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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 2,966 residents, up from 2,456 at the 2021 Census — a change of 510 people, or 20.8%. Growth has averaged 4.6% a year over five years, faster than 91% of areas nationally. 264 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
Based on demographic evaluations from official census updates and verified property counts from AreaSearch since the national survey, the suburb of Winchelsea has a calculated residency of roughly 2,966 as of May 2026. This indicates an expansion of 510 people (20.8%) relative to the 2021 Census, which registered 2,456 residents. The shift is calculated from a base population of 2,894, determined by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ERP data from the ABS, along with an extra 264 validated new addresses recorded since the census. The current population volume corresponds to 12.6 persons per square kilometer, indicating a low-density environment with substantial space per resident.
Winchelsea's 20.8% growth rate since the 2021 census was higher than the Rest of Vic. average (4.3%) and the state overall, positioning the locality as a leading growth zone. Demographic gains were mostly driven by natural increase, which was responsible for about 45.0% of the overall population rise, although interstate and overseas arrivals also contributed positively. AreaSearch incorporates regional demographic models from official 2024 releases utilizing 2022 as a baseline. Where specific local projections are unavailable, adjustments are derived from 2023 Victorian government municipal forecasts through a weighted combination of municipal growth rates scaled to local levels. Age-specific growth trajectories from these models are extended to cover the period from 2032 to 2041. Future expectations point to above-average population growth in non-metropolitan sectors, with the suburb of Winchelsea projected to add 406 persons by 2041, representing a total expansion of 11.3% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
201 new dwellings have been approved in Winchelsea over the past five years, an average of 40 a year. That places the area in the 86th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 13 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 36 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 86% 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
According to municipal building approvals aggregated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Winchelsea averages approximately 40 dwellings approved annually, amounting to a total of 201 homes over the previous 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 61 approvals have been logged. The ratio of new arrivals stands at 2.9 people per year for every completed home between FY-21 and FY-25, which points to stable demand that underpins residential values. The expected construction cost for these new structures averages $559,000, showing that developers are prioritizing high-end, premium housing. Furthermore, $2.5 million in commercial building approvals have been registered during this financial year, showing a subdued focus on business infrastructure development.
Recent approvals consist of 86.0% detached dwellings and 14.0% medium and high-density housing, which maintains the low-density profile of the suburb of Winchelsea by prioritizing standalone homes popular with buyers seeking space. Representing approximately 59 people per dwelling approval, the suburb of Winchelsea exhibits the hallmarks of a developing growth corridor. Projections indicate the suburb of Winchelsea will gain 334 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly computations. Under current construction trajectories, the supply of new housing is expected to easily accommodate this demand, creating favorable buying opportunities and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current demographic forecasts.
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 billion. 25 are already under construction and 32 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
Regional development and infrastructure initiatives significantly affect local residential patterns. AreaSearch has identified no active projects likely to influence the immediate area. Nearby regional initiatives include the Geelong Line Upgrade, Geelong Renewable Energy Zone, Telstra InfraCo Intercity Fibre Network, and the introduction of Additional VLocity Trains.
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.
1,511 residents of Winchelsea are employed, from a labour force of 1,563. Unemployment sits at 3.3%, with participation at 66.1%. 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 2,439, 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
The suburb of Winchelsea has a productive local workforce, particularly characterized by a strong presence in building trades, an unemployment rate of just 3.3%, and a 1.4% increase in local employment over the past year. As of March 2026, there are 1,511 employed residents. The local jobless rate is 0.4% lower than the Regional Vic. average of 3.7%, while labor participation is standard at 66.1% compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.1%. Census records show that 16.7% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic-related restrictions.
Local employment is heavily concentrated in medical services, building construction, and primary industries. The suburb of Winchelsea displays a high concentration of construction jobs, with a workforce share that is 1.3 times the regional standard. Conversely, industrial manufacturing is underrepresented, employing only 6.3% of local workers compared to 7.7% in Regional Vic.. The balance between local jobs and resident workers indicates that commuting is necessary for many residents. Based on statistics from official sources compiled by AreaSearch, the recent 12-month cycle saw local jobs grow by 1.4% while the active workforce expanded by 1.6%, leading to a small rise in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional Vic., where employment declined by 0.1%, the workforce shrank by 0.3%, and the jobless rate fell by 0.2 percentage points. Long-term national employment projections from May-25 offer guidance on future job trends. Applying these national growth rates (6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years) to the local industry profile suggests the suburb of Winchelsea could experience job growth of 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming local trends follow national industry patterns.
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
The suburb of Winchelsea's income levels sit below national standards based on taxation statistics for financial year 2023. Taxpayers in the suburb of Winchelsea recorded a median income of $46,032 and an average income of $60,740, compared to $50,954 and $62,728 in Regional Vic.. Factoring in a Wage Price Index rise of 9.62% since financial year 2023, local estimates would stand at roughly $50,460 for median income and $66,583 for average income as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes are modest, falling between the 32nd and 38th percentiles.
The primary income group is the $1,500 - 2,999 band, containing 33.1% of residents (981 people), matching the regional distribution where 30.3% fall into this bracket. Financial strain from housing costs is notable, with only 84.8% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the 33rd percentile, while the SEIFA score ranks the suburb of Winchelsea in the 4th decile for income.
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
Residential architecture in the suburb of Winchelsea at the time of the latest census consisted of 94.8% standalone houses and 5.2% alternative structures like townhouses and apartments, compared to Regional Vic. where houses comprised 90.1% and other structures made up 9.9%. Home ownership stood at 35.6%, which is lower than Regional Vic., while 44.3% of homes had mortgages and 20.2% were occupied by tenants. Median mortgage costs were higher than regional levels at $1,560 per month, and median weekly rent was $295, compared to Regional Vic. figures of $1,430 and $285.
In contrast to broader averages, local housing costs are lower than the Australian mortgage median of $1,863 and the national rent median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Winchelsea counted 953 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,151 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
Families make up 69.7% of local households, consisting of couples with children at 28.4%, childless couples at 30.6%, and single parent households at 9.8%. Single-person households account for 28.5% of homes, while group share houses represent 2.2%, bringing the total non-family share to 30.3%. The median household size is 2.4 people, matching 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
The suburb of Winchelsea has a lower proportion of residents with university qualifications (18.7%) compared to the Victorian average of 33.4%. Among those with higher education degrees, bachelor qualifications are most common at 13.5%, followed by postgraduate studies at 2.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.5%. Practical and vocational qualifications are highly prevalent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 12.5% and certificates at 31.5%. Student numbers are high in the suburb of Winchelsea, with 27.8% of the population enrolled in an educational institution.
This is distributed as 9.8% in primary schools, 7.1% in high schools, and 3.2% in higher 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 suburb of Winchelsea is served by 2 public transit stops, which consist of train connections. These stops are utilized by 2 routes that provide a combined total of 70 passenger journeys each week. Local transit options are limited, with residents living an average of 1044 meters from the nearest stop. Private vehicles remain the primary mode of travel, used by 92% of commuters, while 6% walk to work. Average vehicle ownership is 1.7 cars per household, which is higher than the regional average. Working from home was recorded for 16.7% of residents during the 2021 Census, which was likely affected by pandemic restrictions.
Transit services average 10 journeys daily across the network, which equates to roughly 35 weekly trips per 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
Based on local health statistics, the suburb of Winchelsea experiences notable wellness challenges. Chronic diseases are relatively common across different age ranges, and the level of private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 51% of the population (~1,509 people) holding policies. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent issues, affecting 9.1% and 8.9% of residents, respectively. A total of 62.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. Health difficulties are notable among the working-age cohort, and residents aged 65 and over make up 21.7% of the population (643 people), which is lower than the Regional Vic.
average of 23.9%. Senior health trends are generally consistent with national benchmarks.
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
The suburb of Winchelsea has a relatively uniform cultural makeup, with citizens comprising 89.5% of the population, 90.5% born in Australia, and 97.4% speaking only English at home. The largest religious affiliation is Christianity, representing 45.5% of the population. In terms of other religions, Judaism recorded no adherents, compared to a regional representation of 0.1%. The most common ancestral backgrounds identified by residents are Australian (33.2%), English (32.6%), and Irish (9.5%). Other European ancestries are represented, with Scottish background at 9.0% (compared to 8.8% regionally), Dutch at 1.7% (compared to 1.7%), and Maltese ancestry at 0.7% (compared to 0.5% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Winchelsea is 40. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 24.6% 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 median age of residents is 40 years, slightly lower than the Regional Vic. average of 43 but just above the national median of 38. The 25 - 34 cohort is highly represented at 14.7% of the population, while young adults aged 15 - 24 are underrepresented at 9.9%. Between the census periods, the 75 to 84 bracket grew from 6.4% to 7.7%, and children aged 5 to 14 grew from 10.6% to 11.7%, while the 55 to 64 group decreased from 13.6% to 11.9%. Demographic models for 2041 project that the 25 to 34 age range will grow by 127 people (29%), rising from 436 to 564, while the 75 to 84 and 15 to 24 age brackets are expected to contract.
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 Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 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 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 264 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,456 at the 2021 Census → 2,966 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 May 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.