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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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Winchelsea has an estimated 2,982 residents, up from 2,456 at the 2021 Census — a change of 526 people, or 21.4%. Growth has averaged 4.6% a year over five years, faster than 91% of areas nationally. 274 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Natural increase accounts for 45.0% of that increase. Density is about 13 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader regional ABS population updates alongside 274 validated new addresses recorded following the Census date, the suburb of Winchelsea is estimated to have a population of roughly 2,982 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 526 people (21.4%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 2,456 people. This adjustment builds upon an estimated resident population of 2,894 derived from the June 2025 ABS ERP release. At this size, the population density stands at 12.6 persons per square kilometer, ensuring considerable personal space. The area's 21.4% expansion since the 2021 census outpaced both the broader state and Rest of Vic.
(4.4%), establishing it among the premier regional growth locations. Natural increase served as the primary contributor by generating approximately 45.0% of recent population gains, complemented by positive contributions from both overseas migration and interstate migration. Projections utilize 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia data set to a 2022 baseline for local SA2 zones, while areas outside this scope incorporate 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA releases adjusted through a weighted aggregation model from LGA down to SA2 boundaries. Age-specific rates from these aggregations are additionally applied across every location for 2032 to 2041. Future demographic patterns point toward an above median population growth compared to regional parts of Australia, with aggregated SA2-level figures projecting the suburb of Winchelsea to expand by 407 persons to 2041, representing an overall rise of 10.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
231 new dwellings have been approved in Winchelsea over the past five years, an average of 46 a year. That places the area in the 84th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 15 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 49 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 88% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 66, 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
ABS building approval statistics compiled by AreaSearch show that Winchelsea has recorded an average of roughly 46 new residential dwelling approvals annually, totaling an estimated 231 homes over the previous 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) alongside 66 during FY-25 to date. Demonstrating robust demand that underpins local real estate values, an average of 2.4 new residents was added per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25). New residential builds carry an average construction value of $507,000, exceeding regional standards and highlighting a focus on premium development.
Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $2.5 million have been logged in the current financial year, reinforcing the predominantly residential profile of the locality. Recent residential building activity is heavily weighted toward low-density living, consisting of 88.0% detached houses alongside 12.0% medium and high-density housing, an arrangement well suited to purchasers pursuing greater space. Planning figures show approximately 52 people per dwelling approval, pointing to sustained market expansion. Looking forward, the latest AreaSearch quarterly figures indicate that Winchelsea is projected to add 319 residents through to 2041. Existing rates of home building appear well positioned to satisfy incoming demand, offering healthy purchasing conditions and potentially paving the way for expansion beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Winchelsea
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 83 current infrastructure and development projects close to Winchelsea, worth an estimated $17.2 billion. 26 are already under construction and 37 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. 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
Community outcomes and development are significantly guided by public works, major project investments, and strategic planning. AreaSearch has identified no major infrastructure projects currently expected to impact the locality. Regional initiatives of potential interest include Additional VLocity Trains, Geelong Renewable Energy Zone, Geelong Line Upgrade, and the Telstra InfraCo Intercity Fibre Network.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
The Villas
An on-course group accommodation project of thirteen modern, two-storey townhouses within Anglesea Golf Club. Construction is complete and townhouses are now available for short-stay accommodation and select sales/leases to investors, with guests able to book stays directly via the club.
Anglesea Pedestrian and Cycling Connections
Works to improve walking and cycling safety in Anglesea by installing four raised pedestrian (wombat) crossings at Noble Street, River Reserve Road, Cameron Road and Murray Street. Funded through the Safe Local Roads and Streets Program (Department of Transport and Planning with TAC). Project value about $389,000 with practical completion recorded 27 June 2025.
Anglesea Community and Health Hub Precinct Plan
Surf Coast Shire Council has adopted a concept plan for the long-term renewal of the Anglesea McMillan Street community and health precinct. The plan keeps the precinct in council ownership and proposes upgraded community, occasional care, health and medical facilities, a green heart space for events and markets, retained heritage elements, improved wayfinding and some affordable rental housing for local key workers. The project is in the next-step design development and funding phase, with further community engagement expected once funding is secured.
Anglesea Kindergarten Infrastructure Planning Project
The Victorian School Building Authority awarded Surf Coast Shire Council a Building Blocks Planning Grant of $110,000 in the 2023 funding round to plan the expansion or upgrade of kindergarten facilities in Anglesea. The planning work will prepare designs and costs to increase places for local 3 and 4 year olds at Anglesea Kindergarten, with any construction subject to future funding.
Debonair Development (Anglesea)
Completed multi-residential coastal development opposite Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club. Designed by Carr, the Debonair project comprises approximately 14 dwellings configured as beach houses/townhouses and apartments. Homes are strata titled and continue to trade and be leased as established stock along the Great Ocean Road.
Warralily Quarter Shopping Precinct
An 8,000 sqm convenience shopping precinct in Armstrong Creek featuring retail, dining, and community facilities, designed to complement the adjacent Village Warralily Shopping Centre.
Eden Project Anglesea
A concept for a world-class eco-tourism attraction on the former Alcoa coal mine site at Anglesea, Victoria. Proposed by Eden Project International, the $150 million development would occupy approximately 40 hectares and immerse 750,000 projected annual visitors in elements of earth, air, water and fire themed around the coastal landscape of the Great Ocean Road. The project was actively progressed until mid-2024 when Eden Project International formally paused development while site rehabilitation and the mine void water-filling strategy remain unresolved.Alcoa submitted a groundwater licence amendment application to Southern Rural Water in July 2024 to advance the water-filling strategy, which is a prerequisite for key elements of the concept. No planning application has been lodged with the Victorian Government. Alcoa continues to pursue mine rehabilitation and closure approvals independently of the Eden concept.
Anglesea Mine Rehabilitation and Eden Project Concept
Rehabilitation and closure of Alcoa's former coal mine and power station site, featuring a Mine Water Filling Strategy to create a safe pit lake over the next decade. The site is also earmarked for the proposed $150 million Eden Project Anglesea, a world-class ecotourism attraction projected to generate substantial regional economic and environmental benefits.
1,506 residents of Winchelsea are employed, from a labour force of 1,558. Unemployment sits at 3.3%, with participation at 65.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 2,459, about 82% 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
Winchelsea boasts a highly capable labor pool, with the building industry showing especially strong representation, an unemployment rate of just 3.3%, and a projected job growth of 1.2% during the previous twelve months, according to AreaSearch’s compilation of statistical area information. By March 2026, 1,506 individuals are employed, and the local joblessness figure sits 0.3% beneath the 3.7% rate recorded for Regional Vic., while the share of the population in the workforce remains average at 65.5% relative to 61.1% in the same region. Census data indicate that 16.7% of inhabitants engage in remote work, although the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account when interpreting this figure.
Local workers are primarily concentrated across agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Construction features prominently, employing residents at 1.3 times the regional average benchmark. In contrast, manufacturing captures a smaller share at 6.3%, trailing the regional average of 7.7%. Comparing the Census count of local workers against resident workers highlights a constrained local job base. ABS and SALM data evaluated by AreaSearch indicate that across the 12 months to March 2026, Winchelsea experienced a 1.2% increase in employment alongside a 1.4% expansion in the labour pool, resulting in a 0.1 percentage point uptick in the jobless rate. By contrast, Regional Vic. saw employment drop by 0.1%, the labour force shrink by 0.3%, and unemployment decrease by 0.2 percentage points. Longer-term employment expectations from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 outline national job growth of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely across sectors. Applying these industry growth rates to Winchelsea's local workforce composition indicates prospective employment growth of 6.3% over five years and 13.2% across ten years, representing an illustrative weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local demographic forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Winchelsea is $1,442 a week (about $75,000 a year), with median personal income at $749 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $46,032 a year against an average of $60,740. 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
ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch indicate that taxpayers in the suburb of Winchelsea recorded a median income of $46,032 and an average income of $60,740. These amounts trail nationwide figures as well as Regional Vic. benchmarks of $50,954 (median) and $62,728 (average). Adjusting for a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 brings estimated figures to approximately $50,460 for median earnings and $66,583 for average earnings as of March 2026. The 2021 Census positioned local household, family, and individual incomes in a modest band between the 32nd and 38th percentiles.
A cohort of 33.1% (987 individuals) earns between $1,500 - 2,999, closely aligning with the regional rate of 30.3%. Financial pressures surrounding housing remain considerable, with only 84.8% of income left over, placing the locality in the 33rd percentile for affordability and the 4th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Winchelsea had 953 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 0% apartments. 44% are owned with a mortgage, 20% rented and 36% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $295 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,560 a month. Rent absorbs 20.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the most recent Census, the local housing stock consisted of 94.8% houses and 5.2% other dwellings (apartments, semi-detached, and 'other' dwellings), differing from Regional Vic. which recorded 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stood at 35.6%, trailing the Regional Vic. level, with 44.3% of homes held under a mortgage and 20.2% occupied by tenants. Median monthly mortgage commitments were $1,560 compared to $1,430 across Regional Vic., while weekly median rent reached $295 versus $285 regionally. On a nationwide scale, local mortgage payments remain notably below the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and rents are substantially lower than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Winchelsea counted 953 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,157 today, averaging 2.4 people each. 28% are couples with children, against 31% couples without children. 29% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 69.7% of local households, consisting of 30.6% couples without children, 28.4% couples with children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 30.3%, comprising lone person households at 28.5% and group households at 2.2%. The median household size of 2.4 people matches the Regional Vic. average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.7% of adults in Winchelsea hold a university qualification, including 13.5% with a bachelor degree and 2.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 148 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 978 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 educational attainment presents an area for development, with university degree holders accounting for 18.7% of residents compared to the VIC benchmark of 33.4%. By credential type, Bachelor degrees represent 13.5%, postgraduate qualifications account for 2.7%, and graduate diplomas make up 2.5%. Conversely, vocational and technical qualifications are widely held, with 44.0% of the population aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, divided between certificates (31.5%) and advanced diplomas (12.5%). Participation in formal study is strong across the community, encompassing 27.8% of residents. This student body comprises 9.8% attending primary education, 7.1% enrolled in secondary education, and 3.2% undertaking tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Winchelsea means driving: households keep an average of 1.7 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
The public transit network comprises 2 active transport stops within Winchelsea encompassing train services. These facilities are connected by 2 individual routes that provide a combined total of 80 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transit is somewhat restricted, with local commuters averaging 1044 meters to their nearest stop. Given the community's residential orientation, outbound travel is common, with private vehicle travel serving 92% of journeys and walking accounting for 6%. Households maintain an average of 1.7 vehicles, surpassing regional norms, while 16.7% of workers operated from home at the 2021 Census, potentially influenced by COVID-19 circumstances.
Transit schedules provide an average of 11 trips per day across the network, translating to approximately 40 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.4% of residents in Winchelsea report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 75% of areas nationally. 8.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.7 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 mortality rates and chronic health concerns across younger and older demographics, while private health insurance uptake remains subdued at approximately 51% of residents (~1,517 people). Arthritis and mental health issues form the most prevalent health conditions, affecting 9.1 and 8.9% of residents, respectively, while 62.4% reported being entirely free of medical issues compared to 63.4% in Regional Vic.. Working-age residents experience elevated rates of chronic illness. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 23.0% of the population (685 people), sitting below the 24.0% regional proportion. Overall health metrics for older residents align broadly with nationwide population trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Winchelsea is largely Australian-born, at 90.5% of residents, with 2.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (33.2%) and English (32.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Winchelsea displays lower levels of cultural diversity than broader benchmarks, with Australian citizens making up 89.5% of the population, 90.5% born in Australia, and 97.4% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant faith, practiced by 45.5% of residents. Judaism accounts for virtually no residents in the local area, compared to 0.1% across Regional Vic.. Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parents' country of birth, the three largest groups are Australian (33.2%), English (32.6%), and Irish (9.5%). Additional lineages show distinct variations, with Scottish heritage representing 9.0% (against 8.8% regionally), Dutch at 1.7% (against 1.7%), and Maltese accounting for 0.7% (against 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Winchelsea is 41. 24.3% 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
The local age distribution exhibits a younger skew compared to Regional Vic.. Based on updates to August 2026, young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) make up 26.9% of the population, exceeding the 23.1% recorded across Regional Vic., whereas middle aged and young retiree cohorts (45 - 64) represent 22.1% against 24.4% regionally. The median age is an estimated 41 as at August 2026, remaining unchanged from the 2021 Census and sitting 2 years below the Regional Vic. benchmark of 43 at that Census. Since the Census, the proportion of middle aged and young retirees has decreased from 24.5% to an estimated 22.1%.
Looking to 2041, young to middle aged adults are forecast to drive demographic growth, expanding by 187 (23%) to reach 989.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Winchelsea
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 — 274 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,456 at the 2021 Census → 2,982 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 (SAL22802). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.