Port Fairy
With a median age of 51, Port Fairy sits 11 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest resident bases in regional Victoria. The town covers 113 square kilometres and supports a population of only 3,742, giving a density of 33 per square kilometre, well below state norms. A 33.2% vacancy rate signals a sizeable holiday-home and short-stay segment sitting alongside a stable owner-occupier base, with 51.6% of dwellings owned outright. House prices compounded at 5.0% annually over 14 years from $400,000 in 2013 to $788,500 by mid-2024, though the market has retreated 35.6% from its January 2024 peak of $1,225,000.
Population
3,742
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,450/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$788K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price is $788,500, based on sales recorded in April to June 2024, which is down 35.6% from the peak of $1,225,000 reached in January 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 90.5%, with semi-detached at 8.6% and apartments at just 0.3%, so buyers are competing in a thin, low-diversity market. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.7% of dwellings, followed by four or more bedrooms at 29.3%. Outright owners at 51.6% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 27.6%, suggesting long-term tenure rather than active buyer churn. That ownership structure, combined with the remote coastal setting, keeps resale supply constrained.
For Buyers
The median house price is $788,500, based on sales recorded in April to June 2024, which is down 35.6% from the peak of $1,225,000 reached in January 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 90.5%, with semi-detached at 8.6% and apartments at just 0.3%, so buyers are competing in a thin, low-diversity market. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.7% of dwellings, followed by four or more bedrooms at 29.3%. Outright owners at 51.6% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 27.6%, suggesting long-term tenure rather than active buyer churn. That ownership structure, combined with the remote coastal setting, keeps resale supply constrained.
For Investors
Rental conditions are modest compared to metropolitan markets. Weekly rent is $300 and the renter share is 20.7%, a thin tenant pool against a $788,500 median that implies a gross yield under 2%. The 33.2% vacancy rate is the most significant risk signal, reflecting heavy holiday-let stock that sits empty outside peak tourism seasons. Development activity is low at 9 applications in the past 12 months, with recent permits focused on subdivision rather than new dwellings, so supply is not a near-term pressure. Price history shows 97.1% growth from 2013 to mid-2024 and a 5.0% compound annual growth rate over 14 years, but the 35.6% correction from the 2024 peak demonstrates the market can reverse sharply. Investment returns in Port Fairy are capital-growth driven and highly sensitive to tourism demand cycles.
Development Activity
Total DAs
28
Last 12 Months
10
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
Schools in Port Fairy iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Patrick's School
Prep-6 · 180 students
Port Fairy Consolidated School
Prep-6 · 152 students
Demographics
The median age of 51 exceeds the national median by 11 years, making Port Fairy an outlier even among regional coastal towns. Overseas-born residents account for 8.8%, which is 12.8 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the suburb's Anglo-Celtic character. Ancestry data confirms this: English (1,514 residents), Irish (854), Scottish (564) and German (164) lead the list. University qualifications reach 33.9%, which is 3.8 percentage points above the national figure, a notable level given the retiree skew. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, and the household composition shows 37% couples without children, typical of a post-family-stage population. The volunteering rate of 32.3% is high, reflecting the engaged, community-oriented older resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.5%
Houses
8.6%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 51.6% is the defining tenure feature, far above the national average, because many households are long-term residents or sea-change retirees who paid off mortgages elsewhere. Renters at 20.7% and mortgage holders at 27.6% make up the remainder. Separate houses account for 90.5% of stock, leaving almost no apartment supply. The median house price reached $788,500 in mid-2024, down 35.6% from the $1,225,000 peak in early 2024 but still 97.1% above the $400,000 trough recorded in 2013. That 14-year compound annual growth rate of 5.0% captures both the sea-change demand surge and the subsequent correction. Mortgage-to-income at 27.6% remains below the stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 20.7% is also comfortable, so current occupants are not under financial pressure.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$745
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
33.2%
Unoccupied
724
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.0%
Couples, no children
2,752
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates Port Fairy's employment at 22.4% (256 workers), well above the share typically seen in towns of this size, because serving an aging local population requires disproportionate medical and aged-care staffing. Education follows at 10.8% and Construction at 9.9%, then Hospitality at 9.4%, which reflects the town's role as a tourism destination. Public Administration accounts for 8.4%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 404 workers and Managers at 304, concentrations that are high relative to the small labour force and partly explain the 33.9% university qualification rate. The unemployment rate is 3.0%, participation is 47.2%, and full-time employment is 55.2%. The low participation rate reflects the large retired population, with 1,245 residents not in the labour force compared to 1,416 employed.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.2%
Part-time
41.8%
Participation
47.2%
Employed
1,416
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.9%
Postgraduate
7.2%
Born Overseas
8.8%
Dwellings
1,446
Transport to Work
Active travel is notable for a town this size, with 9.1% of commuters walking or cycling, higher than most comparable regional areas. Car dependence is high at 84.4% and public transport at 1.0%, consistent with limited transit infrastructure in a town of 3,742 people spread across 113 square kilometres. Crime recorded 153 incidents in the reference period, a rate of 40.9 per thousand residents. Property and deception offences account for 102 of those, the highest category, likely linked to the high vacancy rate and the mix of holiday stock and absentee owners. Crimes against the person totalled 18. No schools are recorded in the brief for Port Fairy, so families rely on facilities in surrounding areas. The housing-stress indicators are comfortable: mortgage-to-income at 27.6% and rent-to-income at 20.7% are both below stress thresholds.
Drive
84.4%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
9.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
153
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
40.9
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 Port Fairy compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Fairy a good suburb to live in?
Port Fairy suits retirees and sea-change buyers more than families or young workers. With 51.6% of homes owned outright, a 3.0% unemployment rate, and 32.3% of residents volunteering, the town is settled and engaged. The median age of 51 is 11 years above national, transport is car-dependent at 84.4%, and public transit covers just 1.0% of commuters, so lifestyle trade-offs are real for those without private transport.
What is the median house price in Port Fairy?
The median house price is $788,500, based on sales from April to June 2024. That is down 35.6% from the January 2024 peak of $1,225,000 but still 97.1% above the 2013 trough of $400,000, giving a 14-year compound annual growth rate of 5.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, representing a 27.6% mortgage-to-income ratio.
What schools are in Port Fairy?
No schools are recorded within Port Fairy's boundaries in this dataset. The town of 3,742 residents does have education activity locally, with Education accounting for 10.8% of local employment (124 workers), but families with school-age children typically access facilities in surrounding towns. The local university qualification rate is 33.9%, which is 3.8 points above national.
Is Port Fairy safe?
Port Fairy recorded 153 total offences in the reference period, a rate of 40.9 per thousand residents. Property and deception offences led at 102 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 18. The high vacancy rate of 33.2% from holiday stock likely contributes to property offence rates. Drug offences totalled 11 and justice procedures offences 16.
Is Port Fairy good for property investment?
The long-term record is positive, with a 5.0% compound annual growth rate over 14 years and 97.1% total price growth from 2013 to mid-2024. However, the 35.6% correction from the January 2024 peak and a 33.2% vacancy rate highlight real cyclical risk. Weekly rent is $300 against a $788,500 median, implying gross yield under 2.5%. Returns depend heavily on capital growth from tourism and sea-change demand.
How is Port Fairy's population changing?
Port Fairy's population stands at 3,742, spread across 113 square kilometres at a density of 33 per square kilometre. The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, and the household composition leans toward couples without children at 37%, consistent with ongoing aging of the resident base. Residential stability is high, with 85.1% of residents staying at the same address and turnover at just 14.9%.
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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