VIC · Alpine Council

Tawonga, 3697

Est. population · Jun 2025

558

Growth (1 yr)

+0.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.6%

Median age

52

Median income

$1,375/wk

Employment rate

54%

Languages at home

4.3%non-English

Most common: Punjabi

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

25.5/100
Below average

1168th in VIC

Verified 78% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
  • Green suburb
What Tawonga is known for: National parks, Excellent transport, Education hub, High desirability, Green suburb

Suburb profile

Tawonga is a quieter smaller community in Alpine Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.

Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Housing sits in the middle of the local market: neither cheap nor premium.

Local crime has been trending higher of late. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.

Desirability sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Tawonga snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

558

+0.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

17.7%

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

#347

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

14th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

60th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

50th

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
25.5/100 — Below average
National rank
6214th in Australia
State rank
1168th in VIC
Peer rank
#347 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#651 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

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

Population

Estimated resident population

558(June 2025)

+0.7% annual · +2.6% over 5 years · 60th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+2.6%
Change in 1 year
+4
Change in 5 years
+14
Growth rank in VIC
60th 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 (~600), extrapolated at +0.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
568
Median age
52
Median household income / week
$1,375
Dwelling vacancy
17.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
49 of 277
Median monthly mortgage
$1,400
Employment rate
54%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
223 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
11
Against the person
6
Against property
1
Rate per 1,000 residents
19.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 95 residents
State safety percentile
14.3th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+120%

Most common offence types

  • A211 Fv Serious Assault3
  • A731 Fv Threatening Behaviour1
  • A732 Non-Fv Threatening Behaviour1
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order2
  • Other Crimes Against The Person1

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
1,007
Median ICSEA percentile
50th
School list
  • Tawonga Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1007 · 50th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 50 students · Top SEA quarter 17%View on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Redbank Rd/Kiewa Valley Hwy
  • Tawonga Store/Kiewa Valley Hwy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

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

Parks & reserves

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Murmungee H37 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Tawonga Memorial ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
3
Parks (OSM)
2

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
Alpine Health [Mount Beauty] (7.1 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)
10
Participants per 1,000 residents
17.9

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
20° / 9°
Rainfall
232 mm · ~29 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
14° / 5°
Rainfall
299 mm · ~37 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
5° / -1°
Rainfall
420 mm · ~52 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
12° / 3°
Rainfall
345 mm · ~43 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).

16 planning-related records

2021· 6 proposals
  • July 2021

  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of a Dwelling
    114 KELLERS ROAD TAWONGA 3697Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2021

  • Buildings and Works associated with a dwelling extension
    133 FIELDINGS RD TAWONGA 3697Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2021

  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of an Outbuilding ALISON
    39 FIELDINGS RDPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works for the construction of an agricultural shed
    88 MOUNT YORK RDPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of a Dwelling and the Creation of Access to a Road in a Road Zone - Category 1.
    7091 Kiewa Valley HwyPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • January 2021

  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of an Outbuilding
    0 KELLERS RDPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 10 proposals
  • September 2020

  • Use and Buildings and Works for the Development of a Dwelling
    Cottrells LaneRefusal issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and Works
    6721 Kiewa Valley HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for the construction of agricultural building
    922 MOUNTAIN CREEK ROAD TAWONGA 3697Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • August 2020

  • CHANGE OR EXTENSION OF USE and ONE OR MORE NEW BUILDINGS and SIGNAGE a CHANGE OR EXTENSION OF USE ONE OR MORE NEW BUILDINGS SIGNAGE
    6827 KIEWA VALLEY HWYPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2020

  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of an Outbuilding
    124 Keller RoadLapsed
  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of an Outbuilding - ALISON
    13 Antonio ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2020

  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of a Dwelling
    28 Mountain Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2020

  • ONE OR MORE NEW BUILDINGS
    432 REIDS LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • April 2020

  • LIQUOR LICENSE and ONE OR MORE NEW BUILDINGS LIQUOR LICENSE ONE OR MORE NEW BUILDINGS
    52 FREDAS LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • January 2020

  • BUILDINGS AND WORKS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DWELLING AND ASSOCIATED DETACHED CARPORT AND STUDIO
    39 Diggings RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Indi
Member of Parliament
Helen HAINES (Independent)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
120,774
Turnout (2025)
92.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.4 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 56.7%Labor 43.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 36.7 km away).

Coalition 47.0%Labor 53.0%

9.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -1.0 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • Mount BeautyLabor 56.3% · Coalition 43.7% TPP (2025)7.9 km away
  • BrightLabor 57.5% · Coalition 42.5% TPP (2025)20.0 km away
  • WandiligongLabor 56.4% · Coalition 43.6% TPP (2025)20.3 km away
  • PorepunkahLabor 52.6% · Coalition 47.4% TPP (2025)23.7 km away
  • EskdaleLabor 31.0% · Coalition 69.0% TPP (2025)24.1 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)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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 Alpine Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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

Tawonga, VIC 3697 profile | Suburb Guide