Lorne - Anglesea

Population growth drivers in Lorne - Anglesea are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Lorne - Anglesea's population was 6,393 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 159 people from the 2021 Census count of 6,234, reflecting a growth rate of 2.6%. The estimated resident population in June 2024 was 6,345, with an additional 34 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this increase. This results in a population density of 14.3 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, ending in 2021, Lorne - Anglesea showed a compound annual growth rate of 1.9%, outperforming non-metro areas. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation methods for areas not covered by the ABS data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas until 2041. Future population projections suggest lower quartile growth in Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Lorne - Anglesea expected to expand by 72 persons to 2041, reflecting a decline of 0.6% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Lorne - Anglesea among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Lorne-Anglesea has recorded approximately 50 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 250 homes. As of FY-26, 12 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.4 people per year have moved to the area for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating strong demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $892,000, reflecting developers' focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

This financial year has seen $17.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Lorne-Anglesea records significantly lower building activity, 53.0% below the regional average per person, which generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. The new building activity comprises 93.0% detached dwellings and 7.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 141 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Lorne-Anglesea should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects that could impact the region. Notable ones are Eden Project Anglesea, Anglesea Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan, Anglesea Pedestrian and Cycling Connections, and The Villas. Below is a list of those most relevant.

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 labour market in Lorne - Anglesea shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Lorne - Anglesea has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 1.7% as of September 2025. The area's unemployment rate is 2.0% below the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%, but workforce participation is lower at 54.1% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%.

Key industries of employment among residents are accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and construction. Lorne - Anglesea shows strong specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.0% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.5%, combined with employment decreasing by 0.6%, leaving unemployment broadly flat compared to Rest of Vic.'s employment fall of 0.7% and marginal unemployment rise.

State-level data to 25-Nov shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lorne - Anglesea's employment mix suggests local employment growth of 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Lorne - Anglesea SA2 has an extremely high national median income of $45,600 and an average income of $76,908. In contrast, Rest of Vic.'s median income is $48,741 with an average income of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Lorne - Anglesea SA2 would be approximately $51,145 (median) and $86,260 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, personal income ranks at the 64th percentile ($881 weekly), while household income sits at the 46th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 29.6% of locals (1,892 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, which is similar to regional levels where this cohort also represents 30.3%. After housing costs, residents retain 88.1% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Lorne - Anglesea, as evaluated at the 2016 Census, comprised 92.5% houses and 7.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure was 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lorne - Anglesea stood at 56.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.4% and rented dwellings at 17.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,950. The median weekly rent figure in Lorne - Anglesea was $390, while Non-Metro Vic.'s average was $402. Nationally, mortgage repayments averaged $1,863 and rents were $375.

Lorne - Anglesea has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 67.3% of all households, including 22.0% couples with children, 38.0% couples without children, and 6.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.7%, with lone person households at 29.8% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.5.

Lorne - Anglesea shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Lorne-Anglesea is notably higher than broader standards. 44.4% of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 28.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 28.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.5%) and graduate diplomas (5.5%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 30.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 12.9%, while certificates make up 17.7%. Notably, 24.4% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 7.2% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

A substantial 24.4% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 7.2% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Lorne-Anglesea has 17 active public transport stops. These are served by a mix of buses on four different routes, offering a total of 105 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically living 687 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 15 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about six weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Lorne - Anglesea is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Lorne-Anglesea faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~3,695 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.9% and 6.9% of residents respectively. Sixty-six point eight percent declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.8% across Rest of Vic.. Thirty-four point two percent of residents are aged 65 and over (2,185 people), higher than the 24.2% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Lorne-Anglesea, as per the census data from June 2016, showed lower cultural diversity with 89.3% of its population being Australian citizens and 87.3% born in Australia. The majority, 95.2%, spoke English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 37.9%.

Judaism, however, was slightly overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to the Rest of Vic's 0.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (31.5%), Australian (26.2%), and Irish (13.0%). Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher than average at 11.7% versus the regional 9.7%, French at 0.6% compared to 0.5%, and Polish at 0.8% against a regional figure of 0.7%.

Lorne - Anglesea ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Lorne-Anglesea's median age is 55 years, which is significantly higher than Victoria's average of 43 years and older than Australia's norm of 38 years. The age profile shows a prominent group aged 65-74 (20.6%), while the 5-14 age group is smaller at 8.0% compared to Victoria's average. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is higher than Australia's national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 9.2% to 10.9%, while the 65-74 cohort increased from 19.5% to 20.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group declined from 12.0% to 10.1%, and the 55-64 age group dropped from 18.4% to 16.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Lorne-Anglesea's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 120 people (22%), from 549 to 670. However, the 15-24 and 65-74 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.