VIC · South Gippsland Council

Kongwak, 3951

Est. population · Jun 2025

211

Growth (1 yr)

+0.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.4%

Median age

48

Median income

$1,625/wk

Employment rate

66.8%

Languages at home

1.9%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

35.1/100
Below average

901st in VIC

Verified 70% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Kongwak is known for: Green suburb, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Kongwak is a quieter smaller community in South Gippsland Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. 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.

There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market.

Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. 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 local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Kongwak snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

211

+0.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

23.5%

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

#197

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

23rd

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

53rd

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

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
35.1/100 — Below average
National rank
4658th in Australia
State rank
901st in VIC
Peer rank
#197 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#424 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

211(June 2025)

+0.5% annual · +2.4% over 5 years · 53th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.5%
5-year growth
+2.4%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
+5
Growth rank in VIC
53th 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 (~200), extrapolated at +0.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
207
Median age
48
Median household income / week
$1,625
Dwelling vacancy
23.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
23 of 98
Median monthly mortgage
$1,727
Employment rate
66.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
72 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian 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)
6
Against the person
0
Against property
6
Rate per 1,000 residents
28.4
State safety percentile
23.1th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-40%

Most common offence types

  • B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary1
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft1
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
  • B45 Receiving Or Handling Stolen Goods1
  • B49 Other Theft2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
1,009
Median ICSEA percentile
51th
School list
  • Kongwak Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1009 · 51th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 32 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Community(1)
  • Kongwak Primary SchoolSchool

    1445 Korumburra-Wonthaggi Road

Sport & outdoors(1)
  • Sports field
Other(2)
  • Kongwak CFAFire station
  • Public toilets

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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
8
Parks (OSM)
0

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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Gippsland Southern Health Service - Korumburra (13.5 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
7
Participants per 1,000 residents
33.2

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 (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 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· 5 proposals
  • September 2021

  • Development associated with existing dwelling (extension)
    1188 KORUMBURRA-WONTHAGGI ROAD KONGWAK 3951Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works (milking shed) in a FZ
    468 INVERLOCH-KONGWAK ROAD KONGWAK 3951Withdrawn
  • Development ancillary to a Dwelling [shed extension] - See 2021/342 logged on twice
    1190 KORUMBURRA-WONTHAGGI ROAD KONGWAK 3951No permit required
  • Building and works associated with existing dwelling
    1205 BENA-KONGWAK ROAD KONGWAK 3951Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works associated with agriculture
    1192 KORUMBURRA-WONTHAGGI ROAD KONGWAK 3951NOD issued by a delegate
2020· 4 proposals
  • August 2020

  • Use and development of land for dwelling in FZ and alteration to Road Zone
    Korumburra-Wonthaggi RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2020

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    1188 Korumburra-Wonthaggi RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • April 2020

  • Develop land with a single dwelling
    1065 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • March 2020

  • Development of land for a dwelling
    1065 Bena-Kongwak RoadWithdrawn

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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 overlaysState 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 15.3 km away).

Coalition 58.5%Labor 41.5%

4.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -1.3 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • KongwakLabor 41.5% · Coalition 58.5% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
  • BenaLabor 36.7% · Coalition 63.3% TPP (2025)11.4 km away
  • KorumburraLabor 46.6% · Coalition 53.4% TPP (2025)12.5 km away
  • KernotLabor 40.6% · Coalition 59.4% TPP (2025)13.6 km away
  • InverlochLabor 55.9% · Coalition 44.1% TPP (2025)14.0 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

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

More in South Gippsland Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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