VIC · Bass Coast Council

Kilcunda, 3995

Est. population · Jun 2025

616

Growth (1 yr)

+2.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.3%

Median age

55

Median income

$1,412/wk

Employment rate

51.9%

University qualified

26.5%

Work from home

23.1%

Languages at home

5.2%non-English

Most common: Spanish, German

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

45.1/100
Average

739th in VIC

Verified 85% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Beach
  • Green suburb
  • Agricultural
What Kilcunda is known for: Beach, Green suburb, Agricultural

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Suburb Guide, “Kilcunda, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/kilcunda

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Suburb profile

Kilcunda is a coastal town in Victoria, in Bass Coast Council. The Phillip Island is part of the surrounding geography.

Open-space access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns. Population growth is an exceptional strength, and university qualifications are a relative strength, with university qualifications 24% above the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The main trade-offs are thinner dining and café options and higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population, with recorded road crashes 38% above the peer median.

Overall, Kilcunda suits people prioritising open space and university qualifications.

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

Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in Victoria (105)

Strengths

  • Open-space access is exceptionally strong
  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • University qualifications are a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Dining and cafés are a relative weakness
  • Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated

What stands out

  • Kilcunda East Beach
  • Kilcunda West 1 Beach
  • Phillip Island
  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Kilcunda compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$315/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

616

+2.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

35.8%

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

#50

among Coastal & beach · Mature

Crime rate

46th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

89th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

13%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

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

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
45.1/100 — Average
National rank
3085th in Australia
State rank
739th in VIC
Peer rank
#50 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#85 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

616(June 2025)

+2.2% annual · +14.3% over 5 years · 89th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.2%
5-year growth
+14.3%
Change in 1 year
+13
Change in 5 years
+77
Growth rank in VIC
89th 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 (~700), extrapolated at +2.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
578
Median age
55
Median household income / week
$1,412
Dwelling vacancy
35.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
129 of 360
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$315
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
50% / 37.5% / 12.5%
Employment rate
51.9%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
23.1% / 0% / 55.8%
Walked or cycled to work
3.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
231 / 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

26.5% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 16% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified26.5% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified9.6% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational16% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below47.9% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

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

  • Management and commerce20.1%
  • Education16.7%
  • Engineering and related technologies13.6%
  • Health11.7%
  • Society and culture11.7%
  • Architecture and building9.1%
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)
$46,125

18th percentile in VIC · -21% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$51,346

16th percentile in VIC · -21% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
10.0%

22nd percentile in VIC · -27% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$72,014

39th percentile in VIC · +14% vs Australia

Residents with business income
13.0%

67th percentile in VIC · +25% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3995 — 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
6,844
Taxpayers reporting net rent
708
Median net rent
$74
Taxpayers reporting business income
860
Taxable income vs state median
-14%
Salary / wages vs state median
-12%
Rental investment vs state median
-23%
Super vs state median
-10%
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

9.6% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 4.2× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.1% across Victoria.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing
9.6%

47th percentile in VIC · +317% vs Australia

Resident workers (2021)
25
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462

Postcode 3995

Occupation mix in this industry

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

  • Managers19

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 3995 (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 Latrobe - Gippsland (SA4 205), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.

  • Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12135,481
  • Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415940
  • Crop Farmers ANZSCO 1212417
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214382
  • Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211370
  • Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412228
  • Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419184
  • Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 8413112
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 841624
  • Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110

Latrobe - Gippsland 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: 260 · AFF share +357% 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

5.2% speak a language other than English at home; 18.5% born overseas

Language at home
510 English only · 28 other
Non-English at home
5.2%
Born overseas
97 (18.5%)
Australian citizens
513
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
2

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Spanish4 · 57.1%
  • German3 · 42.9%

Religion

49.7%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 49.7%, while Christianity accounts for 39.1%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion49.7%38.8%
Christianity39.1%40.9%
Other / not stated11.2%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic18.7%20.5%
Anglican9.9%6.5%
Presbyterian and Reformed2.2%1.4%
Uniting Church2.1%2.4%

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)
30
Against the person
4
Against property
18
Rate per 1,000 residents
48.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 144 residents
State crime-rate percentile
45.7th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+76.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
18
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
29.22

Most common offence types

  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle4
  • C32 Drug Possession4
  • B311 Residential Aggravated Burglary3
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft4
  • B49 Other Theft3

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
  • Bass Coast CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Powlett River Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • San Remo 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

Public transport

4 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Peppermint Rd/Bass Hwy
  • Peppermint Rd/Bass Hwy
  • Peppermint Rd/Bass Hwy
  • Peppermint Rd/Bass Hwy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

28 mapped amenities

6 beaches · 1 caravan parks

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 4 parks mapped in suburb
Walkability proxy
6/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
6.92
Sport & outdoors(15)
  • Kilcunda East BeachBeach
  • Kilcunda West 1 BeachBeach
  • Kilcunda West 2 BeachBeach
  • Powlett River EastBeach
  • Powlett River WestBeach
  • Shelly BeachBeach
  • Bass Coast Rail TrailCycling route
  • Kilcunda Trestle BridgeCycling route
  • Kilcunda Coal-mine Historic and Cultural Features ReserveNature reserve
  • Kilcunda Coastal ReserveNature reserve
  • Park
  • Picnic area
  • Public toilets
  • Sports field
  • George Bass Coastal WalkWalking trail
Camping & holiday parks(1)
  • Kilcunda Ocean View Holiday RetreatCaravan park

    3560 Bass Highway, Kilcunda

Entertainment(2)
  • Viewpoint (2)
Other(3)
  • Bench (3)
  • Parking (6)
  • 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. 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

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
1.3%
Woodland / forest cover
0.6%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
13
Parks (OSM)
4
Typical summer maximum
25°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
Wonthaggi Hospital (9.9 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public 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)
20
Participants per 1,000 residents
32.5

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
25° / 12°
Rainfall
197 mm · ~25 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 9°
Rainfall
228 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 5°
Rainfall
261 mm · ~33 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 7°
Rainfall
304 mm · ~38 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).

20 planning-related records

2021· 8 proposals
  • September 2021

  • Development of land for a dwelling in the ESO4 and SLO1
    32 MABILIA ROAD KILCUNDA 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2021

  • Subdivision of land into two lots in the Township Zone
    6 HILL STREET KILCUNDA 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with the construction of a dwelling, shed and ancillary works within the Environmental Significance overlay ¿ schedule 4 and Significant Landscape Overlay ¿ schedule 1
    10 SHANTY LANE KILCUNDA 3995NOD issued by a delegate
  • June 2021

  • Subdivision of land into two lots in TZ
    2 BONWICK COURT KILCUNDA 3995NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • May 2021

  • Subdivision of land into two lots in TZ
    5 GRUBER STREET KILCUNDA 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • April 2021

  • Subdivision of land into 104 lots in the Township Zone, General Residential zone and Design and Development Overlay involving associated roadworks in the Farming Zone and Transport Zone and the removal of native grasses under Clause 52.17 `native vegetation¿
    ADVERSE POSSESSION, 35 MESSMATE ROAD KILCUNDA 3995In progress
  • March 2021

  • Development of land for two dwellings on a lot in GRZ1, ESO4 and SLO1
    3 Warren ParadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into 7 lots
    9 THE CORSOIT KILCUNDA 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 12 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Subdivision of land into 2 lots in TZ
    9 The CorsoitNOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Alter access to a Road Zone Category 1 and remove native vegetation under Clause 52.17
    BASS HIGHWAY KILCUNDA 3995NOD issued by a delegate
  • October 2020

  • Removal of native vegetation
    Bass Coast Shire - Rail Trail Mgt Committee, Bass HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for Garage in RLZ and RO
    41 Hakea RoadWithdrawn
  • August 2020

  • Development of land for an outbuilding (shed) in ESO4 and SLO1
    2-8 Connor PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into 2 lots
    12-14 Peppermint RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2020

  • Development of the land for a dwelling in the SLO1 and ESO4
    2a Rees StreetNOD issued by a delegate
  • May 2020

  • Construct a dwelling in a Significant Landscape Overlay Schedule 1 (SLO1) - Amendment to plans
    3275 Bass HighwayPermit issued by the RA
  • Development of land for a detached extension to an existing dwelling in the RLZ
    1 Bellevue CourtWithdrawn
  • March 2020

  • Subdivision of land into four (4) lots, conduct works and remove vegetation
    3382-3384 Bass HighwayNOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • February 2020

  • Subdivision of land into 3 lots and 1 common property in TZ
    3 Blackburn RoadNOD issued by a delegate
  • January 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two lots
    14 Messmate RoadNOD issued by a delegate

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
Monash
Member of Parliament
Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,463
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.2 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 16.0 km away).

Coalition 46.0%Labor 54.0%

8.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -1.4 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • KilcundaLabor 53.9% · Coalition 46.1% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
  • DalystonLabor 54.6% · Coalition 45.4% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
  • BassLabor 45.9% · Coalition 54.1% TPP (2025)8.8 km away
  • WonthaggiLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)8.9 km away
  • Wonthaggi NorthLabor 53.8% · Coalition 46.2% TPP (2025)9.3 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)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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

This suburb ranks highly for

More in Bass Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.