Lorne - Anglesea
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Lorne - Anglesea are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of August 2025, Lorne - Anglesea's population is approximately 6,371, showing an increase of 137 people since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 6,234. This growth is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 6,328 in June 2024 and the addition of 32 validated new addresses post-Census. The population density is 14.2 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Lorne - Anglesea has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.9%, surpassing non-metro areas. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth. 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 to SA2 levels for areas not covered by the former data.

Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas until 2041. By 2041, Lorne - Anglesea is projected to expand by 72 persons based on recent numbers, reflecting a decline of 0.3% over 17 years.

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

Lorne Anglesea has recorded approximately 50 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with around 250 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and four approvals so far in FY-26. On average, about 2.4 people move to the area per new home constructed annually over these five financial years. This reflects robust demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $1,088,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. There have been around $17.2 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Lorne Anglesea records significantly lower building activity, approximately 53.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes.

New building activity shows around 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 emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 7 projects that could impact the region. Notable ones are Eden Project Anglesea, Anglesea Pedestrian and Cycling Connections, Anglesea Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan, and The Villas. Relevant projects are detailed below.

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

Employment conditions in Lorne - Anglesea demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Lorne - Anglesea has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.7% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.2% over the past year.

In June 2025, 3,261 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 2.1% below Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was somewhat lower at 54.1%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries for employment among residents are accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and construction. Lorne - Anglesea has a particularly strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.0% of Lorne - Anglesea's workforce compared to 7.5% in Rest of Vic.. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.2%, while labour force increased by 2.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic.'s employment fell by 0.9%, labour force contracted by 0.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lorne - Anglesea's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation 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 has extremely high incomes nationally. The median income is $45,600 and the average income stands at $76,908. This contrasts with Rest of Vic.'s figures: median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $50,210 (median) and $84,683 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows personal income ranks at the 64th percentile ($881 weekly), while household income sits at the 46th percentile. The earnings profile indicates that 29.6% of locals (1,885 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to regional levels where this cohort represents 30.3%. After housing costs, residents retain 88.1% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. 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

Lorne - Anglesea's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 92.5% houses and 7.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s figures were 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 ones at 17.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, above Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,950. The median weekly rent figure in Lorne - Anglesea was $390, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $402. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were $390 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 account for 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, which is 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 significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. As of 2016 Census data, 44.4% of residents aged 15 years and over held university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 28.6% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees were most prevalent at 28.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.5%) and graduate diplomas (5.5%). Trade and technical skills were also prominent, with 30.6% of residents aged 15 years and over holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (12.9%) and certificates (17.7%).

A substantial 24.4% of the population was actively pursuing formal education as of 2016. This included 7.2% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education. Lorne-Anglesea's three schools had a combined enrollment reaching 369 students in 2018. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1079. The educational mix includes two primary schools and one K-12 school. Limited local school capacity (5.8 places per 100 residents vs 12.3 regionally) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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 operating along four routes. Together, these routes provide 105 weekly passenger trips.

The transport accessibility is limited, with residents living an average of 687 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 15 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 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 exceptionally high at approximately 58% of the total population (3,682 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.9% and 6.9% of residents respectively. 66.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.8% across the Rest of Vic.. There are 34.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,178 people), which is higher than the 24.2% in the 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 conducted on 27 June 2016, exhibited lower cultural diversity with 89.3% of its population being Australian citizens, 87.3% born in Australia, and 95.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 37.9% of the population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% across Rest of Vic..

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (31.5%), Australian (26.2%), and Irish (13.0%). There were also notable divergences in Scottish (11.7% vs regional 9.7%), French (0.6% vs 0.5%), and Polish (0.8% vs 0.7%) representations.

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

At age 55 years, Lorne - Anglesea's median age is significantly higher than Victoria's average of 43 years and the national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 years are particularly prominent, making up 20.6% of the population, while those aged 5-14 years are relatively smaller at 8.0%. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Since 2021, the age group of 35 to 44 years has grown from 9.2% to 10.9%, while those aged 65 to 74 years increased from 19.5% to 20.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 year-olds have declined from 12.0% to 10.1%, and the 55 to 64 year-olds dropped from 18.4% to 16.8%. Looking ahead to the year 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Lorne - Anglesea's age structure. The 25 to 34 year-old cohort is projected to increase notably, growing by 122 people (22%) from 547 to 670. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 year-old cohorts are expected to experience population declines.