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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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Stawell has an estimated 8,446 residents, down from 8,504 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 evaluation by AreaSearch, the population of Stawell stands at approximately 8,446 by May 2026. This represents a reduction of 58 residents (0.7%) compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 8,504 individuals. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 8,438 in June 2025 combined with 73 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. Stawell's current population density is 3.1 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density with significant personal space. Although Stawell recorded a 0.7% decrease since the 2021 census, it fared better than the broader SA3 region, which dropped by -1.6%.
Incoming migration from abroad served as the primary driver of population gains, acting as the sole factor preventing further population losses in recent times. Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, are applied by AreaSearch to each SA2 region. For SA2 areas where this data is unavailable, projections are sourced from the 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA dataset, adapted via a weighted aggregation of population growth transitioning from LGA to SA2 levels. The age cohort growth rates from these aggregations are also applied across all regions for the period from 2032 to 2041. Based on these demographic forecasts, the area is anticipated to experience population growth slightly below the median for national non-metropolitan zones, with an estimated addition of 465 individuals by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a overall rise of 5.4% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
147 new dwellings have been approved in Stawell over the past five years, an average of 29 a year. That is 3.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 22 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 91% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 16, 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
Stawell has recorded an average of approximately 29 new residential approvals annually, totaling 147 approved dwellings over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 15 during the course of FY-26. With an average of only 0.3 new residents per approved home arriving over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, the volume of new housing is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, maintaining diverse options for buyers and accommodating potential population growth beyond current estimates, with new dwellings carrying an average construction cost of $287,000. Additionally, commercial development shows positive momentum with $31.7 million in commercial approvals registered this financial year.
Stawell exhibits comparable per capita building activity to the Rest of Vic., matching regional trends that support market stability. This level of activity remains below the national average, reflecting the established state of the local area and suggesting possible planning constraints. Of the recent construction, detached houses represent 91.0% and townhouses or apartments make up 9.0%, preserving the traditional low-density residential profile suited to families desiring space. A quiet development landscape is highlighted by an estimated ratio of 380 people for every single dwelling approval. Projections indicate that Stawell will add 457 residents by 2041, starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. In light of established development trends, new residential supply is positioned to satisfy demand, creating favorable buyer conditions and potentially supporting population growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Stawell
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Stawell. A further 70 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $6.66 billion. 12 are already under construction and 27 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, communities, precincts & urban renewal and residential development. 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
Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and regional investments heavily influence area performance. AreaSearch has identified 3 active projects expected to impact the region. These developments include the Western Highway Upgrade - Ararat to Stawell, the Great Western Future Plan 2014-2024, the Melbourne To Adelaide Freight Rail Improvements, and the SEC Renewable Energy Park - Horsham, with the listed items expected to have the most local relevance.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Great Western Future Plan 2014-2024
A 10-year plan developed in partnership with the Northern Grampians Shire Council and the community to guide the future development and growth of Great Western. The plan considers the impact of the Western Highway bypass and aims to enhance the town's village feel, heritage, and tourism potential, particularly around its wineries.
Western Highway Upgrade - Ararat to Stawell
Planning continues for duplication of the Western Highway between Ararat and Stawell. The project includes two lanes in each direction separated by a central median, upgraded intersections, safer local road connections, a bypass north of Great Western, new bridges and overpasses, and improved freight and road safety outcomes. Early environmental investigations and tree surveys are underway while planning and approvals continue.
Melbourne To Adelaide Freight Rail Improvements
Enhancing the Melbourne to Adelaide freight rail to allow double-stacked containers by addressing 1,020 clearance obstructions, potentially reducing costs by 6% and increasing capacity by 48%.
Carisbrook Flood Management Plan Review and Levee Implementation
Central Goldfields Shire Council is updating the Carisbrook Flood Management Plan and reviewing levee implementation after the completed western levee and the 2024 independent review. The current work includes hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, calibration to the 2010, 2011 and 2022 flood events, climate change scenarios, review of the existing levee and flood infrastructure, flood warning and emergency management inputs, and assessment of further mitigation options for Carisbrook and nearby catchments.
Western Highway Upgrade
Multi-billion dollar duplication of the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell, the busiest national undivided highway in Australia and the key freight link between Melbourne and Adelaide. The Ballarat to Buangor section (55km) is complete. The Buangor to Ararat section (12km, Section 2B) is in preconstruction, with design, Cultural Heritage Management Plan, planning scheme amendment and key environmental approvals now finalised; construction is expected to start before the end of 2026, funded by an additional $446 million joint state and federal commitment announced in the 2026/27 budgets, taking the cost of this section to $1.17 billion.Works include an extra lane in each direction, a centre median, safety barriers, a new interchange at Hillside Road, and new bridges over the railway line and Hopkins River. The Ararat to Stawell section remains in planning. The corridor has recorded 158 crashes and 22 fatalities in the decade to March 2026, underscoring the safety case for the upgrade.
Longerenong College Facilities Upgrade
A $6.5 million project funded by the Victorian Government's Agricultural College Modernisation Program to construct new student accommodation, a communal building, parking, and landscaping. The upgrade aims to meet the increasing demand for on-campus living and expand the college's capacity for corporate training and events.
SEC Renewable Energy Park - Horsham
A proposed energy project in Horsham, Victoria, featuring a 119 MW solar farm and a 100 MW / 200 MWh battery, owned by the Victorian Government and delivered by OX2.
AgTIDE DATA Farm Project (Longerenong College)
A digital agriculture demonstration and training farm at Longerenong College, enabling students and industry to trial and adopt agtech. The DATA Farm integrates ~200 devices and ~500 sensors capturing ~30,000 data points per day across a ~1,000+ hectare commercial grain and livestock operation, supported by Victorian Government funding and an on-site Innovation Centre.
4,131 residents of Stawell are employed, from a labour force of 4,213. Unemployment sits at 1.9%, with participation at 58.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce is evenly distributed between white and blue collar occupations, with solid representation in essential services, and a low unemployment rate of 1.9%. As of March 2026, there are 4,131 employed residents, and the unemployment rate sits 1.7% below the Regional Vic. rate of 3.7%, though participation in the labor force is slightly low at 58.5% compared to the regional average of 61.1%. Census data indicates that only 11.9% of residents worked from home, a figure that may be affected by pandemic-related lockdown measures. Resident employment is heavily concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and accommodation & food.
Manufacturing is especially prominent, showing a employment concentration 1.8 times the regional average. Conversely, construction is under-represented, employing just 6.6% of the local workforce compared to 10.4% in Regional Vic.. Comparing the count of the working population from the Census to the local job market suggests that a significant portion of residents travel outside the area for employment. Based on an analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch, the local labour force shrank by 3.4% and total employment fell by 1.3% over the 12 months ending March 2026, leading to a 2.1 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional Vic. experienced a minor employment drop of 0.1% and a labour force contraction of 0.3%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point decline. National employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide context for future local demand. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential employment trajectories. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by sector. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto Stawell's current workforce structure suggests local employment growth of 5.6% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes that excludes local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Stawell is $1,184 a week (about $62,000 a year), with median personal income at $675 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $45,471 a year against an average of $55,212. 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
According to the latest postcode ATO data released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Stawell SA2 recorded a median income of $45,471 and an average income of $55,212. These figures are below the national benchmarks, and compare to a median of $50,954 and an average of $62,728 in Regional Vic.. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated figures of approximately $49,845 for the median and $60,523 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed Stawell's household, family, and individual incomes between the 12th and 23rd percentiles nationwide.
The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket contains 27.9% of the local population (2,356 individuals), which is similar to the wider region where this bracket accounts for 30.3%. Although residents retain 90.1% of their income due to modest housing costs, total disposable income falls in the 19th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Stawell had 3,432 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 4% apartments. 29% are owned with a mortgage, 23% rented and 48% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $214 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,010 a month. Rent absorbs 18.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The distribution of housing types at the time of the latest Census showed that Stawell consisted of 92.2% separate houses and 7.8% other dwelling types like semi-detached homes or apartments, compared to 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings in Regional Vic.. Outright home ownership in Stawell was high at 47.8%, exceeding the rate in Regional Vic., with the remaining households either paying off a mortgage (29.1%) or renting (23.1%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,010 was lower than the Regional Vic. average of $1,430, while the median weekly rent was $214 compared to $285 regionally.
Nationally, local mortgage repayments are well below the Australian median of $1,863, and rent payments are also significantly lower than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Stawell counted 3,432 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.2 people each. 21% are couples with children, fewer than in 83% of areas nationally, against 31% couples without children. 34% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households constitute the majority of dwellings at 62.8%, which breaks down into couples with children at 21.4%, couples without children at 31.4%, and single parent families at 9.0%. Non-family households make up the remaining 37.2% of the total, with lone person households representing 34.0% and group households accounting for 3.0%. The median household size of 2.2 residents is slightly smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.7% of adults in Stawell hold a university qualification, including 11.8% with a bachelor degree and 2.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 29.4% hold a vocational qualification. 8 schools serve the area, with 967 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 955 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
Attainment levels present a challenge in the area, with the university qualification rate of 16.7% tracking well below the VIC average of 33.4%, indicating a clear opportunity for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education qualification at 11.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational training and practical skills are prominent, with 40.2% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 29.4%. Engagement in learning is strong, with 26.7% of local residents enrolled in an educational institution.
This population includes 10.3% attending primary school, 8.0% in secondary school, and 2.0% enrolled in tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Stawell reaches 74 stops on 9 routes, timetabled for about 220 services a week. The typical home sits about 250 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Analysis of transit options shows 74 transport stops within Stawell. These locations are connected to 9 routes that run 216 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is good, with residents living an average of 250 meters from their closest transit point. Most working residents travel outside the area to commute, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice at 89% and walking at 7%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.5 per household. A low 11.9% of residents worked from home, according to 2021 Census data, which was likely influenced by temporary pandemic dynamics. Service frequency across the network averages 30 trips per day, which translates to approximately 2 weekly passenger trips for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
60.2% of residents in Stawell report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 78% of areas nationally. 6.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments indicate notable local challenges based on mortality statistics and the prevalence of chronic illnesses across both younger and older cohorts, with private health insurance cover restricted to approximately 47% of the population (~4,003 people). This is lower than the 50.5% recorded across Regional Vic. and the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues, affecting 12.3% and 9.3% of residents respectively, while 60.2% of the population reported no chronic conditions compared to 63.4% in Regional Vic.. The working-age cohort faces significant health issues with high rates of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and over represent 26.8% of the community (2,266 people), which exceeds the Regional Vic. proportion of 23.9% and ranks high on a national scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Stawell is largely Australian-born, at 88.4% of residents, with 7.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (33.0%) and English (32.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Stawell exhibits lower cultural diversity indicators than average, with citizens making up 85.4% of the population, 88.4% of residents born in Australia, and 92.7% of households speaking only English. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 45.2% of the population. The most prominent statistical divergence is in the Other category, which represents 0.8% of the population, matching the 0.8% average for Regional Vic.. In terms of parent country of birth, the three most common ancestries are Australian at 33.0%, English at 32.3%, and Scottish at 9.2%. Notable differences in ethnic representation include German background at 4.0% of Stawell (compared to 3.5% regionally), Dutch at 1.4% (compared to 1.7% regionally), and Filipino at 1.3% (compared to 0.6% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Stawell is 48, older than 86% of areas nationally. 22.3% 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 in Stawell is 48 years, which is older than the Regional Vic. median of 43 and the national average of 38. The local age distribution shows a high proportion of 25 - 34 year-olds (13.0%), while the 15 - 24 age bracket is smaller (9.3%) than in Regional Vic.. Post-2021 Census data indicates the 35 to 44 age cohort increased from 9.9% to 11.7% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 8.0% to 9.7%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.0% to 10.1%, and the 55 to 64 group declined from 15.5% to 14.5%.
Long-term modeling suggests the age profile will change by 2041, with the 35 to 44 age cohort projected to grow by 263 people (27%) from 990 to 1,254, while population declines are expected in the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 age brackets.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Stawell
8 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 8 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 1 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 Jul 2025. | ||
| 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 — 73 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (8,504 at the 2021 Census → 8,446 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 (215011392). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.