VIC · West Wimmera Council

Douglas, 3409

Est. population · Jun 2025

72

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

-5.3%

Median age

46

Median income

$1,874/wk

Employment rate

76.8%

University qualified

21.4%

Work from home

36.4%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Agricultural
  • Country town
What Douglas is known for: Agricultural, Country town

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Douglas, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Douglas, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/douglas-vic

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Suburb profile

Douglas is a regional town in Victoria, in West Wimmera Council. It is mainly residential, with little in the way of a distinct commercial centre or landmark identity.

Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked regional towns, and working from home is more common than in comparable places, with working from home 104% above the peer median, and university qualifications are a relative strength, with university qualifications 56% above the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. Trade-offs centre on weaker population growth and thinner local amenities, with local amenities 36% below the peer median.

Douglas's appeal is better explained by housing, access and location than by a strong standalone precinct or destination.

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

Regional town · compared with regional towns in Victoria (187)

Strengths

  • Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
  • Working from home is more common than in comparable places
  • University qualifications are a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Population growth is a relative weakness
  • Local amenity access is relatively limited

What stands out

  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Housing, growth and risk

How Douglas compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

72

0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

27.3%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

39th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

14th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

0%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

9/10

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

72(June 2025)

0.0% annual · -5.3% over 5 years · 14th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
0.0%
5-year growth
-5.3%
Change in 1 year
0
Change in 5 years
-4
Growth rank in VIC
14th 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 (~50), extrapolated at -0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
74
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$1,874
Dwelling vacancy
27.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
9 of 33
Median monthly mortgage
$0
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
81% / 19% / 0%
Employment rate
76.8%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
36.4% / 0% / 22.7%
Walked or cycled to work
6.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
26 / 0 / 0

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

21.4% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 16.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified21.4% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified7.1% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational16.1% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below55.4% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

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

  • Health35.3%
  • Agriculture and environment23.5%
  • Engineering and related technologies23.5%
  • Education17.6%
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)
$52,395

45th percentile in VIC · -11% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$45,468

4th percentile in VIC · -30% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
14.0%

59th percentile in VIC · +1% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$86,027

58th percentile in VIC · +36% vs Australia

Residents with business income
13.0%

66th percentile in VIC · +25% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3409 — 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
631
Taxpayers reporting net rent
88
Median net rent
$1,478
Taxpayers reporting business income
81
Taxable income vs state median
-2%
Salary / wages vs state median
-22%
Rental investment vs state median
+8%
Super vs state median
+7%
Business income vs state median
+18%

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

Seasonal & agricultural work

72.7% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 31.6× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.1% across Victoria.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing
72.7%

98th percentile in VIC · +3061% vs Australia

Resident workers (2021)
32
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462

Postcode 3409

Occupation mix in this industry

2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.

  • Managers22

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 3409 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.

Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)

Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for North West (SA4 215), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.

  • Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12132,133
  • Crop Farmers ANZSCO 12121,933
  • Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415800
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214769
  • Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412685
  • Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211504
  • Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419195
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8416194
  • Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 841319
  • Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110

North West is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.

Census employed residents counted in G54: 44 · AFF share +3362% vs the state.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb

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

  • WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
  • Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0

Community & culture

4.4% born overseas

Language at home
67 English only · 0 other
Non-English at home
0%
Born overseas
3 (4.4%)
Australian citizens
66

Religion

62.2%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 62.2%, while 27% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion27%38.8%
Christianity62.2%40.9%
Other / not stated10.8%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Uniting Church40.5%2.4%
Catholic16.2%20.5%

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 increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
3
Against the person
0
Against property
1
Rate per 1,000 residents
41.7
State crime-rate percentile
38.8th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+200%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
2
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
27.78

Most common offence types

  • B49 Other Theft1
  • D11 Firearms Offences2

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
  • Balmoral K-12 Community CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Edenhope CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Goroke P-12 CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Natimuk 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

Amenities

9 mapped amenities

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Sport & outdoors(9)
  • Bitter Swamp Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • Greens Swamp Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • Harrow Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Lake Coyrahilla (Copper Colour) Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • McGlashin Swamp Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • North, Centre and other Lakes Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • Swannee Lake Lake ReserveNature reserve
  • Ti Tree Swamp Wildlife Reserve (no hunting)Nature reserve
  • White Lake, Douglas Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature 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. 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

Parks & reserves

7 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bitter Swamp Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • Greens Swamp Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • Harrow Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Lake Coyrahilla (Copper Colour) Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • McGlashin Swamp Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
  • Ti Tree Swamp Wildlife Reserve (no hunting)Nature reserve
  • White Lake, Douglas Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
0
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
27°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
Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital (37.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

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

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
2
Participants per 1,000 residents
27.8

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

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° / 11°
Rainfall
86 mm · ~11 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 8°
Rainfall
138 mm · ~17 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 4°
Rainfall
220 mm · ~28 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 7°
Rainfall
178 mm · ~22 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).

2 planning-related records

2021· 1 proposal
  • April 2021

  • Development of a Telecommunications Facility
    2049 Harrow-Clear Lake RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 1 proposal
  • September 2020

  • Development of Farm Shed within 100m of a designated waterway
    2106 Harrow-Clear Lake RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
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
Mallee
Member of Parliament
Anne WEBSTER (The Nationals)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
121,604
Turnout (2025)
91.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-0.1 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 69.0%Labor 31.0%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 56.8 km away).

Coalition 75.2%Labor 24.8%

6.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -1.5 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • HarrowLabor 22.5% · Coalition 77.5% TPP (2025)17.5 km away
  • EdenhopeLabor 28.4% · Coalition 71.6% TPP (2025)36.9 km away
  • NatimukLabor 26.7% · Coalition 73.3% TPP (2025)38.9 km away
  • GorokeLabor 16.7% · Coalition 83.3% TPP (2025)41.6 km away
  • HavenLabor 27.4% · Coalition 72.7% TPP (2025)53.2 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

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 West Wimmera Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.