Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Colac Otway Council
Forrest, 3236
Est. population · Jun 2025
253
Growth (1 yr)
+1.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.6%
Median age
52
Median income
$1,091/wk
Employment rate
52.2%
Languages at home
4.5%non-English
Most common: Arabic, Japanese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- National parks
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Colac Otway Council, Forrest 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. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Homes are neither a bargain nor a premium buy against the wider market.
Reported crime has been rising recently. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer growth momentum relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Forrest snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
253
+1.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
35.2%
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
#387
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
49th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
75th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
51st
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
- 20.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6649th in Australia
- State rank
- 1232nd in VIC
- Peer rank
- #387 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #706 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
253(June 2025)
+1.2% annual · +1.6% over 5 years · 75th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.2%
- 5-year growth
- +1.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +4
- Growth rank in VIC
- 75th 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 (~250), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 257
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,091
- Dwelling vacancy
- 35.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 50 of 142
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,509
- Employment rate
- 52.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 93 / 0 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 13
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 51.4
- State safety percentile
- 49th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +44.4%
Most common offence types
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary1
- B49 Other Theft2
- C32 Drug Possession4
- E13 Resist Or Hinder Officer2
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order2
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
- 1,009
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 51th
School list
- Forrest Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1009 · 51th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 30 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.5 km awayView 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
- Forrest General Store/Birregurra - Forrest Rd
- Turner Dr/Birregurra -Forrest 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
4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 4 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
- 15.56
Community(1)
- Forrest Primary SchoolSchool
10-12 Grant Street
Other(3)
- Tiger Rail TrialInformation
- Parking
- Shelter
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Forrest CommonPark
- Souther Trails - Forrest MTB ParkPark
- Yaugher Trails - Forrest MTB ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 13
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- Nearest hospital
- Colac Area Health (21.4 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)
- 4
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 15.8
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
- 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· 2 proposals
March 2021
- Construction of a Dwelling and Associated Works50 STATION STREET FORREST 3236Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Change to Liquor Licence73 GRANT STREET FORREST 3236Withdrawn
2020· 2 proposals
December 2020
- Building and Works Comprising Extension and Alteration of Dwelling23 Grant StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Building and Works Comprising Extension and Alterations to Dwelling140 Thompsons TrackPermit 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
- Overlay applies
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 23.6 km away).
Coalition 35.9%Labor 64.1%
25.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +64.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- ForrestLabor 64.5% · Coalition 35.5% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Gellibrand RiverLabor 53.3% · Coalition 46.7% TPP (2025)14.5 km away
- ElliminytLabor 36.5% · Coalition 63.5% TPP (2025)19.8 km away
- Deans MarshLabor 62.6% · Coalition 37.4% TPP (2025)20.1 km away
- BirregurraLabor 49.4% · Coalition 50.6% TPP (2025)20.8 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)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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.