Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Unincorporated Vic Council
French Island, 3921
Est. population · Jun 2025
133
Growth (1 yr)
-3.6%
Growth (5 yr)
0.0%
Median age
51
Median income
$1,015/wk
Employment rate
45.5%
Languages at home
12.7%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Education hub
Suburb profile
French Island offers a slower smaller community life in Unincorporated Vic, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.
Property prices are middling for the area: fair relative to what is nearby. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
At a glance
French Island snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
133
-3.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
53.3%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Pop. growth
0th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
36th
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
Population
Estimated resident population
133(June 2025)
-3.6% annual · 0.0% over 5 years · 0th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -3.6%
- 5-year growth
- 0.0%
- Change in 1 year
- -5
- Change in 5 years
- 0
- Growth rank in VIC
- 0th 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 (~150), extrapolated at +1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 141
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,015
- Dwelling vacancy
- 53.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 65 of 122
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,800
- Employment rate
- 45.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 56 / 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.
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 977
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 36th
School list
- Perseverance Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 977 · 36th percentile · Top SEA quarter 0%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
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- French Island (east) Reference AreaNature reserve
- French Island (north) Reference AreaNature reserve
- French Island G230 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- French Island Recreational ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 21
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- Hospital (15.7 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
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° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 155 mm · ~19 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 186 mm · ~23 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 203 mm · ~25 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 207 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).
2 planning-related records
2020· 2 proposals
July 2020
- Application to amend endorsed plans and to extend time of permit expiry.290 Mt Wellington RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- use and development of a camping and caravan park, associated vegetation removal and works in accordance with the plans.20 FARM ROAD FRENCH ISLAND 3921Refusal issued by a delegate
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
- Flinders
- Member of Parliament
- Zoe McKENZIE (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,540
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 54.8%Labor 45.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 23.3 km away).
Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%
6.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Crib PointLabor 51.6% · Coalition 48.4% TPP (2025)16.5 km away
- BitternLabor 53.4% · Coalition 46.6% TPP (2025)19.0 km away
- Hastings WestLabor 49.4% · Coalition 50.6% TPP (2025)19.1 km away
- HastingsLabor 50.3% · Coalition 49.7% TPP (2025)19.7 km away
- SomersLabor 64.9% · Coalition 35.1% TPP (2025)20.0 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
More in Unincorporated Vic Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.