Kalimna
At a median age of 54, Kalimna runs 14 years older than the national figure, and that single fact explains much of what follows. With 1,350 residents spread across 7.82 square kilometres on Victoria's Gippsland Lakes, 52.5% of dwellings are owned outright, well above the national norm, because older owner-occupiers have paid down their mortgages. Household income sits in the 15.1st percentile nationally, meaning most earning-age activity happens elsewhere. The vacancy rate of 18.3% is high, pointing to a strong holiday-home and seasonal component rather than a stressed rental market.
Local council: East Gippsland
Population
1,350
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,055/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$540K
October to December 2025
Only a handful of houses sold here in this period, so this median can jump sharply from one quarter to the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the market. Treat it as a rough guide, not a settled price.
Separate houses dominate at 91.3% of dwellings, so buyers face little apartment competition. Three-bedroom homes account for 53.9% of stock and four-plus bedrooms 27.1%, giving families reasonable choice. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,256, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.5% stays below the 30% stress threshold, making purchase commitments manageable relative to local incomes.
For Buyers
Separate houses dominate at 91.3% of dwellings, so buyers face little apartment competition. Three-bedroom homes account for 53.9% of stock and four-plus bedrooms 27.1%, giving families reasonable choice. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,256, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.5% stays below the 30% stress threshold, making purchase commitments manageable relative to local incomes.
For Investors
The investment picture is mixed. The vacancy rate of 18.3% is elevated because a large share of the 1,350-person stock serves as holiday accommodation rather than permanent tenancy, creating seasonal demand rather than stable year-round occupancy. Only 17.2% of dwellings are rented, a low share compared to most Victorian towns. Development activity is light at just 2 applications in the past 12 months.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 54 sits 14 years above the national figure, producing a population where couples without children represent 42.1% of all families and the labour force participation rate is only 40.8%. Overseas-born residents make up 13.4%, which is 8.2 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic heritage: English (583), Scottish (139) and Irish (132) ancestries lead. University qualifications reach just 13.0%, which is 17.1 points below the national figure, consistent with a retired and trade-skilled population. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national level, matching the couples-without-children demographic pattern.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.3%
Houses
4.8%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 52.5% far exceeds what most Victorian suburbs show, because older residents have cleared their mortgages over decades. Mortgage holders account for 30.3% and renters just 17.2%. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 91.3%, with semi-detached at 4.8%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 53.9%, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 27.1%. The high vacancy rate of 18.3% inflates the formal dwelling count relative to the permanent population of 1,350. Rent-to-income sits at 26.5%, below the 30% stress mark.
Mortgage / mo
$1,256
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$280
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$557
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.3%
Unoccupied
117
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.2%
Couples with children
54.7%
Couples, no children
15.1%
Single parent
358
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 23.7% of the workforce (71 workers), nearly double the next sector, Construction at 10.4% (31 workers). Education follows at 9.0% and Public Admin at 7.7%. The occupation mix is spread across Labourers (86), Community and Personal Service (81), Managers (60) and Sales (59), with Professionals at 49. The unemployment rate is 6.9%, above the Victorian average, and the full-time rate of 51.3% among employed people reflects part-time and seasonal patterns common in coastal lifestyle communities. Labour force participation at 40.8% is low, driven by the older age profile rather than economic disadvantage alone, though household income ranks in the 15.1st percentile nationally.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
521
Unemployed
33
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
46.9%
Part-time
44.5%
Participation
44.3%
Employed
488
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.0%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
13.4%
Dwellings
519
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total at 91.6% of commuters, above the national average and expected given the rural coastal setting with limited public transport. Walking and cycling account for only 1.6% of trips. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on facilities in neighbouring Lakes Entrance or East Gippsland towns. The crime rate of 40.0 incidents per 1,000 residents covers 54 total offences, with property and deception offences leading at 16 incidents. Housing stress metrics are contained: rent-to-income at 26.5% and mortgage-to-income at 27.5% both stay below the 30% threshold. Volunteering runs at 14.8%, and 10.4% of residents need daily assistance, reflecting the older age profile.
Drive
84.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
7.3%
Growth Outlook
Kalimna shows the typical pattern of an established coastal retirement area: stable population rather than rapid expansion. The suburb's 1,350 residents and density of 172.6 people per square kilometre reflect a settled community with limited land releases, evidenced by only 2 development applications in the past 12 months. Resident mobility is low, with 80.7% of people living at the same address as five years prior, higher than most growing suburbs.
Population trend: East Gippsland council area
Kalimna sits in the East Gippsland council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kalimna's.
Residents 2025
49,669
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
54
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
40.0
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 Kalimna compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalimna a good suburb to live in?
Kalimna suits retirees and lifestyle buyers well. The median age is 54, which is 14 years above the national figure, and 52.5% of residents own their home outright. Housing costs are contained, with mortgage-to-income at 27.5% and rent-to-income at 26.5%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-off is low walkability and no schools within the suburb boundary.
What schools are in Kalimna?
No schools are recorded within the Kalimna suburb boundary. Families rely on schools in neighbouring East Gippsland towns including Lakes Entrance. University qualifications among local residents reach 13.0%, which is 17.1 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Kalimna safe?
Kalimna recorded 54 total offences in the reference period, a rate of 40.0 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the most common at 16 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 15. The small population of 1,350 means individual incidents can shift the rate significantly.
How is Kalimna's population changing?
The resident population is 1,350, with 80.7% of people at the same address as five years ago, indicating a very stable community with low turnover. The 18.3% vacancy rate suggests a significant seasonal and holiday-home component beyond the permanent count. The median age of 54 is 14 years above national, pointing to an aging demographic base over time.
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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