Melbourne. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. There are enough cafés and casual dining options to keep weekends interesting without the inner-city crush.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, and buses help with longer trips. Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range.
Reported crime has been falling recently. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Desirability rates good overall, led by growth momentum, plus schools and education, while community and employment land closer to the middle of the pack for similar regional towns.
At a glance
Clunes snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
1,827
+0.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
18.3%
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
#17
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
28th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
66th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
37th
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
- 55.6/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 29% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 1483rd in Australia
- State rank
- 359th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #17 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #65 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 91%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $540,000
- Median price change
- +6.9%
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
1,827(June 2025)
+0.9% annual · +0.1% over 5 years · 66th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.9%
- 5-year growth
- +0.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +17
- Change in 5 years
- +2
- Growth rank in VIC
- 66th 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 (~1,850), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,844
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,037
- Dwelling vacancy
- 18.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 178 of 975
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,127
- Employment rate
- 43.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 759 / 10 / 3 (+ 23 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)
- 59
- Against the person
- 16
- Against property
- 33
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 32.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 115 residents
- State safety percentile
- 27.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -28.9%
Most common offence types
- A231 Fv Common Assault4
- B21 Criminal Damage6
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle5
- B49 Other Theft12
- Other Crimes Against The Person4
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
- 978
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 37th
School list
- Clunes Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 978 · 37th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 96 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 0.4 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Clunes and District Pre-Schoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
7 public transport stops in this suburb
- Butcher Shop/Service St
- Butcher Shop/Service St
- Clunes Railway Station
- Clunes Station
- Clunes Station/Ballarat Maryborough 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
70 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 3 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 2 places of worship · 2 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Great for outdoor family life — 7 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 63/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 1.63
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 3.25
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.8
Food & drink(6)
- O'Hara's Bakery CafeCafe
- Rose and OakCafe
53 Fraser Street, Clunes
- Widow TwankeysCafe
- Clunes Top ShopFast food
64 Talbot Road, Clunes
- National HotelPub
- CriterionRestaurant
52 Fraser Street, Clunes
Shopping(3)
- Clunes Greener GrocerGreengrocer
- IGASupermarket
Community(5)
- Clunes Neighbourhood HouseCommunity centre
70 Bailey Street, Clunes
- Clunes Senior Citizen's CenterCommunity centre
- Clunes and District Pre-SchoolKindergarten
- Clunes Primary SchoolSchool
1 Canterbury Street
- Clunes Town HallTownhall
Health & services(1)
- Pharmacy
Sport & outdoors(12)
- Dog park
- Collins PlacePark
- Esmond ParkPark
- Park
- PinetumPark
- Queens ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Clunes Bowling ClubSports centre
- Neil (Bull) Millgate OvalSports field
- Sports field
- Clunes Swimming PoolSwimming pool
Entertainment(4)
- Clunes MuseumMuseum
- Lee Medlyn Bottle MuseumMuseum
70 Bailey Street, Clunes
- The WarehouseMuseum
- Clunes (Gold Town)Viewpoint
Other(32)
- Art
55 Fraser Street, Clunes
- Bendigo BankBank
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (4)
- Biergarten
- Books
- Car repair
- Clunes Caravan ParkCaravan Site
- Hillcrest Apartment ClunesChalet
9 Hill Street, Clunes
- Drinking water
- Clunes Fire StationFire station
- Fountain
- TimmermansFurniture
67 Fraser Street, Clunes
- Timeless HarmonyGift
- Keebles B&BGuest House
- Sonder HouseGuest House
3 Creswick Road, Clunes
- The Dukes B&BGuest House
- Information (3)
- Clunes MotelMotel
46 Talbot Road, Clunes
- Clunes Neighbourhood HouseParking
- Parking
- Valley of Gold Service StationPetrol station
7 Service Street, Clunes
- Picnic Table (3)
- St PaulsPlace of worship
84 Bailey Street, Clunes
- Wesley College ChapelPlace of worship
- Clunes Police StationPolice
2 Hannah Street, Clunes
- Post Box
- Post office
- Public toilets
- Hepburn ShireSanitary Dump Station
- Wesley College Clunes CampusSchool Camp
14 Service Street
- Shelter
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
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Clunes Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Collins PlacePark
- Esmond ParkPark
- Lothair mine reservePark
- PinetumPark
- Queens ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
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
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- St Pauls
84 Bailey Street, Clunes
- Wesley College Chapel
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Creswick Hospital and Nursing Home (17.3 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)
- 49
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 26.8
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
6 heritage places
- CLUB HOTELNH0341
- CLUNES POST OFFICENH0601
- CLUNES TOWN HALL AND COURT HOUSENH2180
- FORMER ES&A BANKNH0340
- FORMER ST PAULS CHURCH OF ENGLAND CLUNESNH1859
- HAMLIN PIPE ORGANNH1858
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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
- Ballarat
- Member of Parliament
- Catherine KING (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 116,238
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.3%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 39.3%Labor 60.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 26.2 km away).
Coalition 45.2%Labor 54.8%
5.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -6.0 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- ClunesLabor 54.8% · Coalition 45.2% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- LearmonthLabor 44.3% · Coalition 55.7% TPP (2025)16.2 km away
- Creswick NorthLabor 60.6% · Coalition 39.4% TPP (2025)16.7 km away
- CreswickLabor 64.3% · Coalition 35.7% TPP (2025)18.1 km away
- Miners RestLabor 59.6% · Coalition 40.4% TPP (2025)21.2 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
More in Hepburn Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.