Mortlake
With a median age of 49 and household income at just the 12.4th percentile nationally, Mortlake stands out as one of western Victoria's most affordable and deeply established rural towns. The median house price of $297,500 is well below the Victorian state average, yet prices have risen 129.7% since 2013 at a compound annual rate of 6.1%, demonstrating that affordable entry does not mean stagnant growth. Almost half of all residents own their homes outright (49.6%), a rate far higher than the national norm, and 97.7% of dwellings are separate houses. The high vacancy rate of 12.8% and low population density of 4.2 people per square kilometre reflect the rural character of a town covering 354 square kilometres.
Population
1,477
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$984/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$298K
Apr-Jun 2024
At $297,500 median (Apr-Jun 2024), Mortlake offers a rare combination of detached housing and sub-$300K entry prices compared to regional and metropolitan Victorian markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $932, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 97.7%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 50.2% and four-plus bedroom homes accounting for 28.6%. Outright owners at 49.6% substantially outnumber mortgage holders at 31.5%, suggesting long-held family properties rather than speculative buying. Prices peaked at $405,000 in Jan-Mar 2024, then eased to $297,500, so buyers entering now are roughly 26.5% below the recent peak, which may represent value relative to that high.
For Buyers
At $297,500 median (Apr-Jun 2024), Mortlake offers a rare combination of detached housing and sub-$300K entry prices compared to regional and metropolitan Victorian markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $932, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 97.7%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 50.2% and four-plus bedroom homes accounting for 28.6%. Outright owners at 49.6% substantially outnumber mortgage holders at 31.5%, suggesting long-held family properties rather than speculative buying. Prices peaked at $405,000 in Jan-Mar 2024, then eased to $297,500, so buyers entering now are roughly 26.5% below the recent peak, which may represent value relative to that high.
For Investors
Mortlake's 18.8% renter share is lower than the national average, and weekly rent of $220 against a $297,500 median implies a gross yield above 3.8%, which compares favourably to many metropolitan markets. The 12.8% vacancy rate is an important caution because it indicates a surplus of available properties relative to demand in this small town of 1,477 residents. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, consistent with a stable rather than growth-mode market. The 14-year price CAGR of 6.1% from $129,500 to $297,500 shows steady long-term appreciation. Investors should weigh the yield advantage against the thin rental demand pool and the high vacancy rate, which can translate to extended void periods between tenancies.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mortlake iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Colman's School
Prep-6 · 39 students
Mortlake P-12 College
Prep-12 · 191 students
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, making Mortlake one of the older communities in western Victoria. The overseas-born share is just 9.1%, which is 12.5 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic, with English (691), Scottish (199) and Irish (193) the dominant groups. University qualifications reach only 19.6%, which is 10.5 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the town's agricultural and trades-oriented economy. Average household size of 2.2 is slightly below the national figure of 2.5. The community stability is notable: 79.7% of residents lived in the same address five years earlier, well above typical metropolitan turnover, and the volunteering rate of 25% points to strong civic participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.7%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Mortlake's housing market is defined by outright ownership and detached houses. The 49.6% outright ownership rate far exceeds the national average, reflecting a long-established population with paid-down mortgages rather than new entrants. Separate houses account for 97.7% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 2.3% and no measurable apartment stock. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.2%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 28.6% and two-bedroom at 16.6%. The median house price of $297,500 has risen 129.7% since 2013, when it sat at $129,500, a 14-year CAGR of 6.1%. Rent-to-income at 22.4% means renters are not under financial stress by national standards, and mortgage-to-income at 21.9% similarly stays well below the stress threshold, distinguishing Mortlake from higher-cost regional centres.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$932
Rent / wk
$220
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$572
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.8%
Unoccupied
89
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.3%
Couples, no children
1,052
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 20.3% of local workers (76 people), followed closely by Agriculture at 18.7% (70 people), reflecting Mortlake's dual identity as a service town and farming hub in the Western District. Construction accounts for 10.4% and Education 10.1%, indicating some local institutional base. By occupation, Managers (112) and Labourers (111) are virtually tied at the top, an unusual split that shows both farm proprietors and manual workers coexist in roughly equal numbers. The unemployment rate is 5.0%, slightly above national levels, with a participation rate of just 46.2%, well below the national norm, partly because the older median age of 49 leaves more residents outside the labour force. Weekly personal income averages $572, which is lower than state and national benchmarks, consistent with the household income sitting at the 12.4th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
38.8%
Participation
46.2%
Employed
537
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.6%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
9.1%
Dwellings
607
Transport to Work
Car dependence is dominant in Mortlake, with 85% of residents commuting by car, which is considerably higher than the national average for areas with any public transport access. Walking and cycling account for 8.2% of travel, reasonable for a small town layout. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, meaning families depend on nearby facilities. The total crime count of 101 incidents gives a rate of 68.4 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences (53) accounting for the largest share, followed by crimes against the person (26). The volunteering rate of 25% is above the national average and signals active community participation. Rent stress and mortgage stress are both absent at 22.4% and 21.9% respectively, meaning most residents spend an affordable share of income on housing compared to national benchmarks.
Drive
85.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
101
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
68.4
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 Mortlake compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mortlake a good suburb to live in?
Mortlake suits buyers and residents who value affordability and a rural lifestyle. At $297,500 median house price, mortgage repayments average $932 per month with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The community is stable, with 79.7% of residents remaining at the same address over 5 years, and the volunteering rate of 25% reflects strong local engagement.
What is the median house price in Mortlake?
The median house price is $297,500 as at Apr-Jun 2024. Prices peaked at $405,000 in Jan-Mar 2024, so the current level sits 26.5% below that peak. Since 2013 prices have risen 129.7% from $129,500, a compound annual growth rate of 6.1% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $220.
What schools are in Mortlake?
No schools are recorded within the Mortlake suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area rely on educational facilities in surrounding towns. The local university qualification rate is 19.6%, which is 10.5 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the town's trades and agriculture-based economy.
Is Mortlake safe?
Mortlake recorded 101 total offences in the most recent period, a rate of 68.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the most common category at 53 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 26. These figures are typical for a small rural Victorian town with a population of 1,477.
Is Mortlake good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $220 against a $297,500 median implies a gross yield above 3.8%, higher than many metropolitan areas. However, the 12.8% vacancy rate signals weaker rental demand relative to supply in a town of just 1,477 people. The 14-year price CAGR of 6.1% suggests steady rather than rapid capital growth. Zero development applications in 12 months confirm low near-term supply pressure.
How is Mortlake's population changing?
Mortlake's population sits at 1,477 spread over 354 square kilometres, giving a very low density of 4.2 people per square kilometre. The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national average, pointing to an aging resident base. Community turnover is low, with 79.7% of residents having stayed at the same address for 5 or more years, suggesting gradual demographic shift rather than rapid change.
What industries employ people in Mortlake?
Healthcare is the largest industry at 20.3% of local workers (76 people), closely followed by Agriculture at 18.7% (70 people). Construction accounts for 10.4% and Education for 10.1%. By occupation, Managers and Labourers are nearly equal in number at 112 and 111 respectively, reflecting the mix of farm management and manual work that underpins the local economy.
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), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Mortlake on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map