Median house price
$520k
+13% change
VIC · Colac Otway Council
Colac, 3250
Est. population · Jun 2025
8,165
Growth (1 yr)
-0.2%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.6%
Median age
44
Median income
$1,108/wk
Employment rate
52.1%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$520,000
Languages at home
8.4%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Samoan, Nepali
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
Suburb profile
In Colac Otway Council, Colac keeps a rural calm, a established suburb with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible. Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads around average on desirability, chiefly because local dining and lifestyle amenities trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Colac snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
8,165
-0.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.0%
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
#29
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
87th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
3rd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
24th
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
- 52.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 34% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 1897th in Australia
- State rank
- 421st in VIC
- Peer rank
- #29 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #92 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $520,000
- Median price change
- +13%
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
8,165(June 2025)
-0.2% annual · -0.6% over 5 years · 3th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.2%
- 5-year growth
- -0.6%
- Change in 1 year
- -18
- Change in 5 years
- -48
- Growth rank in VIC
- 3th 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 (~8,300), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 9,243
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,108
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 384 of 4,256
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,213
- Employment rate
- 52.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 3,326 / 488 / 0 (+ 46 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)
- 1,320
- Against the person
- 201
- Against property
- 600
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 161.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 46 residents
- State safety percentile
- 87.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -13.1%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage98
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle82
- B43 Steal From A Retail Store92
- B49 Other Theft120
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order207
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
- 7
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 948
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 24th
School list
- Colac Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 946 · 23th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 164 students · Top SEA quarter 4%View on My School →
- Colac Secondary CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 955 · 27th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 476 students · Top SEA quarter 3%View on My School →
- Colac South West Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 948 · 24th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 129 students · Top SEA quarter 3%View on My School →
- Colac West Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 899 · 10th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 62 students · Top SEA quarter 2%View on My School →
- Lake Colac SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 933 · 19th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 82 students · Top SEA quarter 1%View on My School →
- St Mary's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1025 · 58th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 266 students · Top SEA quarter 12%View on My School →
- Trinity College ColacSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1015 · 54th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 744 students · Top SEA quarter 11%View 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
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Colac East Kindergartenkindergarten
- Millville Children’s CentreHart Streetchildcare
- Wydinia Kinderkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
58 public transport stops in this suburb
- Colac Railway Station
- Colac Station
- Colac Station/Gellibrand St
- Colac Station/Gellibrand St
- Polwarth St/Wallace St
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
13 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Ball Street ParkPark
- Donaldson Street ParkPark
- Eastern ReservePark
- Hugh Murray ReservePark
- Inglis Court ParkPark
- Lake Colac Bird SanctuaryNature reserve
- Lawrence Court ParkPark
- Memorial SquarePark
- Newcombe Estate ParkPark
- Robertson Street ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 18
- Parks (OSM)
- 13
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 8
- Nearest hospital
- Colac Area Health (3.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Chinese MedicineHesse StreetAlternative
- Colac Area HealthConnor StreetHospital
- Colac PharmacyMurray StreetPharmacy
- Corangamite ClinicMiller StreetClinic
- Frankly HealingHesse StreetAlternative
- Purely DentalMiller StreetDentist
- Theodore Podiatry GroupConnor StreetPodiatrist
- Vision RadiologyBromfield StreetDoctor
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)
- 326
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 39.9
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
- 26° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 128 mm · ~16 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 124 mm · ~16 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 149 mm · ~19 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 182 mm · ~23 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
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).
23 planning-related records
2021· 8 proposals
August 2021
- Part Demolition, Extension and Alterations to Dwelling, and Constructi on of Outbuilding37 QUEEN STREET COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use of the Land as a Place of Assembly, Reduction in Car Parking Requi rements from the Specified Rate, Display of One Business Identification Sign and External Alterations to Building51-57 DENNIS STREET COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Staged Subdivision of Land into Seven (7) Lots43-59 BRUCE STREET COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision40-42 BALNAGOWAN AVENUE COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Staged Seven (7) Lot Subdivision of Land Including the Creation of Com mon Property and an Easement (E-2 Drainage)120-126 JENNINGS STREET COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision65 Campbell StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Display of Three Business Identification Signs91-97 POUND ROAD COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Subdivision of the Land into Two (2) Lots108 Hart StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 15 proposals
December 2020
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings on a Lot and Associated Works4 TAYLOR COURT COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and Development of the Land for a Medical Centre and Display of Th ree Business Identification Signs28 HART STREET COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Display of Business Identification Signage and Internally Illuminated Sign (Retrospective)208 MURRAY STREET COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Development of Thirty-Six (36) Dwellings (Twelve (12) Existing) and th e Subdivision of Land to Create Four (4) Residential Allotments on Land covered by a Heritage Overlay and Reduction in Car Parking17 Balnagowan AvenueLapsed
- Use of Land for the Sale and Consumption of Liquor (Restaurant and Café Licence)9/140 Bromfield StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Subdivision of Land into Three (3) Lots, Creation of 3 Units and Creation of Access from Selwood Street98A Wilson StreetWithdrawn
- Construction of Eight (8) Dwellings and Nine (9) Lot Staged Subdivision62 Hart StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and Works Comprising Extension and Alterations to Medical Cen tre and Reduction in Parking from the Specified Rate (2 Spaces)42 Hart StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Use and Development of a Service Station and Car Wash, Construction of Five (5) Convenience Restaurant/Takeaway Food Premises, Reduction of Bicycle Requirements, Display of Internally Illuminated and Non-Illuminated Business Identification Signage, and Creation and Alteration of Access to a Road in a Road Zone Category 1309-315 Murray StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- Use of 21 Hart Street in Association with Childcare Centre at 23-27 Ha rt Street and Construction of Connecting Extension Between Buildings21 Hart StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and Works Comprising Alteration to Building Facade and Displa y of Business Identification Signage191-195 Murray StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of Warehouse, Reduction in Parking from the Specified Rat e, Creation of Carriageway Easement on Lot 2 PS 515111V (V/F: 10757/610) and Variation of Easement E-4 (Sewerage) on PC: 365138 (V/F: 10794/135)90-98 WALLACE STREET COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Building and Works Comprising Extension to Shop and Reduction in Parki ng from Specified Standard (Two Spaces)174 Hearn StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and Works Associated with Pergola Extension to Dwelling69A Murray StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Subdivision of the Land into Twenty Six (26) Lots and Associated Works54-72 TALBOT STREET COLAC 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
Roadworks & transport
2 active roadworks / incidents
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 10/01/2025 and 31/12/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Weekends 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Note that changed conditions may also be in place during 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Greater than 10 min.MURRAY STREET, MCLENNAN STREET09 Jan 2025 – 30 Dec 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 10/01/2025 and 31/12/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Weekends 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Note that changed conditions may also be in place during 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Greater than 10 min.MCLENNAN STREET, MURRAY STREET09 Jan 2025 – 30 Dec 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
2 heritage places
- COLAC BOTANIC GARDENSNH2259
- FORMER ADAM REA'S STORENH0433
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
- Wannon
- Member of Parliament
- Dan TEHAN (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,788
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 60.9%Labor 39.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 17.6 km away).
Coalition 59.6%Labor 40.4%
1.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +40.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Colac EastLabor 42.0% · Coalition 58.0% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
- Colac WestLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)4.0 km away
- ElliminytLabor 36.5% · Coalition 63.5% TPP (2025)5.8 km away
- CororookeLabor 33.4% · Coalition 66.6% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
- WarrionLabor 25.6% · Coalition 74.4% TPP (2025)9.8 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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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 Colac Otway Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.