Curlewis (Vic.)

Curlewis lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Curlewis (Vic.) is around 4,377 people. This figure reflects an increase of 202 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,175 people. The current estimate is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and their resident population count of 4,313, based on ABS ERP data released in June 2024. This results in a density ratio of 216 persons per square kilometer for Curlewis. Over the past decade, ending in June 2024, Curlewis has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 3.4%, outperforming its SA4 region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 74% to overall population gains during this period.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, they utilise VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Curlewis is projected to grow by 2,461 persons, reflecting a gain of 56.3% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Curlewis according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Curlewis has had minimal residential development activity with 7 dwelling approvals over the five years from 2016 to 2020 inclusive. This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It is important to note that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably based on individual projects.

Curlewis shows significantly less construction activity than the rest of Victoria, with a development pattern well below national averages. All new construction in Curlewis has been comprised of standalone homes, primarily family homes suited for those seeking rural lifestyle and space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1240 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Curlewis is projected to add 2,465 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Curlewis has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones include Belgrove Estate, Bellarine Highway Safety Improvements, Duke 3222, and Drysdale Sporting Precinct Stage 2. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The employment landscape in Curlewis shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Curlewis has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.0% as of an unspecified past year.

Employment growth over the preceding year was estimated at 2.3%. As of June 2025, 2,276 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is 0.2% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Curlewis was 67.1%, exceeding Rest of Vic.'s rate of 57.4%. Dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade, with retail trade notably concentrated at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 1.1% of local workers, below Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. The area appeared to offer limited employment opportunities locally based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over a 12-month period ending in an unspecified date, employment increased by 2.3%, labour force increased by 2.5%, and unemployment rose by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. recorded employment decline of 0.9%, labour force decline of 0.4%, with unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Sep-22 projected national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Curlewis's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes that did not account for localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Curlewis' median taxpayer income was $59,297 with an average of $76,617 based on latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. Nationally, this is high compared to Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. As of September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $66,508 and an average of $85,934, accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022. According to Census 2021 income data, incomes in Curlewis cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. Income analysis shows that 39.2% of individuals (1,715 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting broader area patterns where 30.3% occupy this range. Housing costs consume 16.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Curlewis is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Curlewis' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.9% houses and 1.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Vic., in comparison, had 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Curlewis stood at 26.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.5% and rented ones at 30.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,777, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,950. Median weekly rent in Curlewis was $405, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $402 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Curlewis' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded this figure.

Curlewis features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 81.8% of all households, including 34.6% that are couples with children, 32.1% that are couples without children, and 14.1% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 18.2%, with lone person households at 15.3% and group households comprising 2.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Curlewis exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 23.0%, substantially below Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.6%) and certificates (29.0%). Educational participation is high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 11.6% in primary, 7.4% in secondary, and 3.5% in tertiary education.

Curlewis's 3 schools have a combined enrollment of 3,006 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1044) with balanced educational opportunities. Educational provision is split between 1 primary and 2 secondary institutions. The area functions as an education hub with 68.7 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 12.3, attracting students from surrounding communities.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Curlewis has 13 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two different routes, offering a total of 502 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is rated as good, with residents typically living within 350 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 71 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

Curlewis's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Curlewis residents show relatively positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across both young and old age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 57% (~2,497 people). Mental health issues impact 10.4%, asthma affects 9.3%. 67.7% report no medical ailments, compared to 66.8% in Rest of Vic. The area has 12.6% residents aged 65 and over (551 people), lower than the 24.2% in Rest of Vic.. Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with general population's profile.

Curlewis ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Curlewis, surveyed in June 2016, had a population with 85.1% born in Australia, 91.6% being citizens, and 93.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, accounting for 43.1%. Hinduism, while small at 0.7%, was higher than the Rest of Vic's 0.4%.

The top three ancestral groups were English (30.0%), Australian (27.9%), and Scottish (8.5%). Some ethnicities showed notable differences: Polish at 1.0% compared to 0.7% regionally, Dutch at 1.8% matching the regional rate, and Maltese at 1.4% compared to 0.9%.

Curlewis hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Curlewis has a median age of 34, which is lower than the Rest of Vic figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38 years. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Curlewis at 16.5%, compared to the Rest of Vic average. Conversely, the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 8.3%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 15.1% to 16.4% of the population. The 55-64 cohort has decreased from 10.7% to 9.3% during this period. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Curlewis's age profile will significantly evolve. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 596 people (83%) from 722 to 1,319.