Creswick - Clunes

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

Creswick-Clunes' population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is 8,332 as of Feb 2026. This marks an increase of 247 people (3.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,085. The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 7,997 in June 2024 and 91 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 9.7 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration was the primary driver of recent population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to increase by 579 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of approximately 2.9% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Creswick - Clunes according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Creswick-Clunes has recorded approximately 43 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 215 homes were approved, with an additional 20 approved so far in FY26. The average number of new residents arriving per new home over these years is about zero, indicating that supply meets or exceeds demand and supports potential population growth while providing greater buyer choice.

The average construction value for new properties during this period was $330,000. In the current financial year, approximately $16.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting steady commercial investment activity in the area. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Creswick-Clunes records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 67th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

All new construction in Creswick-Clunes has consisted of detached dwellings, preserving its low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. This is reflected by the area's population density of around 219 people per approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Creswick-Clunes is projected to add approximately 244 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Creswick - Clunes has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 26 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include 35 Elizabeth Road Land Release, Waters Edge, Miners Rest, Miners Rest Township Plan, and Miners Rest Primary School Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The employment landscape in Creswick - Clunes shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Creswick-Clunes has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 3.6% in September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.0%.

As of that date, 3747 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.1% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 57.5%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. A moderate 20.8% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction.

The area had particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, accommodation & food services had a limited presence at 5.0% compared to the regional average of 6.9%. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.0%, while labour force grew by 1.5%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic saw employment fall by 0.7% and unemployment rise marginally during this period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project a national employment expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Creswick-Clunes's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% 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

The Creswick-Clunes SA2's median income among taxpayers was $47,937 in financial year 2023, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $59,698 during this period. This compares with figures for Rest of Vic., which were $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $51,892 (median) and $64,623 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Creswick-Clunes all fall between the 15th and 16th percentiles nationally. The data shows that the $1,500-$2,999 bracket dominates with 29.5% of residents (2,457 people), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 30.3% in the same category. While housing costs are modest with 88.1% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 20th percentile nationally.

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

In Creswick-Clunes, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 5.3% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro Vic., where 90.1% were houses and 9.9% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Creswick-Clunes stood at 48.5%, with mortgaged properties at 37.1% and rented ones at 14.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Creswick-Clunes was $250, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, mortgage repayments averaged $1,863 and rents were $375 per week.

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

Family households comprise 67.2% of all households, including 23.9% couples with children, 33.2% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. The remaining 32.8% are non-family households, consisting of 30.7% lone person households and 2.1% group households. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Creswick - Clunes aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 21.4%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (28.1%). Educational participation is high, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (10.1%), secondary education (7.9%), and tertiary education (2.8%).

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

Creswick-Clunes has 58 active public transport stops serving a mix of train routes. These are covered by 8 different routes offering 329 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have limited access to these services, with an average distance of 721 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from this primarily residential area. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 92%, while 5% walk. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 20.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 47 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 5 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Creswick - Clunes is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges for Creswick - Clunes. AreaSearch's assessment shows high prevalence rates of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups.

The rate of private health cover is notably low at approximately 49% of the total population (around 4,074 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.1% and 9.8% of residents respectively. Conversely, 59.9% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of Vic's 63.4%. The working-age population faces significant health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.1% (around 2,171 people), compared to Rest of Vic's 23.9%. Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, with national rankings even worse than those of the general population.

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

Creswick-Clunes, as per the 2016 Census, had a cultural diversity index below average. 90.2% of its residents were Australian citizens, with 89.1% born in Australia, and 96.8% speaking only English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 45.5% of the population.

The 'Other' category showed a slight overrepresentation compared to the rest of Victoria, with 0.8% versus 0.7%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (31.7%), Australian (29.6%), and Irish (11.1%). Notable divergences included Scottish (10.3% vs regional 8.8%), Dutch (2.4% vs 1.7%), and Maltese (0.6% vs 0.5%).

Creswick - Clunes hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Creswick-Clunes has a median age of 49, which is higher than the Rest of Vic.'s figure of 43 and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Vic., the 55-64 cohort is notably over-represented in Creswick-Clunes at 15.6%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 10.6% to 11.7% of the population, while the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 11.4% to 10.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Creswick-Clunes's age structure. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 199 people (30%), from 670 to 870. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 5-14 cohorts.