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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Cobden has an estimated 1,712 residents, down from 1,804 at the 2021 Census — a change of 92 people, or 5.1%. The population has thinned by an average 1.1% a year over five years, slower than 99% of areas nationally. Density is about 22 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Cobden has an estimated population of approximately 1,712, determined through AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS demographic releases alongside post-Census address validations. This count marks a contraction of 92 people (5.1%) compared with the 1,804 people documented at the 2021 Census. Such findings stem from an estimated resident count of 1,711 generated via the ABS ERP figures from June 2025 in combination with 25 validated new addresses recorded after the Census benchmark. The local population density settles at 22 persons per square kilometer, offering an open and uncrowded environment.
Recent expansion was anchored mostly by overseas arrivals, who accounted for around 56.99999999999999% of positive demographic shifts. Projections for the suburb of Cobden draw upon ABS and Geoscience Australia SA2 datasets published in 2024 (anchored to 2022 baseline metrics), supplemented where needed by 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA figures aggregated to the SA2 level. In addition, localized age-specific patterns from these models are incorporated for the timeframe spanning 2032 to 2041. Looking forward, non-metropolitan benchmarks anticipate above-median gains, with local numbers projected to expand by 283 persons by 2041, representing an overall increase of 16.5% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
23 new dwellings have been approved in Cobden over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 2.8 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 7, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of building approval statistics shows that Cobden averages roughly 4 residential approvals annually, tallying an estimated 23 approvals across the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, alongside 7 recorded during FY-25 to date. Against a backdrop of population contraction, this flow of residential supply has maintained pace with demand to provide sufficient buyer choice, with newly permitted homes averaging an expected construction cost of $504,000—moderately higher than regional benchmarks and indicative of high-grade building standards. Concurrently, commercial approvals totaling $204,000 were logged in the current financial year, underlining a market driven overwhelmingly by residential development.
Per capita construction activity in Cobden is roughly half the level seen across Rest of Vic., positioning the township in the 51st percentile nationally despite a pickup in recent building momentum. These volumes trail broader state and nationwide figures, pointing to established market conditions and potential planning or physical constraints. Furthermore, all recent residential permits have been for standalone houses, sustaining the low-density fabric and providing detached accommodation for buyers wanting spacious surroundings, at a ratio of around 287 people per approval. Forecasts from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly update indicate Cobden will add 282 residents leading up to 2041. Should current construction volumes persist, newly added housing may fall short of demographic additions, creating tighter market conditions that could intensify buyer competition and elevate property prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cobden
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 41 current infrastructure and development projects close to Cobden, worth an estimated $2.17 billion. 15 are already under construction and 17 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, energy and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Infrastructure upgrades, regional initiatives, and major works play a crucial role in shaping local area performance. Currently, no active major projects have been pinpointed locally by AreaSearch, though broader regional works of note include the Warrnambool Line Upgrade, Telstra InfraCo Intercity Fibre Network, Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, and Melbourne To Adelaide Freight Rail Improvements.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Leura Aged Care
Leura Aged Care is a $39.6 million, 36-bed public residential aged care facility that replaced the ageing Merindah Lodge. The two-storey development features a dementia-friendly design with single bedrooms and private ensuites arranged in small household clusters. Shared amenities include a community room, cafe, gym, hair salon, and a commercial kitchen that services both the facility and the adjacent Camperdown Hospital. The project was delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with South West Healthcare to provide high-quality complex care in a home-like environment.
Camperdown Production Precinct Masterplan
The Camperdown Production Precinct is a 45-hectare industrial and business park located on Old Geelong Road, north of Camperdown. It is designed to support and build on the strengths of the agricultural sector, specifically value-adding food and fibre industries. The masterplan was adopted in February 2024 to enable long-term growth and management of the industrial estate. Planning Scheme Amendment C65 was approved and gazetted on 24 July 2025, rezoning land to Industrial 1 Zone. Council is actively seeking funding and investment to implement sustainable design controls and integrated water management systems.
Mortlake Recreation Reserve Changerooms
Construction of new female-friendly changerooms at the Mortlake Recreation Reserve (DC Farran Oval) to benefit all users of the sports complex.
Mortlake Service Station and Rural Store
Proposed construction of a Liberty petrol station and an Elders Rural Store and trade supplies, located on former agricultural land. The project aims to provide important services and support the economic vitality of Moyne Shire and Mortlake.
Mt Fyans Wind Farm
The Mt Fyans Wind Farm, set to be in Victoria's Southwest Renewable Energy Zone, will feature 81 turbines, generate 400 MW, and include 18 km of transmission lines. Starts 2024, operational by 2026.
Mortlake South Wind Farm
ACCIONA Energa's 157.5 MW wind farm, consisting of 35 wind turbines and battery storage. It has been fully operational since July 2024 and can generate enough energy for up to 117,000 households.
Mortlake Energy Hub
BrightNight's $700 million integrated hybrid renewable energy project, combining a 360 MW solar generation facility with a 300 MW Battery Energy Storage System. It is set to become Victoria's largest hybrid renewable energy project, capable of powering nearly 140,000 homes.
Clearwater Colac
Clearwater is a premium masterplanned land estate located on the shores of Lake Colac. The community features 500 residential lots ranging in size from 301m2 to 1600m2, with future onsite amenities including a childcare facility, parklands, playgrounds, and active open spaces.
750 residents of Cobden are employed, from a labour force of 770. Unemployment sits at 2.6%, with participation at 52.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,423, about 83% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Cobden maintains a diverse local workforce spanning both white and blue-collar occupations, featuring prominent representation across manufacturing and industrial sectors together with an unemployment rate of 2.6%. According to March 2026 data, 750 residents are employed. The jobless rate sits 1.1% under the 3.7% recorded for Regional Vic., whereas local labour force participation is notably subdued at 52.6% compared to 61.1% regionally. In addition, Census data indicates that 8.8% of the local workforce worked from home, a figure influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at that time. Key employment sectors for local workers include agriculture, forestry & fishing, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance.
Specialization is particularly elevated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, which commands a workforce share 2.2 times the regional norm. Conversely, accommodation & food services is noticeably under-represented, engaging just 3.3% of local workers versus 6.9% across Regional Vic.. Comparing resident numbers against the local working population at the Census reveals limited overall job volume situated within the immediate locality. Data compiled from ABS and SALM sources reveals that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, Cobden's labour pool contracted by 8.1% and total employment fell by 7.6%, yielding a 0.5 percentage point decrease in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe, Regional Vic. registered a 0.1% decline in employment, a 0.3% drop in the labour force, and a 0.2 percentage point reduction in unemployment. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26 outline broader industry growth trajectories of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% across ten years. Applying these sectoral trajectories to the local occupational baseline indicates potential employment growth of 5.1% across five years and 11.6% over ten years (representing an unadjusted industry-weighted model that excludes local population adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cobden is $1,162 a week (about $60,000 a year), with median personal income at $631 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $40,106 a year against an average of $48,723. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to financial year 2023 ATO statistics, Cobden recorded a median taxpayer income of $40,106 and an average of $48,723, trailing the Regional Vic. medians of $50,954 and averages of $62,728 as well as broader Australian standards. Factoring in an Wage Price Index rise of 9.62% from financial year 2023 levels, updated metrics as of March 2026 are estimated at $43,964 for the median and $53,410 for the average. Findings from the 2021 Census place local personal, family, and household earnings between the 10th and 15th percentiles nationwide. The dominant earnings cohort encompasses 30.2% of taxpayers taking home between $400 - 799 weekly (517 residents), while the surrounding region is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 30.3%.
Even though residents retain 89.6% of their income after housing costs, overall disposable earnings rank at the 17th percentile across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cobden had 733 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 0% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 20% rented and 49% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $220 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,083 a month. Rent absorbs 18.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing stock at the most recent Census consisted of 92.0% separate houses and 8.0% alternative housing formats (including semi-detached properties, units, and related structures), compared to 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings across Regional Vic.. Outright home ownership stood exceptionally high at 49.4%, outperforming regional benchmarks, while remaining homes were divided between mortgaged (30.5%) and rental properties (20.2%). Local median mortgage payments stood at $1,083 per month and median weekly rents were $220, both sitting substantially below Regional Vic. levels of $1,430 and $285, as well as national figures of $1,863 for mortgages and $375 for rents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cobden counted 733 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 21% are couples with children, fewer than in 84% of areas nationally, against 33% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the clear majority of local living arrangements at 66.2%, comprising couples without children (32.6%), couples with children (21.0%), and single parent families (10.6%). Non-family living structures account for the remaining 33.8%, led by lone person households at 33.0% and group households at 1.8%. The average household size stands at 2.3 people, slightly under the 2.4 recorded across Regional Vic..
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
9.2% of adults in Cobden hold a university qualification, including 7.1% with a bachelor degree and 0.7% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 95% of areas nationally. A further 31.3% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 310 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 928 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in the area is constrained, with university degree holders accounting for 9.2% of residents compared to the broader VIC benchmark of 33.4%. By level of award, bachelor degrees comprise 7.1%, graduate diplomas represent 1.4%, and postgraduate credentials make up 0.7%. In contrast, vocational and technical training is widespread, with 40.5% of people aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of 9.2% with advanced diplomas and 31.3% with certificates. A total of 24.8% of the local population is enrolled in educational pursuits. This encompasses 10.0% attending primary school, 8.7% in secondary education, and 1.5% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Cobden means driving: households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Cobden's public transport network features 5 active stops connected by 1 individual routes, providing a combined total of 28 weekly passenger trips. Stop accessibility is rated well, with local homes situated an average of 399 meters from the closest boarding point. Commuter travel is heavily road-reliant, with 90% traveling by car, 7% walking, and private vehicle availability averaging 1.6 per dwelling. Furthermore, 8.8% of workers operated from home at the 2021 Census under prevailing pandemic influences. Transit services provide an average of 4 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 5 weekly trips for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
59.1% of residents in Cobden report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 81% of areas nationally. 9.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch health metrics show elevated incidences of chronic health conditions across both older and younger demographics in Cobden, paired with an exceptionally low private health insurance uptake of approximately 46% (~790 people). This sits below the 50.5% benchmark recorded throughout Regional Vic. and the nationwide standard of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent diagnosed conditions, affecting 9.9 and 9.3% of the community respectively, while 59.1% of residents reported having no long-term illnesses compared to 63.4% regionally. Chronic ailments are notably prominent among working-age individuals. In addition, seniors aged 65 and over represent 30.8% of the local populace (527 people), tracking above the Regional Vic.
share of 24.0% and generating higher comparative rankings nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cobden is largely Australian-born, at 93.8% of residents, with 1.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (38.0%) and English (34.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural homogeneity is pronounced in Cobden, where 92.7% of residents hold Australian citizenship, 93.8% were born in Australia, and 98.7% speak only English at home. Christianity is the predominant faith, practiced by 54.3% of the community compared to 47.3% across Regional Vic.. The leading reported ancestral lineages in Cobden are Australian at 38.0% (surpassing the regional proportion of 29.6%), English at 34.1%, and Irish at 9.8%. Other reported backgrounds show distinct local patterns: Dutch ancestry stands at 2.0% (compared to 1.7% regionally), Scottish at 8.1% (compared to 8.8%), and Maltese at 0.4% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cobden is 51, older than 93% of areas nationally. 20.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Cobden exhibits an older demographic distribution relative to wider regional benchmarks. Per AreaSearch figures for August 2026, 30.8% of the population belongs to senior cohorts aged 65+, compared to 24.0% across Regional Vic., whereas young to middle-aged adults aged 25 - 44 account for 18.7% versus 23.1% regionally. The median age is estimated at 51 as at August 2026, remaining stable since the 2021 Census and exceeding the Regional Vic. median of 43 and national median of 38 from that same Census. The most noticeable change since the Census occurred among residents aged 45 - 64, whose share decreased from 28.0% to an estimated 25.3%.
Projections indicate that by 2041, seniors aged 65+ will generate the vast majority of local expansion, increasing by 200 residents (38%) to reach 727, while younger demographics are anticipated to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cobden
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 25 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,804 at the 2021 Census → 1,712 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL20591). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.