VIC 3556 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Eaglehawk

The suburb has 5,538 residents, a median age of 43 and 92.6% separate houses, giving it an established, family-oriented shape. Compared with central Bendigo, Eaglehawk presents a more detached-home setting, while buyers weighing nearby Kangaroo Flat should focus on tenure, commuting and street-level housing differences. Growth is forecast at 1.46% annually with balanced migration, but affordability is worsening from 40.2% in 2011 to 42.4% in 2021.

Eaglehawk urban fabric map

Population

5,538

Median Age

43.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,140/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

56

Median House

$615K

October to December 2025

14.57 km²· 380.2 people/km²· Family income $1,483/wk

Local household income is $1,140 weekly, so borrowing capacity remains important despite the suburb's relatively conventional housing stock. Separate houses account for 92.6% of dwellings, with 50.2% offering 3 bedrooms and 24.2% offering 4 or more. That mix suits households needing yards and family space more than apartment seekers. Outright owners account for 37.5%, while 32.4% hold mortgages.

For Buyers

Local household income is $1,140 weekly, so borrowing capacity remains important despite the suburb's relatively conventional housing stock. Separate houses account for 92.6% of dwellings, with 50.2% offering 3 bedrooms and 24.2% offering 4 or more. That mix suits households needing yards and family space more than apartment seekers. Outright owners account for 37.5%, while 32.4% hold mortgages.

For Investors

Investors get a $265 weekly median rent, 29.2% renting and a 6.8% vacancy rate, indicating a sizeable tenant base but more available stock than a tightly constrained rental market. The vacancy rate is higher than investors would prefer for a highly competitive market, so tenant demand should be tested by property type and street. House prices have grown at 4.6% annually across 19 years and are up 133.0% from 2013, supporting a patient strategy rather than a quick-turnaround assumption. Development activity is notable, with 55 applications in 12 months, including subdivision, childcare and food-service proposals. Compared with a smaller renovation-only market, this pipeline may widen future choice, but investors should check completion, vacancy and tenant demand carefully.

Development Activity

Total DAs

69

Last 12 Months

56

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+1300.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
25
Renovation / Extension
8
New Dwelling
6
Garage / Carport / Shed
5
Tree Removal
3
Commercial / Industrial
2
Other
2
Demolition
2

Schools in Eaglehawk

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Eaglehawk North Primary School

Primary Government

Eaglehawk Primary School

Primary Government

St Liborius' School

Primary Catholic

Eaglehawk Secondary College

Secondary Government

Demographics

Eaglehawk is older and less university-qualified than national patterns: its median age is 43, or 3 years above the national comparison, while 18.8% have university qualifications, 11.3 percentage points below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 7.5%, 14.1 points below the national comparison, and English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,466, 732 and 691. Household size averages 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national comparison, consistent with 40.8% couples without children and 22.9% one-parent families. No religion is reported by 2,637 residents compared with 2,370 identifying with Christianity. Compared with Bendigo's broader urban mix, Eaglehawk's profile is more Anglo-leaning and established.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.9%
15-24
11.1%
25-44
23.5%
45-64
25.7%
65+
23.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
4.0%
2 bed
21.6%
3 bed
50.2%
4+ bed
24.2%

Dwelling Structure

92.6%

Houses

7.2%

Townhouse

0.0%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 37.5% Mortgage 32.4% Rent 29.2% Other 1.0%

Eaglehawk's housing is built for low-rise, longer-term occupation: 92.6% of dwellings are separate houses, while 7.2% are semi-detached and 50.2% contain 3 bedrooms. Ownership is split between 37.5% outright owners, 32.4% mortgage holders and 29.2% renters, with 1.0% in other tenure. Compared with more apartment-oriented parts of Bendigo, Eaglehawk's detached stock gives buyers more land-oriented choice, but its low-rise profile can limit rental variety.

Mortgage / mo

$1,300

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$265

Census 2021

HH Size

2.2

Personal Income / wk

$629

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.8%

Unoccupied

173

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.2%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.3%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
2,466
Irish
732
Scottish
691
Ancestry NS
309
Other
263
German
260

Household Composition

34.4%

Couples with children

40.8%

Couples, no children

22.9%

Single parent

1,483

Total families

Economy & Employment

Eaglehawk's employment base is led by healthcare at 24.7% and 360 workers, followed by education at 11.1% and 162, construction at 9.9% and 144, manufacturing at 9.6% and 139, and retail at 8.0% and 117. This mix links local demand to care, schools, building and service work rather than a single industry, helping explain the prominence of 379 labourers, 358 trades workers and 356 community and personal service workers. Unemployment is 4.7% and participation is 54.3%, while household income sits at the 21.3rd percentile. SEIFA is consistently low: IEO and IRSAD are both decile 1, while IER and IRSD are decile 2. Compared with higher-income Bendigo pockets, buyers should allow for tighter borrowing capacity.

Unemployment

4.7%

Labour Force

2,495

Unemployed

117

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
1
Disadvantage
2
Economic resources
2
Education & occupation
1

Full-time

55.1%

Part-time

37.3%

Participation

54.3%

Employed

2,378

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Labourers 379
Trades 358
Community/Personal 356
Professionals 341
Clerical/Admin 286
Sales 237
Machinery/Drivers 198
Managers 197

Top Industries

Healthcare 24.7%
Education 11.1%
Construction 9.9%
Manufacturing 9.6%
Retail 8.0%

University

18.8%

Postgraduate

3.8%

Born Overseas

7.5%

Dwellings

2,356

Transport to Work

Daily life is car-oriented: 79.9% travel as car drivers, compared with just 0.9% using public transport and 2.4% walking or cycling; 10.3% work from home. Families have four local schools spanning 3 primary schools and 1 government secondary college, with 3 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because they can cut across suburb boundaries. Safety needs a realistic reading: the recorded crime rate is 83.8 per 1,000 residents, including 218 property and deception offences and 138 crimes against the person, so household security and route awareness matter. Social disadvantage is significant, with IRSAD in decile 1 and 8.7% needing assistance. Compared with central Bendigo, Eaglehawk suits residents who value established services and space but can manage car dependence.

Drive

79.9%

Public Transport

0.9%

Walk / Cycle

2.4%

Work from Home

10.3%

Population Forecast

+1.46%/yr

(+198 people/yr)

Established

Growth is steady rather than explosive, with an annual trend of 1.46% and population change across the wider area of 27.9% over 10 years. Migration is labelled Balanced, so expansion is not attributed to one dominant source. The shift profile is Mixed: rent growth reached 55.6%, the senior share rose 2.3 percentage points, the young share fell 1.5 points, and affordability worsened from 40.2% in 2011 to 42.4% in 2021. Gentrification is scored 11 and staged Not gentrifying, while the shift profile records an Active score of 66. That divergence suggests established growth and rising costs without a clear wholesale demographic reset. Compared with fast-redeveloping corridors, Eaglehawk's 55 development applications in 12 months point to incremental change rather than a guaranteed transformation.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+45

Net Internal / yr

+30

11

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +32% since 2011

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

464

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

83.8

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
218
Crimes against the person
138
Justice procedures offences
63
Drug offences
32

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Eaglehawk compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 10%
Household Income
Bottom 21%
Rent Level
Top 49%
Apartments
Bottom 0%
Renters
Top 22%
Uni Educated
Bottom 32%
Public Transport
Bottom 17%
Born Overseas
Bottom 17%
Density
Top 21%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Eaglehawk a good suburb to live in?

Eaglehawk can suit buyers seeking established, detached housing and a quieter setting. It has 5,538 residents, a median age of 43 and 92.6% separate houses. Car dependence is high at 79.9%, while IRSAD is decile 1, so lifestyle fit depends on transport needs, services and budget.

What schools are in Eaglehawk?

Eaglehawk has 4 schools: St Liborius' School, Eaglehawk North Primary School, Eaglehawk Primary School and Eaglehawk Secondary College. The mix is 3 primary schools and 1 secondary college, with 3 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Check the exact address for enrolment zones.

Is Eaglehawk safe?

Safety is mixed rather than uniform. The recorded crime rate is 83.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 464 total offences, including 218 property and deception offences and 138 crimes against the person. Compare streets and recent local conditions, and use normal home and personal security measures.

Is Eaglehawk good for property investment?

Eaglehawk may suit investors seeking an established market rather than a high-growth speculative play. Median rent is $265 weekly, 29.2% of households rent and vacancy is 6.8%. Prices have grown 4.6% annually across 19 years, while 55 development applications in 12 months may expand future supply.

How is Eaglehawk's population changing?

Eaglehawk has 5,538 residents today. The wider area's forecast trend is 1.46% annually, with migration labelled Balanced and population change of 27.9% over 10 years. The shift is Mixed: the senior share rose 2.3 points and the young share fell 1.5, while gentrification is staged Not gentrifying at score 11.

What development is planned in Eaglehawk?

Development activity is notable, with 55 applications in 12 months. Recent examples include a 7-lot subdivision, a childcare-centre amendment and a convenience restaurant with car parking. That volume is above a quiet pipeline, but applications are not the same as completed projects, so check approvals and delivery timing.

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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.

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