Winchelsea
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Winchelsea's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 7,322 people. This figure represents a growth of 708 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,614. The increase was inferred from ABS estimates of Winchelsea's resident population in June 2024 (6,961) and additional validated addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 8.1 persons per square kilometer. Winchelsea's growth rate of 10.7% since the 2021 census exceeds both the non-metro area average of 5.5% and the national average, indicating strong regional leadership in population growth. Natural growth contributed approximately 44.9% to overall population gains during recent periods, with other factors such as interstate and overseas migration also being positive influences.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Population projections indicate above-median growth for non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Winchelsea expected to grow by 1,069 persons to 2041, a total increase of 9.6%.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Winchelsea among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Winchelsea has experienced approximately 58 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Over the past five years, from FY21 to FY25, Winchelsea saw around 292 dwellings approved. As of FY26, there have been 7 dwelling approvals so far.

On average, each dwelling built over these five years attracted approximately 2.8 new residents annually, indicating strong demand which supports property values. The average construction cost for new homes in Winchelsea is around $559,000, slightly above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In FY26 alone, there have been $6.7 million worth of commercial development approvals recorded, reflecting the area's residential character.

Comparing Winchelsea with Rest of Vic., it shows comparable construction activity per capita, indicating market stability in line with regional trends. Recent constructions comprise 87% detached houses and 13% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 129 people per approval, Winchelsea reflects a developing area. Future projections suggest Winchelsea will add approximately 704 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply is expected to meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Winchelsea has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 31 projects that could affect the area. Notable ones include Gnarwarre BESS, Glenlee Armstrong Creek Estate, Anglesea Pedestrian and Cycling Connections, Warralily Quarter Shopping Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis places Winchelsea well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Winchelsea's skilled workforce has an unemployment rate of 2.6% with a construction sector that stands out in terms of representation. The area saw estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 3807 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.1% below Rest of Vic's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is high at 64.0%, compared to Rest of Vic's 57.4%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level.

Health care & social assistance has limited presence with 14.1% employment compared to 16.8% regionally. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. In the 12-month period, employment increased by 2.1% alongside labour force increasing by 2.3%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. Rest of Vic recorded employment decline of 0.9%, labour force decline of 0.4%, with unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with state unemployment rate at 4.7% compared to national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Winchelsea. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with industry-specific projections suggesting local growth of approximately 6.1%% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates Winchelsea's median income among taxpayers is $50,765, with an average of $66,985. Nationally, this is slightly above average. The Rest of Vic.'s median income is $48,741 and average is $60,693. Based on a 10.11% growth in wages since financial year 2022, current estimates for Winchelsea would be approximately $55,897 (median) and $73,757 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows incomes in Winchelsea cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 32.5% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually (2,379 individuals), similar to regional levels where 30.3% fall within this range. After housing costs, residents retain 88.3% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. Winchelsea's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Winchelsea's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 97.4% houses and 2.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure was 98.0% houses and 2.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Winchelsea was at 42.3%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (43.7%) or rented (13.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Winchelsea was $1,733, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,800 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Winchelsea was recorded at $300, substantially below the national figure of $375 and Non-Metro Vic.'s figure of $330.

Winchelsea features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.9% of all households, including 35.9% couples with children, 32.3% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 22.1%, with lone person households at 20.2% and group households at 1.8%. The median household size is 2.6 people, smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.8.

The educational profile of Winchelsea exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Winchelsea lag behind Victorian benchmarks. 25.2% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees compared to the state average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 13.1% and certificates for 27.2%.

Educational participation is high in Winchelsea, with 29.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education. The four schools in Winchelsea have a combined enrollment of 562 students, with an ICSEA score of 1048, indicating typical Australian school conditions. All four schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. School places per 100 residents (7.7) are lower than the regional average (9.8), suggesting some students may attend schools outside Winchelsea.

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

Winchelsea has two active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. Six routes operate in total, providing 116 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport access is limited with residents typically located 3648 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 16 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 58 weekly trips per individual stop.

Winchelsea's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Winchelsea's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, showing a typical level of common health conditions across both young and elderly age groups.

Private health cover is held by approximately 52% of Winchelsea's total population (~3,836 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 8.1 and 8.0% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 68.4%, report no medical ailments, comparable to Rest of Vic's 68.7%. Winchelsea has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 18.8% (1,375 people) compared to Rest of Vic's 15.4%. Health outcomes among seniors in Winchelsea are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

The latest Census data sees Winchelsea placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Winchelsea, as per the census data from June 2016, had a population with 91.3% being Australian citizens, 90.8% born in Australia, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 44.8% of Winchelsea's residents. Notably, Judaism, which is 0.1% of Winchelsea's population, is overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria where it is not present (0.0%).

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English at 32.6%, Australian at 31.9%, and Irish at 9.9%. Other ethnic groups with notable differences in representation include Scottish at 9.9% compared to 9.2% regionally, Dutch at 1.9% versus 2.3%, and Maltese at 0.5% against 0.8%.

Winchelsea hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Winchelsea's median age is 42 years, similar to Victoria's average of 43 but older than Australia's average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 35-44 are particularly prominent at 13.6%, while the 75-84 age group is smaller at 6.0% compared to the rest of Victoria. Between 2021 and the present, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 10.0% to 11.5%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 55-64 has decreased from 14.9% to 12.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Winchelsea. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 29%, adding 241 residents to reach a total of 1,083. In contrast, the 75-84 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decline in population.