Creswick - Clunes
Statistical Area - sa2

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' population is around 8081 as of Aug 2025. This reflects a decrease of 4 people (0.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8085 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8001 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 9.4 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

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. Based on the latest population numbers, the area is expected to increase by 579 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 6.1% 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 approximately 42 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 212 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, there have been 9 approvals so far. The average number of new residents per year arriving for each new home constructed over these five years is around 0.0.

This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. New properties are being constructed at an average expected cost value of $489,000. In terms of commercial development approvals, $16.1 million has been recorded in the current financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Compared to the rest of Victoria, Creswick-Clunes has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person. Nationally, it ranks among the 67th percentile of areas assessed for new dwelling approvals. Recent building activity consists entirely of standalone homes, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. Currently, there are approximately 219 people per dwelling approval in the location, indicating a low density market. Future projections indicate that Creswick-Clunes is expected to add 495 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Creswick - Clunes has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 38thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Waters Edge, Miners Rest, Miners Rest Township Plan, Miners Rest Primary School Redevelopment, and Ballarat North Precinct Structure Plan. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market in Creswick - Clunes demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Creswick-Clunes has an experienced workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 3.5% in the past year, lower than the Rest of Vic.'s 3.8%.

Employment growth was estimated at 7.6%. As of June 2025, 3,769 residents were employed, with a participation rate of 53.0%, below Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. The leading industries are health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly notable, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

However, accommodation & food services are under-represented, at 5.0% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 6.9%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities. In the year to June 2025, employment increased by 7.6%, labour force by 6.8%, reducing unemployment by 0.7 percentage points. Conversely, Rest of Vic. saw employment decline by 0.9% and labour force decline by 0.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. State-wide in Victoria, as of Sep-25, employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, and employment growth was 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Creswick-Clunes' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 income in Creswick - Clunes is below the national average. The median income is $45,547 and the average income stands at $57,009. This contrasts with Rest of Vic., where the median income is $48,741 and the average income is $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates as of March 2025 would be approximately $50,152 for median income and $62,773 for average income. Census 2021 income data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Creswick - Clunes all fall between the 15th and 16th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 29.5% of locals (2,383 people) with earnings in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting a similar pattern seen in the broader area where 30.3% occupy this range. Housing costs are modest, with 88.1% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 21st percentile nationally.

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

Census data from Creswick-Clunes shows 94.7% houses and 5.3% other dwellings, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Creswick-Clunes was 48.5%, with mortgaged properties at 37.1% and rented at 14.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,538. Median weekly rent in Creswick-Clunes was $250, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $300. Nationally, mortgage repayments averaged $1,863 and rents were $375.

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. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households making up 30.7% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, 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 prominent, with 39.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificates at 28.1%. Educational participation is high, with 26.4% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.1%), secondary (7.9%), and tertiary (2.8%).

Creswick-Clunes operates six schools educating approximately 551 students, serving typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 997) with balanced educational opportunities focusing on primary education, while secondary options are available in nearby areas.

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, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 18 different routes that together facilitate 401 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is limited, with residents generally located 722 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 57 daily trips across all routes, which translates to about 6 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

Creswick-Clunes faces significant health challenges, with notable prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 48% (3,903 people), lower than Rest of Vic's 51.4%. Nationally, the average is 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.1%) and mental health issues (9.8%). Conversely, 59.9% report no medical ailments, compared to Rest of Vic's 63.5%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.2% (2,116 people), compared to Rest of Vic's 24.2%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are better than the general population in terms of health metrics.

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 has low cultural diversity, with 90.2% citizens, 89.1% born in Australia, and 96.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, accounting for 45.5%. The 'Other' category shows slight overrepresentation at 0.8%, compared to 0.6% regionally.

Top ancestry groups are English (31.7%), Australian (29.6%), and Irish (11.1%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Scottish is slightly overrepresented at 10.3% vs regional 9.9%, Dutch at 2.4% vs 2.0%, Maltese at 0.6% vs 1.3%.

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

Creswick-Clunes has a median age of 49, which is higher than Rest of Vic's figure of 43 and Australia's average of 38. Compared to Rest of Vic's average, the 55-64 cohort is notably over-represented at 15.7% locally, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.8%. Between 2021 and present day, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 10.6% to 11.4%, while the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Creswick-Clunes's age structure. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 236 people (37%), increasing from 633 to 870. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 65 to 74 cohorts.