Lake Wendouree

An assessment of population growth drivers in Lake Wendouree reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, Lake Wendouree's population is estimated at around 2,736. This reflects a decrease since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,878 people. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch validation of new addresses and resident population data from ABS' ERP release in June 2024. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods. Using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, Lake Wendouree is projected to grow by 404 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 16.8% over the 17 years.

This growth rate aligns with the above median population growth trend for national non-metropolitan areas.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Lake Wendouree, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Lake Wendouree has seen approximately five new homes approved each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 25 homes were approved, with one more approved in FY26 so far.

Despite population decline in the area, development activity has been relatively adequate. Commercial approvals registered this financial year totalled $5.1 million, indicating limited commercial development focus. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Lake Wendouree shows significantly reduced construction levels, at 86.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, although building activity has increased in recent years. Nationally, this activity is also lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity consists of 17.0% standalone homes and 83.0% medium and high-density housing, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This trend differs from the current housing mix, which is 79.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands.

Lake Wendouree has around 244 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density area. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 459 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Ballarat Base Hospital Redevelopment, Federation University SMB Campus Redevelopment, Ballarat Co-Operative Education and Skills City Centre, and Ballarat Major Events Precinct Upgrades. 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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Employment conditions in Lake Wendouree demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Lake Wendouree has an educated workforce with key sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 1.8% in September 2025, below the Rest of Vic.'s 3.8%. Employment grew by 1.6% over the past year.

Workforce participation was 58.2%, slightly below the regional average of 61.4%. Approximately 22.4% of residents worked from home, possibly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Major industries included health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Health care had a strong presence with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing was limited at 2.4%.

The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.7, indicating ample local employment opportunities. Over a year, employment increased by 1.6% and labour force by 1.3%, reducing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic.'s employment and labour force declined by 0.7% and 0.6% respectively. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lake Wendouree's industry mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.3% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for population changes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Lake Wendouree's median income among taxpayers is $60,869 and average is $77,879. Nationally, the median is lower at $54,818 with an average of $71,203. In Victoria excluding Melbourne (Rest of Vic.), the median is $50,954 and average is $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $65,891 (median) and $84,304 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, personal income ranks at the 79th percentile ($1,010 weekly), while household income sits at the 62nd percentile. Income analysis reveals that 25.2% of residents earn over $4,000 weekly (689 residents), differing from surrounding regions where 30.3% earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. Lake Wendouree shows affluence with 35.2% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 90.2% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Lake Wendouree is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Lake Wendouree, as per the latest Census, consisted of 79.1% houses and 20.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s figures of 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lake Wendouree stood at 52.1%, with mortgaged properties at 22.5% and rented dwellings at 25.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,106, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Lake Wendouree was $321, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285 and the national average of $375.

Lake Wendouree features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.3% of all households, including 24.5% couples with children, 34.2% couples without children, and 6.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.7%, with lone person households at 32.0% and group households making up 2.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Lake Wendouree shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Lake Wendouree is notably high with 43.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 24.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 26.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.2%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.9% and certificates for 14.6%. Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in secondary education, 8.7% in primary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in secondary education, 8.7% in primary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Lake Wendouree has 20 active public transport stops. These are served by three routes that together provide 525 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 196 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car use is dominant at 87%, with walking at 10% and cycling at 2%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

In 2021 Census data, 22.4% of residents worked from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 75 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 26 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Lake Wendouree is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Lake Wendouree shows superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 58% (~1,574 people) have private health cover, higher than the Rest of Vic.'s 50.5%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.4%) and mental health issues (8.4%). Around 62.7% declare being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to Rest of Vic.'s 63.4%. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. Lake Wendouree has 32.0% of residents aged 65 and over (875 people), higher than Rest of Vic.'s 23.9%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Lake Wendouree is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Lake Wendouree, as per the census conducted on 27 June 2016, exhibited lower cultural diversity with 86.9% of its residents born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 94.6% speaking English at home exclusively. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 58.0% of Lake Wendouree's population, compared to 47.3% across Victoria. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.0%), Australian (24.7%), and Irish (14.4%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was more prevalent at 10.9%, Dutch at 1.9%, and Welsh at 0.7%, compared to regional averages of 8.8%, 1.7%, and 0.4% respectively.

Lake Wendouree ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Lake Wendouree is 52 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 and also above the national norm of 38. Compared to the Rest of Vic., the percentage of people aged 85 and over is notably higher in Lake Wendouree (6.6% vs. locally), while the percentage of those aged 25-34 years is lower (7.9%). Between 2021 and the present, the proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 5.9% to 7.9%, while the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 10.3% to 11.8%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 13.6% to 12.4%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Lake Wendouree. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow by 59%, adding 127 residents to reach a total of 344. Meanwhile, numbers in the 55 to 64 age range are expected to decrease by 6%.