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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
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Lockington - Gunbower has an estimated 3,950 residents. 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
Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Lockington - Gunbower's population is around 3,950 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 23 people (0.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,927 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,950 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 13 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2.4 persons per square kilometer, a level providing ample space per person. Lockington - Gunbower's 0.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (-2.1%), though growth remains modest.
Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 57.5% of overall population gains during recent periods. According to the 2024 releases utilizing 2022 as the base year, figures for each SA2 region are drawn from ABS and Geoscience Australia projections. In cases where data is unavailable for certain SA2 territories, the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are applied, with adjustments calculated through a weighted aggregation of population changes from the LGA to the SA2 scale. The age cohort growth rates derived from these combinations are also projected forward for all sectors between the years 2032 and 2041. Looking at future demographic shifts, a major expansion of residents is anticipated for regional locations ranking in the top national tier, with this specific locality projected to grow by 1,053 persons to 2041 using current annual ERP records, representing a total rise of 26.7% over the course of the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
58 new dwellings have been approved in Lockington - Gunbower over the past five years, an average of 11 a year. That is 3.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 8, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Approximately 11 home construction permits are approved annually in Lockington - Gunbower, totaling 58 residential approvals over the previous 5 financial years (spanning FY-21 to FY-25) and 8 during the current FY-26. Stable market conditions are indicated by a balance of supply and demand, with an average of 1.5 new residents per year per approved home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), although this has recently softened to 0.4 people per dwelling over the last 2 financial years to show an improved supply-demand balance. The typical construction value for these new properties is $313,000.
Additionally, commercial building approvals have reached $1.4 million this financial year, which highlights the predominantly residential nature of the locality. Building activity per person in Lockington - Gunbower is about three-quarters of the level recorded across the Rest of Vic. and places the area in the 34th percentile of all regions evaluated nationwide, indicating relatively few options for buyers and driving up demand for pre-existing houses. This rate of construction also falls below the national average, indicating a mature market and highlighting potential planning restrictions. Additionally, all recent construction projects have been standalone homes, preserving the established low-density feel of the neighborhood with a focus on spacious family residences. The quiet nature of local construction is highlighted by an estimated ratio of 480 people in the area per dwelling approval. Long-term forecasts suggest that Lockington - Gunbower will add 1,053 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If building activity continues at its current rate, housing construction may not keep pace with this population increase, which could intensify competition among buyers and support rising 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 $6.41 billion. 23 are already under construction and 22 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
The performance of a region is heavily influenced by local infrastructure improvements, major developments, and urban planning decisions. AreaSearch has highlighted a total of 6 projects that are expected to influence the local area. The most significant developments include AFL Breaking New Ground - St Joseph's College Echuca, Yallarah Estate, Rich River Lakes Estate, and Kilkerrin Lakes Estate, with detailed information provided below on those most likely to impact the community.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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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.
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.
Moama Preschool Development
New preschool facility to serve the growing residential developments in Moama, featuring modern early childhood education facilities and outdoor play areas.
2,241 residents of Lockington - Gunbower are employed, from a labour force of 2,273. Unemployment sits at 1.4%, with participation at 69.8%. 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 3,300, 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 diverse workforce balanced between white and blue collar roles across various sectors, with an unemployment rate of only 1.4% and an estimated annual job growth rate of 2.8%. There are 2,241 employed residents as of March 2026, while the local unemployment rate sits 2.3% below the Regional Vic. average of 3.7%, and the participation rate is notably high at 69.8% compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.1%. Data from the Census indicates a moderate 19.2% of the workforce worked from home, although this figure should be interpreted alongside the effects of Covid-19 restrictions.
The primary sectors employing residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The community is highly specialized in agriculture, forestry & fishing, which employs a share of the workforce 3.9 times larger than the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented, accounting for 13.0% of the local workforce compared to 16.8% in Regional Vic.. Comparing the Census working population against the resident workforce suggests that local employment options within the area are relatively limited. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics for the 12 months ending March 2026, local employment grew by 2.8% while the labor force expanded by 3.0%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional Vic. saw employment fall by 0.1% and the labor force shrink by 0.3%, leading to a decrease of 0.2 percentage points. National employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide additional context on potential workforce demand trends in Lockington - Gunbower. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth patterns. Although overall national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expansion rates vary widely across different industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the employment distribution of Lockington - Gunbower indicates local jobs could grow by 5.1% over five years and 11.5% over ten years, though this is a basic weighted projection for illustration and excludes localized population models.
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
The most recent postcode-level ATO records from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show that household incomes in the Lockington - Gunbower SA2 are below the national average, recording a median of $47,667 and an average of $56,197. These values contrast with the median of $50,954 and average of $62,728 recorded across Regional Vic.. Factoring in a Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.62% since financial year 2023, the updated estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $52,253 for the median and $61,603 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all ranked modestly, landing between the 30th and 30th percentiles.
Looking at the income distribution, 33.5% of residents (1,323 individuals) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the metropolitan area where 30.3% fall into this bracket. Residents manage their housing costs well, retaining 89.5% of income, though disposable funds remain below the norm at the 37th percentile, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 4th decile for income.
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
According to the most recent Census, the housing composition in Lockington - Gunbower consisted of 98.6% standalone houses and 1.5% alternative dwellings like apartments, townhouses, and other types, whereas Regional Vic. recorded 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Furthermore, home ownership was significantly higher than the regional average at 45.6%, while the remaining properties were either mortgaged (39.8%) or occupied by renters (14.6%). The typical monthly mortgage payment in the area was lower than the regional average at $1,320, and the typical weekly rent was $200, compared to Regional Vic.
averages of $1,430 and $285. On a national level, the mortgage repayments in Lockington - Gunbower are considerably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national figure 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
Families make up the majority of households at 76.8%, which includes 32.0% couples raising children, 35.2% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent households. The remaining 23.2% consists of non-family households, with single-person households representing 21.1% and group living situations accounting for 1.9% of the total. The typical household size of 2.6 residents is larger than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.
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
Local education statistics indicate some areas of concern, with the university qualification rate of 14.3% falling well below the VIC average of 33.4%. This highlights both a key area of need and a target for future educational initiatives. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.6% and postgraduate credentials at 1.4%. Vocational and technical training are highly represented, with 42.5% of the population aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 32.3%. Enrolment rates are particularly strong, with 30.4% of the population actively participating in formal study.
This student population includes 13.0% attending primary school, 9.7% in secondary school, and 2.1% enrolled in higher education.
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
An evaluation of public transport options shows 5 active transit stops in Lockington - Gunbower. These stops are served by 3 unique routes, which together provide 24 weekly passenger trips. Transit accessibility is classified as good, with residents living an average of 359 meters from their nearest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, many workers commute to other places, with private vehicles being the primary mode of travel at 91%, followed by walking at 6%. The average number of vehicles per household is 2.2, which is higher than the regional average.
Additionally, 19.2% of residents work from home, based on the 2021 Census, which may show the impact of COVID-19 conditions. Transit services average 3 trips per day across the available routes, which translates to roughly 4 weekly trips for each 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
The local population displays relatively positive health trends, with AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and medical conditions showing outcomes that align closely with national baselines, though common illnesses are slightly more frequent than average among both the younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is notably low at approximately 48% of the population (~1,876 people), which compares to 50.5% across Regional Vic. and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues in the community, affecting 10.2 and 8.5% of residents respectively, while 65.6% of the population reported no chronic illnesses compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic..
Among working-age individuals, the prevalence of chronic health issues is higher than average. The community includes 21.9% of residents aged 65 and over (864 people), which is lower than the Regional Vic. share of 23.9%, and national health rankings for the area are generally consistent with the broader population.
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
Lockington - Gunbower shows lower levels of cultural diversity than the national average, with citizens making up 88.5% of the population, 94.2% born in Australia, and 97.7% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 51.9% of local residents, compared to 47.3% across Regional Vic.. Regarding family backgrounds, the three most common ancestry groups in Lockington - Gunbower are Australian at 37.6% of the population (which is significantly higher than the regional level of 29.6%), English at 31.4%, and Irish at 9.3%. There are also distinct variations in other heritages: Scottish background is overrepresented at 9.2% of the population (compared to 8.8% regionally), Welsh is at 0.5% (compared to 0.4%), and German is at 3.1% (compared to 3.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Lockington - Gunbower is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 20.8% 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
The median age of 45 years in Lockington - Gunbower is slightly higher than the Regional Vic. average of 43 and significantly older than the national median of 38. The 55 - 64 age group is highly represented locally at 15.4% compared to the regional average, while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented at 8.6%. Since 2021, the cohort aged 65 to 74 grew from 12.4% to 14.3% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group rose from 10.6% to 12.2%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 bracket shrank from 14.5% to 13.2% and the 55 to 64 group declined from 16.6% to 15.4%.
Demographic models show that Lockington - Gunbower's age structure will change significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort is expected to rise by 240 people (71%) to grow from 339 to 580, while the 55 to 64 cohort is projected to see a very small increase of 3% (15 people).
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 Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 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 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 13 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,927 at the 2021 Census → 3,950 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 May 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.