Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Lockington - Gunbower has an estimated 3,952 residents, up from 3,927 at the 2021 Census. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Lockington - Gunbower stands at approximately 3,952 as of Aug 2026. Compared to the 3,927 people recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents a modest expansion of 25 residents, or 0.6%. This figure is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 3,950 recorded as of June 2025 alongside 18 validated new addresses registered following the Census. With 2.4 persons per square kilometer, the locality enjoys a low population density and generous living space. Although growth remains restrained, the 0.6% increase in Lockington - Gunbower outpaced the broader SA3 area (-2.1%).
Inward demographic gains were predominantly fueled by natural increase, accounting for roughly 57.5% of overall additions over recent timeframes. Projections published by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024, utilizing 2022 as a baseline, serve as the foundation for AreaSearch's SA2 modelling. Where local coverage is absent, figures draw upon the 2023 Victorian State Government Regional/LGA projections, using weighted aggregation methods to translate LGA-level trajectory down to SA2 zones. Age-specific growth distribution from these calculations is similarly projected across all regions from 2032 to 2041. Over the coming years, demographic forecasts position the area within the upper quartile of regional Australia, anticipating an influx of 1,042 residents by 2041 based on current annual ERP metrics, equating to an overall expansion of 26.3% over the 16-year duration.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
48 new dwellings have been approved in Lockington - Gunbower over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That is 2.4 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals across Lockington - Gunbower have tracked at approximately 9 dwellings annually, amounting to 48 homes throughout the preceding 5 financial years. Between FY-22 and FY-26, the area saw an average of 1.8 incoming residents per approved residence, pointing toward a balanced supply environment and market stability; this ratio has further eased to 0.4 people per dwelling over the last 2 financial years, reinforcing equilibrium between supply and demand. The average expected construction cost for newly approved dwellings is $484,000. Additionally, commercial building approvals have totaled $1.4 million during this financial year, reflecting subdued commercial construction momentum.
When compared against Rest of Vic., new residential approval volumes per capita in Lockington - Gunbower run at roughly two-thirds the wider rate, ranking the locality in the 35th percentile across the country; this indicates constrained purchasing choice while bolstering interest in established stock. Such figures fall below the national norm, underscoring local market maturity and potential planning limitations. Recent residential construction has comprised detached houses exclusively, preserving the district's uncrowded character and catering to family-oriented buyers seeking spacious surroundings. An estimated ratio of 417 residents per approved home highlights a tranquil, low-volume development setting. Projections from the latest quarterly figures by AreaSearch indicate that Lockington - Gunbower will add 1,040 people heading into 2041. Should current residential development paces persist, additions to the dwelling pool could lag behind population expansion, thereby heightening buyer demand and driving up residential property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Lockington - Gunbower
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 78 current infrastructure and development projects close to Lockington - Gunbower, worth an estimated $6.42 billion. 24 are already under construction and 23 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and education & training. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Regional development and community vitality are heavily shaped by strategic infrastructure updates and planning endeavors. AreaSearch has pinpointed a total of 6 major development projects expected to influence the broader area. Key initiatives comprise AFL Breaking New Ground - St Joseph's College Echuca, Yallarah Estate, Rich River Lakes Estate, and Kilkerrin Lakes Estate, with detailed summaries covering those of highest local significance provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
AFL Breaking New Ground - St Joseph's College Echuca
MCG-sized oval facility at St Joseph's College Kildare Campus with 100 lux lighting, primarily for Australian rules football. Partnership between AFL Victoria and Echuca Junior Football Club.
Yallarah Estate
Yallarah is a landmark 142-hectare masterplanned community in Echuca West by Wel.Co, designed to deliver over 2,000 homesites. Civil construction has officially commenced. It features lot sizes from 420sqm to 2,000sqm, a future early learning centre, a large display village, and extensive outdoor lifestyle amenities including walking and cycling paths near the Murray River.
Rich River Lakes Estate
Lakeside residential estate adjacent to Rich River Golf Club featuring premium lots with golf course and lake views, recreational facilities including swimming pool, tennis court, and community amenities.
McMahon's Place Estate
Master-planned residential community delivering over 1,000 homes across more than 100 hectares of former farmland in Echuca West. Lots range from 480 to 800 sqm. The estate features 6.9 hectares of open space including parks, wetlands, walking tracks, playgrounds, and a full-sized sports oval. Smart home features include fibre optic NBN. Civil works on Stages 1 and 2 commenced August 2025 with land titles expected late 2026. The project is expected to increase Echuca's housing stock by over 10% and inject $1.6 billion into the regional economy.
Kilkerrin Lakes Estate
Completed residential estate featuring established homes around constructed lakes with recreational facilities and landscaped parklands.
Echuca-Moama Bridge Project
The largest transport infrastructure project in northern Victoria completed in 2022. A second bridge crossing connecting Echuca and Moama via the Campaspe and Murray rivers with new 4.5km walking and cycling pathway.
Echuca Regional Health Infrastructure Upgrade
Funded via the Victorian Government's Regional Health Infrastructure Fund and managed by the Victorian Health Building Authority, this $10.2 million project delivers major upgrades at Echuca Regional Health. The scope includes relocating and expanding the Central Sterile Services Department and the Oral Health Unit within the refurbished Lumeah building on Francis Street. Works are actively progressing to enhance surgical processing standards and dental clinical capacity.
Victoria Park Multipurpose Community and Emergency Relief Centre
Redevelopment of Victoria Park in Echuca into a multipurpose community and emergency relief centre. Features a 400-seat accessible grandstand, community facility with change rooms, function space (250 seated/400 standing), emergency relief centre with companion animal shelter, 99kW solar system, upgraded playground and sealed car parking. The entire facility, including the new community building and emergency relief centre, was officially opened on 29 November 2025.
2,241 residents of Lockington - Gunbower are employed, from a labour force of 2,273. Unemployment sits at 1.4%, with participation at 69.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,302, about 84% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Lockington - Gunbower features a well-rounded labor market that includes both white and blue collar positions across various industries, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% and an estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the last year. In March 2026, 2,241 residents were employed, and the local unemployment rate stood at 2.3%, which is 1.4 percentage points lower than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%, while workforce participation reached 69.7%, significantly exceeding Regional Vic.'s 61.1%. Census data indicates that 19.2% of residents worked from home, a figure that may reflect the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdown measures.
Local workforce engagement is heavily centered around agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, alongside construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing displays exceptional prominence, employing residents at 3.9 times the regional standard. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for 13.0% of working residents in Lockington - Gunbower, falling short of the 16.8% benchmark found in Regional Vic.. Comparing resident worker numbers to local employment counts indicates that on-site commercial and industrial job opportunities within the boundary are relatively scarce. Analysis conducted by AreaSearch using SALM and ABS figures shows that employment grew by 2.8% and the labour force expanded by 3.0% during the year to March 2026, which led to an unemployment increase of 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Vic. experienced a 0.1% drop in employment and a 0.3% reduction in the labour force, causing unemployment to fall by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Mar-26 provide additional context regarding potential future demand in Lockington - Gunbower. These projections span five and ten year periods and have been overlaid with the local employment profile to estimate growth trends. Although national employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, expansion rates vary considerably across industry sectors. When these sector-specific forecasts are applied to the employment composition of Lockington - Gunbower, local employment is expected to grow by 5.1% over five years and 11.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Lockington - Gunbower is $1,428 a week (about $74,000 a year), with median personal income at $711 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,667 a year against an average of $56,197. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Postcode-based ATO records for financial year 2023 reviewed by AreaSearch indicate that personal earnings across the Lockington - Gunbower SA2 trail nationwide averages, showing a median of $47,667 and an average of $56,197. These metrics sit below Regional Vic. averages of $50,954 (median) and $62,728 (average). Adjusting for a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of roughly $52,253 for median earnings and $61,603 for average earnings by March 2026. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household income percentiles in Lockington - Gunbower clustered modestly between the 30th and 30th percentiles.
The primary earnings tier spans $1,500 - 2,999, taking in 33.5% of the community (1,323 people), aligning with the wider regional proportion of 30.3%. Residents retain 89.5% of income after housing expenses, though disposable earnings place in the 37th percentile and the SEIFA income index positions the area in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Lockington - Gunbower had 1,387 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 0% apartments. 40% are owned with a mortgage, 15% rented and 46% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $200 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,320 a month. Rent absorbs 14.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential dwellings in Lockington - Gunbower at the most recent Census consisted of 98.6% standalone houses and 1.5% non-detached dwellings, apartments, or other structures, whereas Regional Vic. recorded 90.1% separate houses and 9.9% alternative dwellings. Full home ownership was exceptionally high at 45.6%, substantially surpassing the regional rate, while mortgaged properties accounted for 39.8% and rental arrangements made up 14.6%. Typical monthly mortgage commitments stood at $1,320, lower than the Regional Vic. baseline of $1,430, while median weekly rent was $200 compared to $285 regionally. On a nationwide scale, local mortgage servicing costs sit well below the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and weekly rents remain well under the nationwide median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Lockington - Gunbower counted 1,387 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 35% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households represent the primary living arrangement at 76.8%, consisting of couples with children at 32.0%, childless couples at 35.2%, and single parent families at 9.2%. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.2%, made up of lone-occupant residences at 21.1% and group living situations at 1.9%. The area records a median household size of 2.6 people, slightly higher than the 2.4 average seen across Regional Vic..
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.3% of adults in Lockington - Gunbower hold a university qualification, including 11.3% with a bachelor degree and 1.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 76% of areas nationally. A further 32.3% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 183 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 959 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment in the region remains subdued, with university degree holders comprising 14.3% of the populace compared to the VIC average of 33.4%, highlighting a distinct scope for educational development. Bachelor degrees constitute 11.3%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.6% and postgraduate credentials at 1.4%. By contrast, vocational qualifications are prominent among adults aged 15+, with 42.5% holding vocational credentials, including 10.2% with advanced diplomas and 32.3% with certificates. Participation in study is active across the district, with 30.4% of the population attending an educational institution. Among these, primary schooling accounts for 13.0%, secondary education enrolls 9.7%, and 2.1% are engaged in higher tertiary learning.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Lockington - Gunbower means driving: households keep an average of 2.2 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transportation network assessments identify 5 operational transit stops within Lockington - Gunbower, connected by 3 separate routes that collectively provide 28 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is favorable, with residents generally residing 359 meters from their closest stop. Commuters primarily travel outside the area for work, with private motor vehicles being the principal mode of travel for 91% of residents, while 6% commute on foot. Households maintain an average of 2.2 vehicles, exceeding regional standards, while 19.2% worked from home according to the 2021 Census amid prevailing COVID-19 dynamics.
Across all transit lines, trip frequencies average 4 trips per day, delivering around 5 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
65.6% of residents in Lockington - Gunbower report no long-term health condition. 4.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Overall health conditions across Lockington - Gunbower reflect favorable patterns, with AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and medical indicators aligning with Australian standards, though general ailments show a slightly elevated frequency across both younger and older cohorts. Private healthcare insurance uptake is notably limited, covering roughly 48% of the populace (~1,877 people), compared to 50.5% in Regional Vic. and 55.7% across Australia. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most widespread diagnosed conditions locally, reported by 10.2 and 8.5% of residents respectively, whereas 65.6% of residents indicated no long-term medical ailments, outperforming the Regional Vic.
level of 63.4%. Chronic illnesses are somewhat more prevalent among the working-age population. Older residents aged 65 and over make up 23.0% of the community (907 people), below the Regional Vic. proportion of 24.0%, with overall health indicators matching general nationwide distributions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Lockington - Gunbower is largely Australian-born, at 94.2% of residents, with 2.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (37.6%) and English (31.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Lockington - Gunbower track below national benchmarks, with 88.5% holding citizenship, 94.2% born in Australia, and 97.7% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity represents the dominant faith, practiced by 51.9% of residents in Lockington - Gunbower, compared with 47.3% across Regional Vic.. Looking at ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the primary origins reported in Lockington - Gunbower are Australian at 37.6% (exceeding the regional share of 29.6%), English at 31.4%, and Irish at 9.3%. Other notable ancestral representations include Scottish at 9.2% (against 8.8% regionally), Welsh at 0.5% (compared to 0.4%), and German at 3.1% (versus 3.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Lockington - Gunbower is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 20.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Age distributions in Lockington - Gunbower closely parallel Regional Vic., with no broad age cohort deviating by more than 4.5 percentage points from regional proportions. As at August 2026, the estimated median age is 45, mirroring the 2021 Census figure and sitting 2 years above the Regional Vic. median of 43 from that Census, compared to the nationwide median of 38. Retirees and senior residents aged 65+ have expanded their share from 19.7% at the Census to an estimated 23.0%. By 2041, individuals aged 25 - 44 are projected to drive local growth, increasing by 366 residents (50%) to reach 1,102.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Lockington - Gunbower
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 18 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,927 at the 2021 Census → 3,952 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (216011408). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.