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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Creswick - Clunes's population is around 8,332 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 247 people (3.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,085 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,997 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 91 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 9.7 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of 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 any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the 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 from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the area expected to increase by 579 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 2.9% in total over the 17 years.

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 around 43 residential properties granted approval annually, with 215 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 23 so far in FY-26. At an average of just 0 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential for population growth above projections, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $330,000. Additionally, $16.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

When measured against the Rest of Vic., Creswick - Clunes records about three-quarters of the building activity per person and ranks in the 67th percentile of areas assessed nationally. Further, new construction has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. At around 219 people per approval, Creswick - Clunes reflects a low-density area.

Future projections show Creswick - Clunes adding 244 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 26 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include 35 Elizabeth Road Land Release, Waters Edge, Miners Rest, Miners Rest Township Plan, and Miners Rest Primary School Redevelopment, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment landscape in Creswick - Clunes presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.3%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Creswick - Clunes features a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of only 3.3%. As of December 2025, 3,788 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.4% below Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (57.9% compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.5%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 20.8% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction. The area has a particular employment specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Meanwhile, accommodation & food has a limited presence with 5.0% employment compared to 6.9% regionally. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.8% combined with employment decreasing by 0.5%, resulting in the unemployment rate falling by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional Vic., where employment contracted by 0.6%, the labour force fell by 0.7%, and unemployment fell 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Creswick - Clunes. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Creswick - Clunes's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Creswick - Clunes SA2's income level is below the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Creswick - Clunes SA2's median income among taxpayers is $47,937 and the average income stands at $59,698, which compares to figures for Regional Vic.'s of $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $51,892 (median) and $64,623 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Creswick - Clunes all fall between the 15th and 16th percentiles nationally. The data shows 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

Dwelling structure within Creswick - Clunes, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 94.7% houses and 5.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Creswick - Clunes was well beyond that of Regional Vic., at 48.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (37.1%) or rented (14.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Regional Vic. average at $1,300, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $250, compared to Regional Vic.'s $1,430 and $285. Nationally, Creswick - Clunes's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 67.2% of all households, comprising 23.9% couples with children, 33.2% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households at 30.7% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.3 people is smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (21.4%) substantially below the VIC average of 33.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 13.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (28.1%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 58 active transport stops operating within Creswick - Clunes, comprising a mix of train services. These stops are serviced by 8 individual routes, collectively providing 329 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 721 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 92%, with 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. Some 20.8% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 47 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 5 weekly trips per individual 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 reveals substantial challenges facing Creswick - Clunes, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 49% of the total population (~4,074 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.1% and 9.8% of residents, respectively, while 59.9% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 26.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,171 people), which is higher than the 23.9% in Regional Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than 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 was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 90.2% of its population being citizens, 89.1% born in Australia, and 96.8% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Creswick - Clunes is Christianity, which makes up 45.5% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Other, which comprises 0.8% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Regional Vic..

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Creswick - Clunes are English, comprising 31.7% of the population, Australian, comprising 29.6% of the population, and Irish, comprising 11.1% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 10.3% of Creswick - Clunes (vs 8.8% regionally), Dutch at 2.4% (vs 1.7%) and Maltese at 0.6% (vs 0.5%).

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

With a median age of 49, Creswick - Clunes notably exceeds the Regional Vic. figure of 43 and is well above Australia's 38 years. Compared to the Regional Vic. average, the 55 - 64 cohort is notably over-represented (15.6% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (8.1%). In the period since 2021, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 10.6% to 11.7% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 10.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Creswick - Clunes's age structure. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to experience strong growth, expanding by 199 people (30%) from 670 to 870. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 cohorts.