Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Ararat Council
Willaura, 3379
Est. population · Jun 2025
413
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.2%
Median age
53
Median income
$976/wk
Employment rate
46.7%
Languages at home
1.5%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Ararat Council, Willaura keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. 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. Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower.
Reported crime has been falling recently. 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, plus growth momentum relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Willaura snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
413
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
22.6%
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
#293
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
63rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
61st
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
62nd
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
- 30.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5570th in Australia
- State rank
- 1076th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #293 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #574 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
413(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · -0.2% over 5 years · 61th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- -0.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- -1
- Growth rank in VIC
- 61th 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 (~400), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 439
- Median age
- 53
- Median household income / week
- $976
- Dwelling vacancy
- 22.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 55 of 243
- Median monthly mortgage
- $650
- Employment rate
- 46.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 183 / 4 / 0 (+ 6 other)
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.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 29
- Against the person
- 10
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 70.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 44 residents
- State safety percentile
- 62.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -56.1%
Most common offence types
- A231 Fv Common Assault2
- A721 Fv Harassment And Private Nuisance2
- B21 Criminal Damage2
- E13 Resist Or Hinder Officer3
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order8
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,034
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 62th
School list
- Willaura Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1034 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 13 students · Top SEA quarter 18%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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Delacombe St/Main St
- Willaura Kindergarten/Willaura-Wickliffe Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
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
- Hopkins River, Willaura Streamside ReserveNature reserve
- Lake Buninjon Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
- Lake Muirhead Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
- Mount William Swamp (The Big Swamp) Wildlife Reserve (hunting)Nature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 175
- 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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- East Grampians Health Service (4.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- East Grampians Health ServiceHospital
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 7
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 16.9
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 117 mm · ~15 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 157 mm · ~20 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 211 mm · ~26 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 201 mm · ~25 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).
5 planning-related records
2021· 2 proposals
July 2021
- Replace an existing family persons workers cottage2994 MOYSTON-DUNKELD ROAD WILLAURA 3379Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Construction of a building and carry out works (partial demolition and alterations and additions)118 Mount William Estate RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 3 proposals
August 2020
- Buildings and works for a machinery shed in Environmental Significance Overlay 354 Blue Gum RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Building and Works for a Dwelling and Carport in Environmental Significance Overlay 31006 Yarram Gap RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Use and Development of the land for Residential Buildings44-50 Main StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
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
- 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 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 54.8 km away).
Coalition 72.7%Labor 27.3%
11.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +27.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WillauraLabor 26.8% · Coalition 73.2% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
- GlenthompsonLabor 26.2% · Coalition 73.8% TPP (2025)20.1 km away
- Lake BolacLabor 18.7% · Coalition 81.3% TPP (2025)24.4 km away
- MoystonLabor 44.5% · Coalition 55.5% TPP (2025)24.6 km away
- Ararat WestLabor 49.0% · Coalition 51.0% TPP (2025)31.5 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Ararat Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.