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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 demographic evaluations from AreaSearch, the resident count in Stawell stands at approximately 8,446 as of Aug 2026. This indicates a net loss of 58 people (0.7%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 8,504 people. Such figures are derived from ABS estimated resident population statistics of 8,438 as of June 2025 alongside 71 validated new addresses registered following the Census. Consequently, the local density settles at 3.1 persons per square kilometer, ensuring a spacious residential environment. Although Stawell contracted by 0.7% after the 2021 census, its trajectory was more resilient than the broader SA3 area (-1.6%).
Inbound overseas migration served as the dominant catalyst for demographic expansion, representing virtually the exclusive contributor to recent additions. Projections published in 2024 (anchored to a 2022 baseline) by ABS/Geoscience Australia are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 locations. In instances where SA2 coverage is absent, AreaSearch relies on 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA releases, implementing weighted growth aggregations to transition data from LGA down to SA2 boundaries. Age-specific growth metrics from these models are similarly projected across all regions for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking forward, long-term demographic expansion is anticipated to track slightly under the median for regional Australian catchments, with the locality projected to add 452 persons to 2041 under current annual ERP figures, translating to an overall growth rate of 5.3% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
127 new dwellings have been approved in Stawell over the past five years, an average of 25 a year. That is 3.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 25 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 88% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building authorisations in Stawell have averaged approximately 25 dwellings annually, totaling 127 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). With an influx averaging merely 0.4 new residents per year per approved dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), local building activity is matching or outpacing demand, expanding opportunities for purchasers while creating headroom for above-trend expansion, where newly constructed residences reflect an average development value of $405,000. Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $31.7 million this financial year, underscoring substantial non-residential investment momentum.
Per-capita construction volumes in Stawell align closely with Rest of Vic., reinforcing balanced market conditions in keeping with broader regional trends. These rates remain below national benchmarks, pointing to an established urban footprint and potential town planning constraints. Detached houses comprise 88.0% of recently approved dwellings compared to 12.0% for townhouses or apartments, preserving the low-density landscape and catering to purchasers prioritizing spacious family residences. A ratio of 365 people per approved dwelling underscores the modest pace of local development. Projections indicate that Stawell will expand by 444 residents through to 2041 relative to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. Sustained construction rates should comfortably fulfill incoming housing needs, generating buyer-friendly market dynamics and establishing capacity for demographic gains beyond baseline expectations.
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 $6.67 billion. 11 are already under construction and 27 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, transport & logistics 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
Community performance and growth are heavily shaped by strategic public works, regional transport enhancements, and town planning programs. AreaSearch has highlighted 3 major projects positioned to influence the district, with primary initiatives comprising the Western Highway Upgrade - Ararat to Stawell, Great Western Future Plan 2014-2024, Melbourne To Adelaide Freight Rail Improvements, and the SEC Renewable Energy Park - Horsham.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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 58.6%. 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
Stawell features a diversified workforce distributed across professional and trade-based roles, marked by a solid presence in essential services and an unemployment rate of only 1.9%. The employed resident base reached 4,131 as of March 2026, while the jobless rate sits 1.7% under the 3.7% recorded across Regional Vic.. Local labor participation trails broader benchmarks (58.6% versus 61.1% in Regional Vic.). Only 11.9% of workers reported working from home during the Census, an outcome potentially shaped by temporary Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment sectors across the local population comprise health care & social assistance, manufacturing, along with accommodation & food.
Manufacturing displays strong geographic concentration, maintaining an employment concentration 1.8 times the wider regional benchmark. Conversely, building trades are comparatively underrepresented, accounting for 6.6% of local jobs against 10.4% regionally. Given the ratio of resident workers to local job positions recorded in Census data, a notable portion of the workforce travels beyond the area for employment. Analysis conducted by AreaSearch using SALM and ABS data reveals that during the year to March 2026, the labour force shrank by 3.4% while employment dropped by 1.3%, leading to a 2.1 percentage point decrease in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional Vic. experienced a 0.1% decline in employment, a 0.3% contraction in the labour force, and a 0.2 percentage point fall in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future demand in Stawell. These projections, which span five and ten-year intervals, have been overlaid onto the local employment structure to estimate growth trajectories. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though sectoral growth varies considerably. When these industry-specific forecasts are applied to Stawell's employment composition, local employment is expected to rise by 5.6% over five years and 12.7% 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 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
ATO postcode statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place the median taxpayer income in the Stawell SA2 at $45,471, accompanied by an average of $55,212. These figures track below national standards and regional averages, which sit at $50,954 and $62,728 across Regional Vic.. Factoring in Wage Price Index increases of 9.62% from financial year 2023, modeled figures as of March 2026 reach approximately $49,845 (median) and $60,523 (average). Census records from 2021 position household, family, and individual earnings in Stawell within the 12th to 23rd percentiles across Australia.
Residents earning between $1,500 - 2,999 make up 27.9% of the local population (2,356 individuals), closely tracking the 30.3% observed regionally. Although shelter obligations remain contained with households keeping 90.1% of their gross earnings, overall retained purchasing power places at the 19th percentile across the country.
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
Residential dwellings in Stawell at the time of the latest Census consisted of 92.2% standalone houses and 7.8% medium-to-high density or alternate formats (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), relative to 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings throughout Regional Vic.. Rates of outright homeownership reached 47.8%, substantially exceeding Regional Vic., while properties under mortgage held a 29.1% share and tenant-occupied dwellings accounted for 23.1%. Typical monthly mortgage commitments stood at $1,010, and median weekly rent was $214, sitting well below Regional Vic. levels of $1,430 and $285. In a nationwide context, mortgage outlays in Stawell compare favorably against the Australian median of $1,863, with rental costs similarly trailing the national benchmark 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 arrangements represent the majority of living structures at 62.8%, broken down into 21.4% couples with children, 31.4% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family dwellings comprise the remaining 37.2%, where single-person households account for 34.0% and shared households represent 3.0%. The typical household size of 2.2 people falls below the Regional Vic. norm 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
Higher education completion in the locality is relatively subdued, with tertiary qualification rates (16.7%) sitting significantly below the broader VIC benchmark of 33.4%, highlighting potential scope for targeted training programs. Undergraduate awards represent 11.8% of qualifications, complemented by postgraduate degrees (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational and applied credentials remain widespread, as 40.2% of individuals aged 15+ hold technical qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (29.4%). Active participation across learning programs is elevated, with 26.7% of the community undertaking formal study. This comprises 10.3% attending primary school, 8.0% enrolled in secondary school, and 2.0% engaged in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Stawell reaches 74 stops on 9 routes, timetabled for about 230 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
Public transit infrastructure in Stawell encompasses 74 active transport stops connected by 9 individual routes, generating 234 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is favorable, with residences located an average distance of 250 meters from the nearest stop. With the area serving predominantly as a residential base, outward commuting is standard; private vehicles remain the primary choice at 89%, while 7% walk. Average motor vehicle availability stands at 1.5 per dwelling. A modest 11.9% of workers operated from home at the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era workplace settings. Public transit services deliver an average frequency of 33 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 3 weekly trips per 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
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and chronic illness metrics indicate notable healthcare requirements in Stawell, with common ailments prevalent across younger and older demographics alike, while private health insurance uptake remains low at approximately 47% of the population (~4,003 people). This compares to 50.5% throughout Regional Vic. and an Australian benchmark of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions represent the leading diagnoses in the district, affecting 12.3 and 9.3% of the community, while 60.2% of residents reported having no diagnosed conditions, compared to 63.4% in Regional Vic.. Long-term health conditions are notably elevated among working-age individuals.
Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 27.4% of the population (2,310 people), outpacing the 24.0% share across Regional Vic. and ranking even higher in national comparisons.
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
Cultural metrics show that Stawell has below-average multicultural diversity, with 85.4% of residents holding Australian citizenship, 88.4% born domestically, and 92.7% using solely English at home. Christianity forms the principal faith, covering 45.2% of the local population. The most distinctive variance occurs in Other faiths, representing 0.8% locally and matching the 0.8% observed across Regional Vic.. Leading reported ancestries (based on parents' birthplace) in Stawell are Australian (33.0%), English (32.3%), and Scottish (9.2%). Specific cultural cohorts display noticeable variation from wider regional trends: German heritage is represented at 4.0% (compared to 3.5% regionally), Dutch background at 1.4% (vs 1.7%), and Filipino heritage at 1.3% (vs 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Stawell is 48, older than 86% of areas nationally. 21.6% 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 demographic structure of Stawell largely mirrors the Regional Vic. baseline, with the maximum deviation across cohorts measuring 4.2 percentage points. AreaSearch estimates the median age at 48 as at August 2026, holding steady from the 2021 Census and remaining 5 years older than the Regional Vic. median of 43 at that same count, compared to a nationwide median of 38. The middle-aged and mature pre-retiree cohort (45 - 64) decreased from 27.5% at the Census to an estimated 24.9%. Through to 2041, younger to middle-aged adults (25 - 44) will drive the majority of demographic expansion, gaining 337 residents (17%) to total 2,307, whereas older working cohorts are projected to contract.
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 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 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month 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 last month 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 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 71 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 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 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 (215011392). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.