Median house price
$523k
+19% change
VIC · Southern Grampians Council
Dunkeld, 3294
Est. population · Jun 2025
676
Growth (1 yr)
+0.1%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.1%
Median age
48
Median income
$1,309/wk
Employment rate
62.8%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$522,500
Languages at home
3.4%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
In Southern Grampians Council, Dunkeld keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Housing costs sit in a more approachable middle band than nearby premium pockets.
Reported crime has been falling recently. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
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
Dunkeld snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
676
+0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
16.6%
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
#69
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
8th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
45th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
67th
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
- 43.9/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3083rd in Australia
- State rank
- 624th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #69 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #204 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $522,500
- Median price change
- +18.8%
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
676(June 2025)
+0.1% annual · -0.1% over 5 years · 45th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.1%
- 5-year growth
- -0.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- -1
- Growth rank in VIC
- 45th 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 (~650), extrapolated at -0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 688
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,309
- Dwelling vacancy
- 16.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 58 of 350
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,083
- Employment rate
- 62.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 280 / 8 / 0
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)
- 9
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 13.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 229 residents
- State safety percentile
- 7.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -47.1%
Most common offence types
- A232 Non-Fv Common Assault1
- A83 Throw Or Discharge Object Endangering People1
- B11 Cause Damage By Fire1
- B21 Criminal Damage1
- Other Crimes Against The Person1
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
- 1,046
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 67th
School list
- Dunkeld Consolidated SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1046 · 67th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 77 students · Top SEA quarter 22%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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Information Centre/Glenelg Hwy
- Information Centre/Glenelg Hwy
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb
- Walkability proxy
- 3/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.91
Other(1)
- Waste Transfer 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
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Back Creek Nature Conservation ReserveNature reserve
- Dunkeld ArboretumPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 10
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Western District Health Service - Penshurst (23.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Dunkeld PharmacyPharmacy
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)
- 16
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 23.7
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
- 24° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 112 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 164 mm · ~20 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 251 mm · ~31 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 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).
9 planning-related records
2021· 4 proposals
May 2021
- buildings and works to construct a dwelling and removal of a River Red Gum18-20 Victoria Valley RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construct a building and construct and carry out works (dwelling and carport)44 Wills StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Two (2) Lot SubdivisionPARKER STREET DUNKELD 3294Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Use and development of a second dwelling (temporary)(amendment condition)697 Old Ararat RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 5 proposals
December 2020
- Use and Development of the land for Group Accommodation and associated works135 FAIRBURN STREET DUNKELD 3294Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Buildings and works to construct a dwelling and outbuilding38 Taylor StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Removal of native vegetation.Victoria Valley RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- buildings and works to extend dwelling66-68 Taylor StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a new emergency services facility (SES)67-69 Parker StreetPermit 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
Heritage
1 heritage place
- LOCK-UPNH1535
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 34.7 km away).
Coalition 65.6%Labor 34.4%
4.7 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +34.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- DunkeldLabor 34.8% · Coalition 65.2% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
- GlenthompsonLabor 26.2% · Coalition 73.8% TPP (2025)15.6 km away
- PenshurstLabor 24.4% · Coalition 75.6% TPP (2025)25.4 km away
- TarringtonLabor 31.4% · Coalition 68.6% TPP (2025)27.3 km away
- Hamilton NorthLabor 36.5% · Coalition 63.5% TPP (2025)31.6 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)
- 6/10
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 Southern Grampians Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.