VIC 3225 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Point Lonsdale

With a median age of 61, Point Lonsdale sits 21 years above the national figure, making it one of the most age-skewed coastal suburbs in Victoria. Only 14.2% of dwellings are rented, 61.3% are owned outright, and the vacancy rate reaches 42.4%, all pointing to a community dominated by retirees and sea-change owner-occupiers rather than an active rental market. The $1,147,000 median house price, a 42.4% vacancy share, and just 3,788 census residents across 14 square kilometres tell a consistent story: this is a prestige lifestyle location held tightly by established wealth, with minimal churn.

Point Lonsdale urban fabric map

Population

3,788

Median Age

61.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,554/wk

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

6

Median House

$1.1M

Apr-Jun 2024

14.12 km²· 268.2 people/km²· Family income $1,994/wk

The median house price is $1,147,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 23.8% from the 2022 peak of $1,505,000 but 63.9% above the $700,000 recorded in 2013, a 3.6% CAGR over 14 years. The stock skews detached at 87.7% separate houses, with only 1.5% apartments, so buyers face a homogeneous market. Three-bedroom homes make up 51.7% and four-plus bedrooms 34.0%, larger than the national mix. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 29.7%, just below the 30% stress threshold.

For Buyers

The median house price is $1,147,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 23.8% from the 2022 peak of $1,505,000 but 63.9% above the $700,000 recorded in 2013, a 3.6% CAGR over 14 years. The stock skews detached at 87.7% separate houses, with only 1.5% apartments, so buyers face a homogeneous market. Three-bedroom homes make up 51.7% and four-plus bedrooms 34.0%, larger than the national mix. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 29.7%, just below the 30% stress threshold.

For Investors

Only 14.2% of dwellings are rented and the 42.4% vacancy rate signals large holiday-home stock sitting empty outside peak season, a structural drag on yield. Weekly rent of $420 against the $1,147,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%, lower than the Victorian average for coastal suburbs. Net internal migration of 163 arrivals per year supports long-run demand, and the suburb has grown 35.7% over the decade. Development activity is low at 6 applications in 12 months, limiting new supply pressure. Returns depend on capital preservation and holiday income rather than rental yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

15

Last 12 Months

6

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-25.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Other
7
Subdivision
6
New Dwelling
1

Schools in Point Lonsdale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Point Lonsdale Primary School

ICSEA 1115 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 125 students

Demographics

The median age of 61 is 21 years above the national figure, the single clearest signal about who lives here. The senior share rose 10.3 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 6.7 points. University qualifications reach 44.3%, which is 14.2 percentage points above the national average. Only 11.7% were born overseas, 9.9 points below national, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,837), Irish (660) and Scottish (618) are the top three groups. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, consistent with couples without children at 49.0% of families.

Age Distribution

0-14
12.3%
15-24
6.4%
25-44
13.1%
45-64
24.6%
65+
43.4%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.2%
2 bed
13.2%
3 bed
51.7%
4+ bed
34.0%

Dwelling Structure

87.7%

Houses

10.8%

Townhouse

1.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 61.3% Mortgage 24.5% Rent 14.2%

Outright ownership at 61.3% is exceptionally high compared to most Victorian suburbs, where mortgage holders typically outnumber debt-free owners. Only 24.5% carry a mortgage and renting at 14.2% is well below the state average. Prices rose from a $641,000 trough in 2016 to a $1,505,000 peak in 2022, then corrected 23.8% to $1,147,000 by mid-2024. Three-bedroom homes are the mode at 51.7% and four-plus bedrooms account for 34.0%. Mortgage-to-income sits at 29.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, because most buyers carry significant equity.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,000

Rent / wk

$420

HH Size

2.1

Personal Income / wk

$833

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

42.4%

Unoccupied

1,151

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

27.0%

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

29.7%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
1,837
Irish
660
Scottish
618
Ancestry NS
254
Other
171
German
142

Household Composition

49.0%

Couples, no children

2,753

Total families

Economy & Employment

The participation rate of 40.4% is low compared to the national average, because 1,638 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the retirement-age profile. Healthcare leads industry employment at 20.6%, followed by Education at 14.2%, Construction at 11.8% and Professional/Tech at 10.2%. The full-time employment rate is 51.7%, with 627 part-time workers nearly matching 670 full-time. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. SEIFA scores sit in the upper tier nationally: IRSD decile 9, IRSAD and IEO decile 8 each, IER decile 7. Real income grew 17.9% over the decade.

Unemployment

2.1%

Labour Force

2,585

Unemployed

53

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

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

Overall advantage
8
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
7
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

51.7%

Part-time

44.8%

Participation

40.4%

Employed

1,297

Occupations

Professionals 433
Managers 249
Clerical/Admin 161
Community/Personal 150
Sales 102
Labourers 85
Machinery/Drivers 24

Top Industries

Healthcare 20.6%
Education 14.2%
Construction 11.8%
Professional/Tech 10.2%
Public Admin 7.2%

University

44.3%

Postgraduate

10.6%

Born Overseas

11.7%

Dwellings

1,565

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high at 90.2% of residents driving to work, above the national average, while only 0.4% use public transport, consistent with limited transit on the Bellarine Peninsula. The suburb ranks decile 9 on IRSD, placing it among the least disadvantaged nationally. The crime rate is 10.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 34 of 40 total incidents classified as property and deception offences and only 2 crimes against the person. No schools are recorded within the boundary, so families rely on neighbouring suburbs. Rent-to-income at 27.0% is comfortable for tenants, and 7.6% of residents need daily assistance because of the older age profile.

Drive

90.2%

Public Transport

0.4%

Walk / Cycle

4.3%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+2.0%/yr

(+121 people/yr)

Established

Point Lonsdale is classified as active gentrification, scoring 51 on the gentrification index, above the threshold that signals momentum. The suburb grew 35.7% over the decade, driven by internal migration averaging 163 net arrivals per year, while overseas arrivals add only 24 annually. The aging trajectory is the dominant demographic shift, with senior share up 10.3 points and young-adult share down 3.4 points. Annual population growth is forecast at 2.0%, adding roughly 121 persons per year, with medium-scenario projections reaching 6,564 by 2031. Affordability has worsened from 46.1% in 2011 to 48.9% in 2021, above the 2011 baseline.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Internal Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+24

Net Internal / yr

+163

51

Gentrification Signal

Active

Population +45% since 2011, Net internal migration +163/yr, Accelerating: 2% → 42%

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

40

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

10.6

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
34
Justice procedures offences
3
Crimes against the person
2
Drug offences
1

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Point Lonsdale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 14%
Household Income
Bottom 50%
Rent Level
Top 13%
Apartments
Bottom 30%
Renters
Bottom 30%
Uni Educated
Top 14%
Public Transport
Bottom 3%
Born Overseas
Bottom 38%
Density
Top 22%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Point Lonsdale a good suburb to live in?

Point Lonsdale scores decile 9 on the IRSD disadvantage index and decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it among the most advantaged suburbs nationally. The crime rate is low at 10.6 per 1,000 residents. The trade-offs are a $1,147,000 median house price, limited public transport at 0.4% usage, and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.

What is the median house price in Point Lonsdale?

The median house price is $1,147,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024. Prices peaked at $1,505,000 in 2022 and have since corrected 23.8%. Since 2013 the median has grown 63.9% from $700,000, a CAGR of 3.6% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $2,000.

What schools are in Point Lonsdale?

No schools are recorded inside the Point Lonsdale suburb boundary in this dataset, so families with school-age children rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs on the Bellarine Peninsula. Despite this, 44.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 14.2 percentage points above the national average.

Is Point Lonsdale safe?

Point Lonsdale recorded 40 total criminal incidents, giving a rate of 10.6 per 1,000 residents. Of those, 34 were property and deception offences, 2 were crimes against the person, and 1 was a drug offence. The suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the second-highest advantage tier nationally.

Is Point Lonsdale good for property investment?

Only 14.2% of dwellings are rented and the 42.4% vacancy rate suggests significant holiday-home stock sitting empty much of the year. Weekly rent of $420 against a $1,147,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%, well lower than the Victorian average. The investment case is primarily capital growth, which has delivered a 3.6% CAGR over 14 years.

How is Point Lonsdale's population changing?

The suburb grew 35.7% over the past decade, reaching 6,053 residents in 2025. Annual growth is forecast at 2.0%, adding around 121 people per year, with the medium scenario projecting 6,564 residents by 2031. Net internal migration of 163 per year is the primary driver. The population is aging, with the senior share up 10.3 points over the decade.

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.

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