Blairgowrie
A 65.2% vacancy rate is the defining number in Blairgowrie: most dwellings sit empty for much of the year because this Mornington Peninsula suburb functions primarily as a holiday and second-home destination rather than a permanent residential address. The median age of 58 sits 18 years above the national figure, and the participation rate of 40.2% reflects a retired or semi-retired population that has largely paid off its homes, with 60.3% owned outright.
Local council: Mornington Peninsula
Population
2,786
Median Age
58.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,490/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$1.6M
October to December 2025
The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 98.9%, and 40.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, making this a market for buyers seeking large coastal homes rather than apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.0%, above the stress threshold, because household incomes sit at the 46.6th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 60.3% far outnumber mortgage holders at 25.6%, signalling that most properties are held by established, debt-free owners.
For Buyers
The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 98.9%, and 40.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, making this a market for buyers seeking large coastal homes rather than apartments. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.0%, above the stress threshold, because household incomes sit at the 46.6th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 60.3% far outnumber mortgage holders at 25.6%, signalling that most properties are held by established, debt-free owners.
For Investors
The investment profile in Blairgowrie is shaped by holiday-market dynamics: the 65.2% vacancy rate is not a sign of weak demand but of dwellings held for personal use rather than long-term tenancy. Development activity is modest at 17 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and single-dwelling constructions rather than subdivisions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
11
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+800.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
With a median age of 58, Blairgowrie sits 18 years above the national median, driven by retirees and pre-retirees who have relocated from Melbourne or hold it as a permanent base after career life. The participation rate of 40.2% and the 1,130 residents not in the labour force confirm the retirement character. University qualifications reach 34.4%, which is 4.3 percentage points above the national average. Overseas-born residents make up 14.6% of the population, 7.0 points below national. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic dominant, led by English (1,244), Irish (429) and Scottish (395). Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below the national figure, consistent with the couples-without-children profile that makes up 50.2% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.9%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Blairgowrie is one of the most ownership-concentrated suburbs in Victoria: 60.3% of dwellings are owned outright, with only 25.6% under mortgage and 14.0% renting. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.9%, and 40.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms. Mortgage-to-income is 31.0%, above the standard 30% stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 26.8% remains below the stress level for tenants. The high outright-ownership rate reflects long-held wealth rather than recent leveraged buying.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$400
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$787
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
65.2%
Unoccupied
2,145
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.0% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.4%
Couples with children
63.3%
Couples, no children
8.1%
Single parent
795
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction leads local employment at 15.8% (120 workers), followed closely by Professional/Tech at 15.1% (115), Education at 11.2% (85) and Healthcare at 10.9% (83). By occupation, Professionals (265) and Managers (220) are the two largest groups, consistent with a well-educated, high-skill workforce. The unemployment rate is low at 2.6%, compared to the national average above 4%, but the participation rate of only 40.2% means a large share of working-age residents have withdrawn from the labour force entirely, most likely through retirement. Full-time employment accounts for 52.8% of those employed. Personal weekly income averages $787 and household weekly income $1,490, placing Blairgowrie at the 46.6th percentile nationally, lower than the house price level would suggest.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
1,116
Unemployed
26
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
46.8%
Part-time
41.7%
Participation
45.3%
Employed
1,090
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.4%
Postgraduate
8.1%
Born Overseas
14.6%
Dwellings
1,147
Transport to Work
Car dependence in Blairgowrie is high at 90.6% of commuters, which is expected given limited public transport options on the Mornington Peninsula compared to inner Melbourne. Walking and cycling account for 4.6% of trips. The crime rate of 36.3 incidents per 1,000 residents covers 101 total offences, with property and deception offences making up 86 of those. With only 12 crimes against the person recorded, the area presents a low-violence profile. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on institutions in neighbouring Rosebud and Rye. Volunteering is relatively high at 21.0%, above the national average, reflecting the engaged retiree population. Only 4.6% of residents need daily assistance despite the older median age of 58.
Drive
53.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
40.6%
Growth Outlook
Resident turnover is low at 22.7%, with 77.3% staying in the same address, which limits churn but also organic demand for new supply. Only 17 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, confirming limited new construction. The population of 2,786 gives a density of 443 per square kilometre, low compared to metropolitan Melbourne.
Population trend: Mornington Peninsula council area
Blairgowrie sits in the Mornington Peninsula council area. These are the council area's residents, not Blairgowrie's.
Residents 2025
172,217
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.8%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
101
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
36.3
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Blairgowrie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blairgowrie a good suburb to live in?
Blairgowrie suits retirees and lifestyle buyers well. The median age is 58, and 60.3% of dwellings are owned outright, reflecting a settled, low-debt community. Crime is low at 36.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, mostly property offences. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 90.6% and no recorded schools within the suburb.
What schools are in Blairgowrie?
No schools are recorded within the Blairgowrie suburb boundary. Families rely on schools in adjacent suburbs such as Rosebud and Rye. The suburb's residents are well-educated overall, with 34.4% holding university qualifications, which is 4.3 percentage points above the national average.
Is Blairgowrie safe?
Blairgowrie recorded 101 total offences in the latest period, a rate of 36.3 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences make up 86 of those, while crimes against the person number just 12. Drug offences and public order incidents were each recorded once, indicating a low-violence local environment.
Is Blairgowrie good for property investment?
The 65.2% vacancy rate reflects holiday use, not weak demand, but restricts rental income options.
How is Blairgowrie's population changing?
The current population is 2,786 across a 6.29 square kilometre area, giving a density of 443 residents per square kilometre. Resident turnover is modest at 22.7%, with 77.3% staying in place. The median age of 58 is 18 years above the national figure, suggesting the suburb is attracting retirees rather than young families.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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