Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Colac Otway Council
Colac West, 3250
Est. population · Jun 2025
191
Growth (1 yr)
-0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
-1.6%
Median age
30
Median income
$1,474/wk
Employment rate
70.7%
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
In Colac Otway Council, Colac West keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. It sits well away from Melbourne, trading metro convenience for space and a slower regional pace. Young professionals and new households shape much of the local mix, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Open space is thinner than in many comparable suburbs, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.
Housing sits in the middle of the local market: neither cheap nor premium. Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period.
At a glance
Colac West snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
191
-0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
0.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
70th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
2nd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
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
Population
Estimated resident population
191(June 2025)
-0.5% annual · -1.6% over 5 years · 2th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.5%
- 5-year growth
- -1.6%
- Change in 1 year
- -1
- Change in 5 years
- -3
- Growth rank in VIC
- 2th 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 (~200), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 89
- Median age
- 30
- Median household income / week
- $1,474
- Dwelling vacancy
- 0%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 0 of 32
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 70.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 25 / 0 / 0 (+ 3 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)
- 16
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 83.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 15 residents
- State safety percentile
- 69.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -57.9%
Most common offence types
- A212 Non-Fv Serious Assault2
- A732 Non-Fv Threatening Behaviour1
- A89 Other Dangerous Or Negligent Acts Endangering People2
- B49 Other Theft5
- E13 Resist Or Hinder Officer2
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
Public transport
1 public transport stops in this suburb
- Colac Caravan Park/Corangamite Lake 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
8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 playgrounds · 3 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Decent local green space — 0 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 2/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Sport & outdoors(1)
- Playground
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(6)
- Colac FordCar
- Colac Caravan ParkCaravan Site
- West Vic ShedsGarden Centre
- BPPetrol station
- LibertyPetrol station
- Petrol station
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Colac Area Health (3.6 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)
- 9
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 47.1
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).
4 planning-related records
2021· 1 proposal
August 2021
- Use and Development of Land for Service Station (Excluding the Installation of Motor Vehicle Accessories or Parts), Alteration of Access to a Road in a Road Zone Category 1, Display of Pylon Sign and Business Identification Signs, Removal of Native Vegetation, Re-Subdivision of Land and Creation of Carriageway Easement494 PRINCES HIGHWAY COLAC WEST 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 3 proposals
December 2020
- Use and Development of Land for Service Station (Excluding the Install ation of Motor Vehicle Accessories or Parts), Alteration of Access to a Road in a Road Zone Category 1, Display of Pylon Sign and Business Identification Signs, Removal of Native Vegetation, Re-Subdivision of Land and Creation of Carriageway Easement494 PRINCES HIGHWAY COLAC WEST 3250Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and Works Comprising Construction of Store and Surfacing of S ite, and Use as Car Park Ancillary to 5 Rossmoyne Road10 Rossmoyne RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Construction of a Store and Display of Business Identification Sign3-5 Tracey CourtPermit 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
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 20.9 km away).
Coalition 58.8%Labor 41.2%
2.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +41.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Colac WestLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
- Colac EastLabor 42.0% · Coalition 58.0% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
- ElliminytLabor 36.5% · Coalition 63.5% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
- CororookeLabor 33.4% · Coalition 66.6% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
- WarrionLabor 25.6% · Coalition 74.4% 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- 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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
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.