Castlemaine Surrounds

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

Castlemaine Surrounds' population is approximately 9,721 as of February 2026. This figure shows an increase of 496 people, a 5.4% rise since the 2021 Census which reported 9,225 inhabitants. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 9,596 in June 2024 and 219 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 6.4 persons per square kilometer. Castlemaine Surrounds' growth rate of 5.4% is close to the SA3 area's 6.8%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Interstate migration contributed approximately 78.4% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, they use VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Projected demographic trends suggest a population decline of 799 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 25 to 34 age group with an increase of 125 people.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Castlemaine Surrounds among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Castlemaine Surrounds has seen approximately 61 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25307 homes were approved, with an additional 28 approved so far in FY26. Each new dwelling has attracted an average of 2.4 new residents annually over these years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $342,000. This year alone, $6.4 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Castlemaine Surrounds has comparable new home approvals per capita, maintaining market balance with the broader area.

All recent development has consisted of detached houses, preserving the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. The location currently hosts approximately 192 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its low-density market. Given stable or declining population projections, housing demand pressures in Castlemaine Surrounds are expected to remain relatively low, benefiting potential buyers.

Castlemaine Surrounds has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 28 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Haven Castlemaine, Levee Banks Project, Frederick Street Precinct Project, and Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plant Upgrade. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

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The employment environment in Castlemaine Surrounds shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Castlemaine Surrounds has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.0%, having seen a 2.5% employment growth in the past year as of September 2025. In this period, 4,558 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation stood at 56.5%, below Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. Home workership among residents was high at 27.8%, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, accommodation & food services are under-represented at 4.6%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 6.9%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.5% while labour force rose by 2.8%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point unemployment rise. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment fall by 0.7%, labour force contract by 0.6%, and marginal unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Castlemaine Surrounds' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023. Castlemaine Surrounds SA2 had median taxpayer income of $47,136 and average income of $61,400. These figures were lower than national averages of $50,954 (median) and $62,728 (average) for Rest of Vic. Based on 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $51,025 (median) and $66,466 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Castlemaine Surrounds' household, family, and personal incomes fell between the 21st and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income analysis showed that 28.8% of the community earned between $1,500 - 2,999 (2,799 individuals), similar to the broader area at 30.3%. Housing costs were modest with 88.1% of income retained. Total disposable income ranked at the 27th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

In Castlemaine Surrounds, as per the latest Census evaluation, 98.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 1.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Vic., where 90.1% of dwellings were houses and 9.9% were other types. Home ownership in Castlemaine Surrounds stood at 52.5%, with mortgaged properties at 38.9% and rented dwellings at 8.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,473, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure for Castlemaine Surrounds was $280, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Castlemaine Surrounds were lower at $1,473 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Castlemaine Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 67.6% of all households, including 23.3% couples with children, 35.6% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.4%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households making up 2.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Castlemaine Surrounds exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 31.5%, which exceeds the Rest of Vic average of 21.7%. This rate also surpasses that of the SA4 region at 25.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 18.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.7%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 35.9% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 23.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.3% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Castlemaine Surrounds has 32 active public transport stops served by 7 routes offering 153 weekly passenger trips. Residents are typically 1128 meters from the nearest stop. Most commute outward, with cars being the dominant mode at 90%, and 6% walking. Average vehicle ownership is 1.8 per dwelling, above the regional average. In 2021 Census data (possibly influenced by COVID-19 conditions), 27.8% of residents work from home. Service frequency averages 21 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 4 weekly trips per stop.

Service frequency averages 21 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop.

Castlemaine Surrounds'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

Castlemaine Surrounds' 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 relatively low, with approximately 50% of the total population (~4,841 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.3% of residents) and mental health issues (9.6%), while 61.6% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Rest of Vic.. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 28.9% (2,814 people), compared to the state average of 23.9%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than those for the general population.

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

Castlemaine Surrounds, as per the findings, exhibited below-average cultural diversity. Its population composition was predominantly Australian citizens (90.1%), with a majority born in Australia (87.7%) and speaking English at home exclusively (97.1%). Christianity was identified as the primary religion, accounting for 34.4% of the population.

Notably, Judaism showed an overrepresentation in Castlemaine Surrounds, comprising 0.3% compared to the regional average of 0.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.5%), Australian (27.8%), and Irish (11.6%). Significant differences were observed in the representation of Scottish (10.3% vs regional 8.8%), Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.2%), and Dutch (1.7%) ethnic groups.

Castlemaine Surrounds ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Castlemaine Surrounds is 52 years, significantly higher than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 and well above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented at 18.0% locally compared to Rest of Vic.'s average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 7.7%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.9% to 8.9% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 19.0% to 17.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Castlemaine Surrounds. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 10%, adding 72 residents to reach 820. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 35-44 and 75-84 cohorts.