Port Fairy is a coastal town in Victoria, in Moyne Council, characterised by heritage streetscapes. It is close to the Moyne River and Port Fairy Bay.
School ICSEA scores are a relative strength. The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns, and socio-economic advantage is another area where the suburb performs particularly well, and university qualifications are a relative strength, with university qualifications 23% above the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are thinner dining and café options and thinner mapped green cover within the suburb boundary, with green cover 82% below the peer median.
Overall, Port Fairy suits people prioritising heritage character and school quality.
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
The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings
School ICSEA scores are a relative strength
Socio-economic advantage is a relative strength
University qualifications are a relative strength
Weaknesses
Dining and cafés are a relative weakness
Mapped green cover within the suburb boundary is below comparable suburbs
What stands out
Port Fairy Beach
Pea Soup Beach
Heritage streetscapes
Moyne River
Port Fairy Bay
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★☆☆
Professionals★★☆☆☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★☆☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Port Fairy compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$800k
-7.5% change
Median rent (Census)
$300/wk
2021 Census median weekly rent
Population (ERP)
3,822
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
33.2%
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
#28
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Crime rate
38th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
58th
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
21%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
73rd
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
51.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 34% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
1751st in Australia
State rank
422nd in VIC
Peer rank
#28 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#52 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
95%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
+0.7% annual · +3.9% over 5 years · 58th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+3.9%
Change in 1 year
+25
Change in 5 years
+144
Growth rank in VIC
58th 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 (~4,000), extrapolated at +0.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
3,742
Median age
51
Median household income / week
$1,450
Dwelling vacancy
33.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
724 of 2,178
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$300
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
51.6% / 27.6% / 20.7%
Employment rate
51.1%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
18.2% / 0.6% / 60%
Walked or cycled to work
6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,309 / 125 / 4 (+ 8 other)
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.
26.2% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 15.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified26.2% · 29.2% VIC
Diploma qualified11% · 9.8% VIC
Trade / vocational15.2% · 14.2% VIC
Year 12 or below47.6% · 46.8% VIC
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Health17.2%
Education14.7%
Management and commerce14.2%
Society and culture13.9%
Engineering and related technologies10.6%
Architecture and building8%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 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)
$50,160
35th percentile in VIC · -15% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$53,605
26th percentile in VIC · -18% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
15.0%
67th percentile in VIC · +9% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$126,541
91st percentile in VIC · +100% vs Australia
Residents with business income
14.0%
74th percentile in VIC · +35% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3284 — 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
2,309
Taxpayers reporting net rent
351
Median net rent
$3,067
Taxpayers reporting business income
312
Taxable income vs state median
-6%
Salary / wages vs state median
-8%
Rental investment vs state median
+15%
Super vs state median
+57%
Business income vs state median
+27%
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
7.9% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 3.4× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.1% across Victoria.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
7.9%
44th percentile in VIC · +244% vs Australia
Resident workers (2021)
125
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462
Postcode 3284
Occupation mix in this industry
2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.
Managers78
Labourers15
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 3284 (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: 1,581 · AFF share +276% 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
2.2% speak a language other than English at home; 8.8% born overseas
Language at home
3,422 English only · 77 other
Non-English at home
2.2%
Born overseas
303 (8.8%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
44 (1.2%)
Australian citizens
3,414
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
3
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Mandarin8 · 47.1%
Persian5 · 29.4%
Afrikaans4 · 23.5%
Religion
49.6%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 49.6%, while 40.8% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
40.8%
38.8%
Christianity
49.6%
40.9%
Other / not stated
9.6%
20.3%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
25.2%
20.5%
Anglican
11.6%
6.5%
Uniting Church
5.5%
2.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
3.8%
1.4%
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)
156
Against the person
24
Against property
72
Rate per 1,000 residents
40.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 156 residents
State crime-rate percentile
37.6th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+30%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
57
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
14.91
Most common offence types
B21 Criminal Damage14
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle12
B43 Steal From A Retail Store15
B49 Other Theft13
E21 Breach Family Violence Order34
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Lake Aringa Wildlife Reserve (no hunting)Nature reserve
Port Fairy Maritime Complex Historic and Cultural Features ReserveNature reserve
Wetland ReserveNature reserve
Camping & holiday parks(5)
Caravan park
Gardens By East Beach Caravan ParkCaravan park
111 Griffiths Street, Port Fairy
Gum Tree Caravan ParkCaravan park
Port Fairy Gardens Caravan ParkCaravan park
Southcombe By The Sea Caravan ParkCaravan park
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
3
Nearest hospital
Moyne Health (6.6 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
On site
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
5
Residential aged-care places
82
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Moyne Community HealthPORT FAIRYShort-Term Restorative Care (STRC)
Moyne HealthHospital
Pharmacy NeoSackville StreetPharmacy
Port Fairy PhysiotherapyPhysiotherapist
Aged-care services
Home Care Packages Moyne Shire CouncilPORT FAIRYHome Care
Moyne Health ServicesPORT FAIRYHome Care
Moyne Health Services-Belfast HousePORT FAIRYResidential
Moyne Health Services-Moyneyana HousePORT FAIRYResidential
Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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.
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%)
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
237 planning-related records
2021· 40 proposals
September 2021
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
12 MILLS CRESCENT PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and additions to a dwelling, part demolition of a dwelling, demolition of an outbuilding and construction of an outbuilding.
63 COX STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Display of Business identification signage
32 VILLIERS STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Building and works to display business identification signage
34 SACKVILLE STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development of an emergency services facility and alteration of access to a Road Zone ¿ Category 1
116 PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development of a dwelling
PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a solar array and removal of vegetation
2891 PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to alter a dwelling (replace a garage door)
22 COX STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and additions to a dwelling
230 PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Display of business identification signage
66 SACKVILLE STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Variation to liquor licence to change the licence category
24 BANK STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
20 VILLIERS STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
One or more new buildings (garden shed)
226 GRIFFITHS STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Withdrawn
Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling
13 CAMPBELL STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Two lot subdivision
7 THISTLE PLACE PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
196 GRIFFITHS STREET PORT FAIRY 3284NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
August 2021
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
7 HILL STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of restrictive covenant
108 PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and additions to a dwelling
41 MODEL LANE PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works including partial demolition, extensions to a dwelling and construction of an outbuilding
40 ALBERT STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development of the land for a store (storage units), the display of a sign and reduction in the number of car parking spaces required
1/215 PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and additions to a dwelling (including partial demolition of dwelling and outbuilding)
75 COX STREET PORT FAIRY 3284No permit required
Alterations and additions to a dwelling
1 BROPHY STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a fence
2 POWLING STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and additions to a dwelling
108 OCEAN DRIVE PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
371 BLACKWOOD ROAD PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling, outbuilding and create an access to a Road Zone Category 1
PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
19 NORFOLK PLACE PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and additions to a dwelling
49 MODEL LANE PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling and outbuilding
PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Withdrawn
Buildings and works including partial demolition and alterations and additions to a dwelling
90 SACKVILLE STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding (green house)
5 HILL STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Building & works associated with a golf course
110 SKENES ROAD PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
Buildings and works to demolish a pergola, demolish a verandah, construct a verandah and construct a carport
59 CAMPBELL STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by the RA
Display of a home based business sign
117 REGENT STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development of the land for extractive industry (bluestone)
3462 PRINCES HIGHWAY PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
52 PHILIP STREET PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and additions to a dwelling
127 Beach StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to alter a non-contributory building
ANZ BANK PORT FAIRY 3284Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Sixteen lot subdivision and variation of access to a Road Zone Category 1
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 27.5 km away).
Coalition 60.7%Labor 39.3%
0.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +39.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Port FairyLabor 44.4% · Coalition 55.6% TPP (2025)8.7 km away
KoroitLabor 37.5% · Coalition 62.5% TPP (2025)17.7 km away
DenningtonLabor 41.7% · Coalition 58.3% TPP (2025)24.4 km away
Warrnambool WestLabor 41.1% · Coalition 58.9% TPP (2025)26.2 km away
Mailors FlatLabor 26.1% · Coalition 73.9% TPP (2025)26.7 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.
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%)