suburb.guide

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%

University qualified

24.3%

Work from home

16.5%

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

46.8/100
Average

653rd in VIC

Verified 95% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Agricultural
  • Holiday parks
  • Rural living
What Dunkeld is known for: Green suburb, Agricultural, Holiday parks, Rural living

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

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Suburb profile

Dunkeld is a rural locality in Victoria, in Southern Grampians Council. It is close to Mount Sturgeon and Mt Murdadjoog.

Local amenities are a relative strength, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities. Everyday destinations are relatively walkable. Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median, and open-space access is better than in most comparable places. The main trade-offs are weaker population growth and household incomes, with population growth 109% below the peer median.

Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising local amenities and school quality over population growth.

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

Rural locality · compared with rural localities in Victoria (1828)

Strengths

  • Local amenities are a relative strength
  • Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median
  • Everyday destinations are relatively walkable
  • Open-space access is better than in most comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Population has been growing more slowly than in comparable places, or declining
  • Household incomes are a relative weakness

What stands out

  • Mount Sturgeon
  • Mt Murdadjoog
  • Mt Abrupt
  • Mt Wurgarri
  • Mt Sturgeon

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Dunkeld compares

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

Median house price

$523k

+19% change

Median rent (Census)

$220/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

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

#175

among Country & regional · Mature

Crime rate

16th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

45th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

25%

2021 Census tenure

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
46.8/100 — Average
National rank
2680th in Australia
State rank
653rd in VIC
Peer rank
#175 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#305 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
95%

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 (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

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
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$220
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
52.9% / 22.1% / 25%
Employment rate
62.8%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
16.5% / 0% / 58.4%
Walked or cycled to work
12%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
280 / 8 / 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

24.3% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 18.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified24.3% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified11.7% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational18.2% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below45.7% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

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

  • Agriculture and environment22.1%
  • Education17.7%
  • Management and commerce12.4%
  • Health10.6%
  • Engineering and related technologies10.3%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services8%
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)
$44,837

12th percentile in VIC · -24% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$50,370

14th percentile in VIC · -23% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
16.0%

80th percentile in VIC · +16% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$90,312

64th percentile in VIC · +43% vs Australia

Residents with business income
13.0%

73rd percentile in VIC · +25% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3294 — 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
653
Taxpayers reporting net rent
107
Median net rent
$2,890
Taxpayers reporting business income
85
Taxable income vs state median
-16%
Salary / wages vs state median
-14%
Rental investment vs state median
+23%
Super vs state median
+12%
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

27.7% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 12.0× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.1% across Victoria.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing
27.7%

74th percentile in VIC · +1104% vs Australia

Resident workers (2021)
99
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462

Postcode 3294

Occupation mix in this industry

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

  • Managers57
  • Labourers19

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 3294 (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 Warrnambool and South West (SA4 217), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.

  • Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12132,501
  • Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 84151,483
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214640
  • Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211414
  • Crop Farmers ANZSCO 1212140
  • Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 841368
  • Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 841266
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 841665
  • Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 841963
  • Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110

Warrnambool and South 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: 358 · AFF share +1219% 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

3.4% speak a language other than English at home; 8.6% born overseas

Language at home
630 English only · 22 other
Non-English at home
3.4%
Born overseas
55 (8.6%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
10 (1.5%)
Australian citizens
631

Religion

48.5%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 48.5%, while 42.4% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion42.4%38.8%
Christianity48.5%40.9%
Other / not stated9%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic18.5%20.5%
Anglican9.9%6.5%
Uniting Church6.1%2.4%
Lutheran4.1%0.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed3.5%1.4%
Christian (not further defined)2.6%2.5%

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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
15
Against the person
3
Against property
10
Rate per 1,000 residents
22.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 229 residents
State crime-rate percentile
16.4th (higher = more crime)
No change (daily rate)
0%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
16
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
23.67

Most common offence types

  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft2
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception2
  • A232 Non-Fv Common Assault1
  • A83 Throw Or Discharge Object Endangering People1
  • Other Crimes Against The Person1

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

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
1,046
Median ICSEA percentile
67th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
2
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
2
School list
  • Dunkeld Consolidated SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1046 · 67th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 77 students · Top SEA quarter 22%View on My School →
School catchments
  • Baimbridge CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Dunkeld Consolidated SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Lake Bolac CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Penshurst 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

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Information Centre/Glenelg Hwy
  • Information Centre/Glenelg Hwy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

7 mapped amenities

1 caravan parks · 1 campgrounds

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
Sport & outdoors(4)
  • Dunkeld to Mt Sturgeon Discovery TrailCycling route
  • Back Creek Nature Conservation ReserveNature reserve
  • Dunkeld to Mount Sturgeon Discovery TrailWalking trail
  • The PiccaninnyWalking trail
Camping & holiday parks(2)
  • Mt Sturgeon Rest AreaCampground
  • Dunkeld Caravan ParkCaravan park

    58-68 Parker Street, Dunkeld

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. 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

Sporting clubs

2 named sporting clubs in this suburb

  • Grampians Golf Club

    Golf

  • Grampians Golf Club

    Golf

Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap sporting clubs — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Geofabrik australia-latest.osm.pbf

Parks & reserves

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Back Creek Nature Conservation ReserveNature reserve
  • Dunkeld ArboretumPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0.2%
Woodland / forest cover
0.1%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
10
Parks (OSM)
2
Typical summer maximum
24°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

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
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).

  • Dunkeld PharmacyPharmacy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

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

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 (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).

9 planning-related records

2021· 4 proposals

  • May 2021

  • buildings and works to construct a dwelling and removal of a River Red Gum
    18-20 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 Subdivision
    PARKER 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 works
    135 FAIRBURN STREET DUNKELD 3294Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct a dwelling and outbuilding
    38 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 dwelling
    66-68 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

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • LOCK-UPNH1535

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Heritage listings as established streetscape

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated

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
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

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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

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.