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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, Curlewis's population was estimated at 3,996 as of Feb 2026. This reflected a decrease from the 2021 Census figure of 4,175 people, a drop of 179 (4.3%). The current resident population estimate is 3,934, calculated by AreaSearch using latest ERP data release by ABS (June 2024) and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 197 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Curlewis demonstrated resilient growth with a 3.5% compound annual growth rate, surpassing its SA4 region's pace. Interstate migration contributed approximately 74.0% to overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, it uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods 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 2,321 persons, reflecting a gain of 67.8% over the 17-year period and placing it in the top 10 percent of Australia's regional areas for growth.

The level of residential development activity in Curlewis is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Curlewis has seen minimal residential development activity with fewer than one dwelling approval annually over the past five years. This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary significantly based on individual projects.

Curlewis has shown significantly less construction activity than the rest of Victoria. The development pattern here is well below national averages.

Curlewis has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects 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 presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.8%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Curlewis has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 was 3.8%, aligned with the Rest of Vic.'s rate. Workforce participation was high at 76.9%.

A moderate 19.1% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Major employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade, with retail trade being particularly strong at 1.3 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence at 1.1%. Local employment opportunities appeared limited based on Census data comparison of working population to resident population.

Over the year ending September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.7% and employment fell by 0.6%, resulting in a slight unemployment rate drop. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Curlewis's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by similar rates over the same periods, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch data for financial year 2023 shows Curlewis suburb has high national incomes. Median income is $59,297 and average income is $76,617. This compares to Rest of Vic.'s median income of $50,954 and average income of $62,728. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $64,189 and average income $82,938, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%. Census 2021 data indicates incomes in Curlewis cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. Predominant income cohort spans 39.2% (1,566 people) in $1,500 - 2,999 bracket. High housing costs consume 16.5% of income. Disposable income is at the 55th percentile and SEIFA income ranking places Curlewis 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 structures, as per the latest Census, were 98.9% houses and 1.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic had 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Curlewis was at 26.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.5% and rented ones at 30.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,777, higher than Non-Metro Vic's average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Curlewis was $405, compared to Non-Metro Vic's $285. Nationally, Curlewis' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 81.8% of all households, including 34.6% couples with children, 32.1% couples without children, and 14.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.2%, with lone person households at 15.3% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

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%, significantly lower than 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%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 13.6% and certificates at 29.0%. Educational participation is high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.6% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 3.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Curlewis has 13 active public transport stops. These are served by 8 different routes, offering a total of 735 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 350 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport, used by 95% of residents. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 105 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 56 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Curlewis's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a standard level across both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover is very high, with approximately 57% of the total population (~2,280 people), compared to 50.5% in Rest of Vic.. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.4 and 9.3% of residents respectively. 67.7% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in Rest of Vic.. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 11.9% of residents aged 65 and over (475 people), lower than the 23.9% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Curlewis had a lower than average cultural diversity, with 85.1% of its population born in Australia, 91.6% being citizens, and 93.1% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion was Christianity, accounting for 43.1% of Curlewis's population. Hinduism was overrepresented, comprising 0.7% compared to the regional average of 0.7%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (30.0%), Australian (27.9%), and Scottish (8.5%). Notably, Polish (1.0% vs regionally 0.5%), Dutch (1.8% vs 1.7%), and Maltese (1.4% vs 0.5%) groups were overrepresented.

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

The median age in Curlewis is 33 years, which is considerably lower than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 and substantially under the national average of 38. Compared to the Rest of Vic. average, the 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 16.3% locally, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 8.0%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 15.1% to 16.7% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 10.7% to 9.2%, and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 15.2% to 14.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Curlewis, with the 25 to 34 group projected to grow by 96% (626 people), reaching 1,278 from 651.