California Gully - Eaglehawk
Statistical Area - sa2

California Gully - Eaglehawk lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

California Gully - Eaglehawk's population is around 13,499 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 550 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,949 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,503 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 224 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 409 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, California Gully - Eaglehawk has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 46.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. A significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas is forecast, with California Gully - Eaglehawk expected to expand by 5,468 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 40.5% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within California Gully - Eaglehawk when compared nationally

California Gully - Eaglehawk has averaged approximately 105 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 526 dwellings approved over the past five financial years, ranging from FY-20 to FY-25, and an additional 10 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 1.7 new residents have been associated with each dwelling constructed annually between FY-20 and FY-25, suggesting a balanced supply and demand dynamic that supports stable market conditions. However, recent data indicates this ratio has intensified to 4.3 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, implying growing popularity and potential undersupply in housing. New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $407,000, aligning with regional trends.

This year alone, there have been $1.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating a predominantly residential focus in the area's development activity. When compared to the Rest of Vic., California Gully - Eaglehawk demonstrates comparable new home approvals per capita, suggesting market stability that mirrors regional patterns. However, building activity has slowed in recent years.

The majority of new constructions consist of detached houses (96.0%), with townhouses or apartments making up the remaining 4.0%, preserving the area's traditional low-density character and appeal for families seeking space. Currently, there are an estimated 357 people per dwelling approval in the area, reflecting its quiet and less active development environment. By 2041, future projections anticipate California Gully - Eaglehawk to add approximately 5,472 residents. Given current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

California Gully - Eaglehawk has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Area performance can be significantly influenced by local infrastructure changes, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 17 such projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Virginia Hill in Bendigo, Barrell Street Childcare Centre, California Gully Oval Upgrade, Watson Avenue Childcare Centre, among others detailed below for relevance.

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

The labour market performance in California Gully - Eaglehawk lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

California Gully - Eaglehawk had an unemployment rate of 6.2% as of June 2025, with 5,925 residents employed. This was 2.5% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was similar to Rest of Vic., at 57.4%. Key employment sectors were health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and construction, with a particular strength in the former, which had an employment share 1.2 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, at 1.9% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. Over the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 0.2%, while labour force rose by 1.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.5 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment decline by 0.9% and labour force decrease by 0.4%. State-wide in Victoria, employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year to Sep-25, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, slightly above the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicated growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to California Gully - Eaglehawk's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in California Gully - Eaglehawk is $47,261 and average income stands at $52,583. This contrasts with Rest of Vic., where median income is $48,741 and average income is $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $52,039 (median) and $57,899 (average) by March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in California Gully - Eaglehawk fall between the 15th and 21st percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution data reveals that 30.3% of residents (4,090 people) earn $1,500 - $2,999, mirroring metropolitan regions with similar percentages in this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 16th percentile nationally.

California Gully - Eaglehawk is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in California Gully - Eaglehawk, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.9% houses and 5.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 90.6% houses and 9.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in California Gully - Eaglehawk was 32.8%, similar to Non-Metro Vic., with the rest being mortgaged (36.5%) or rented (30.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,408 and Australia's national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was $280, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s $295 and the national average of $375.

California Gully - Eaglehawk features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 65.0% of all households, including 23.1% couples with children, 24.5% couples without children, and 15.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.0%, with lone person households at 31.9% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of Vic.

California Gully - Eaglehawk faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 14.7%, significantly below the Victorian average of 33.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (30.7%).

Educational participation is high at 28.0%, including 10.4% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education. California Gully-Eaglehawk's five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,446 students. The area has varied educational conditions with four primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents are lower at 10.8 compared to the regional average of 18.1, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 79 active transport stops operating within California Gully - Eaglehawk. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. They are serviced by 12 individual routes, collectively providing 1,301 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 394 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 185 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in California Gully - Eaglehawk is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

California Gully - Eaglehawk faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low, at approximately 47% (~6,304 people), compared to 50.5% across the rest of Victoria and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, impacting 12.7% and 10.8% of residents respectively.

Approximately 58.4% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 62.0% across the rest of Victoria. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 17.8% (2,406 people), compared to 18.9% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly aligned with the general population's health profile.

California Gully - Eaglehawk is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

California Gully-Eaglehawk had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 90.3% of its population being citizens, 90.5% born in Australia, and 92.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 42.9% of the population. Buddhism, however, was overrepresented at 1.8%, compared to the regional average of 1.4%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.2%), Australian (31.5%), and Irish (9.1%). Notably, Scottish ancestry was slightly overrepresented at 8.3% compared to the regional figure of 8.7%. Additionally, Australian Aboriginal ancestry was higher than average at 2.7%, compared to 1.7%, and German ancestry was also marginally overrepresented at 3.3% versus the regional figure of 3.2%.

California Gully - Eaglehawk's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in California Gully-Eaglehawk is 37 years, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 43 and close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows a prominent group aged 25-34 (18.0%) and a comparatively smaller group aged 65-74 (9.5%). Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 15.1% to 18.0%, while the 35-44 cohort has risen from 11.0% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has decreased from 11.2% to 9.5% and the 5-14 group has dropped from 12.7% to 11.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in California Gully-Eaglehawk's age structure, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to rise substantially by 2,040 people (84%), reaching a total of 4,476 from its current figure of 2,435.