Queenscliff
At a median age of 62, Queenscliff residents are 22 years older than the national median, making this one of the most age-skewed communities in Victoria. That single fact explains much else: a 40% vacancy rate driven by holiday and second homes, 63% of dwellings owned outright without a mortgage, and a labour participation rate of just 42.2%. With only 1,516 residents spread across 3.34 square kilometres, the suburb sits on the Bellarine Peninsula as an established, wealth-concentrated enclave. The IRSD disadvantage decile ranks at 9, placing it among the least disadvantaged suburbs nationally.
Population
1,516
Median Age
62.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,473/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$1.2M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price reached $1,200,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter, down 30.4% from the 2022 peak of $1,725,000. Over a 14-year period from 2013, however, prices grew 90.5% from $630,000, a compound annual growth rate of 4.7%. The housing stock is 91.1% separate houses, so buyers are largely competing for detached dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,232, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 35%, which crosses the stress threshold. Three-bedroom homes are most common at 46.7%, with four-plus at 33.3%, indicating larger family-sized properties rather than starter homes.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,200,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter, down 30.4% from the 2022 peak of $1,725,000. Over a 14-year period from 2013, however, prices grew 90.5% from $630,000, a compound annual growth rate of 4.7%. The housing stock is 91.1% separate houses, so buyers are largely competing for detached dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,232, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 35%, which crosses the stress threshold. Three-bedroom homes are most common at 46.7%, with four-plus at 33.3%, indicating larger family-sized properties rather than starter homes.
For Investors
A 40% vacancy rate is the defining challenge for rental investors in Queenscliff, pointing to a holiday and second-home market rather than a stable tenant base. Weekly rent sits at $369, and only 14.3% of dwellings are rented compared to 63% owned outright. Against a $1,200,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield well below 2%. Development activity is minimal at 4 applications in 12 months, all subdivision works, so new supply is negligible. Capital growth is the primary investment thesis, supported by the 4.7% CAGR over 14 years, though the 30.4% correction from the 2022 peak means entry timing matters significantly.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Queenscliff iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Queenscliff Primary School
Prep-6 · 165 students
St Aloysius' School
Prep-6 · 112 students
Demographics
The median age of 62 is 22 years above the national figure, the dominant characteristic shaping every other metric here. University qualifications reach 43%, which is 12.9 percentage points above the national average, reflecting an educated retiree and semi-retired cohort. Overseas-born residents make up 13.2%, which is 8.4 points below national, consistent with the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile led by English (737), Irish (277) and Scottish (260) backgrounds. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, and 49.6% of families are couples without children, indicating a suburb where families have already raised their children and downsized.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.1%
Houses
4.8%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Queenscliff is strikingly skewed: 63% own outright against a national average well below 40%, with only 22.7% carrying a mortgage and just 14.3% renting. Outright owners outnumbering mortgagees by nearly three to one reflects long-held, debt-free wealth in an established retiree community. The stock is 91.1% separate houses with apartments at only 2.6%. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.7% and four-plus for 33.3%. From the 2013 trough of $630,000 to the 2022 peak of $1,725,000, prices nearly tripled before correcting 30.4% to the current median of $1,200,000. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 35% exceeds the stress threshold, though this affects only the 22.7% who carry debt.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,232
Rent / wk
$369
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$793
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
40.0%
Unoccupied
444
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.0% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.6%
Couples, no children
1,112
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local industry at 14.7%, followed by Professional and Technical services at 13.7% and Education at 12.7%. Public Administration contributes 10.4% and Construction 9.2%. By occupation, Professionals (195) and Managers (117) dominate, consistent with the IEO decile 8 score. Unemployment is low at 2.8%, yet labour participation is only 42.2% because 646 residents are not in the labour force, mostly retirees. Household income sits at the 45.6th percentile nationally, below what the IRSD decile 9 score implies, because retired wealth is held in assets rather than weekly income.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.1%
Part-time
45.1%
Participation
42.2%
Employed
564
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.0%
Postgraduate
12.3%
Born Overseas
13.2%
Dwellings
662
Transport to Work
Car dependence runs at 82.2%, though 12.7% walk or cycle, above the national average for a non-metropolitan suburb. Only 1.8% use public transport, below state norms, reflecting limited Bellarine Peninsula services. Crime totals 48 offences at a rate of 31.7 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 40 of those 48. The suburb earns IRSAD decile 8, placing it among the less disadvantaged nationally. No schools sit within the suburb boundary. Rent-to-income of 25.1% sits at the stress threshold for renters, while mortgage-to-income of 35% is above it for the 22.7% with a mortgage.
Drive
82.2%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
12.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
48
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
31.7
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 Queenscliff compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Queenscliff a good suburb to live in?
Queenscliff ranks at IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8, placing it among the less disadvantaged suburbs nationally. The median age is 62 and 63% of dwellings are owned outright, making it suited to retirees and sea-change buyers. The 40% vacancy rate and limited public transport are trade-offs for the coastal, low-crime setting.
What is the median house price in Queenscliff?
The median house price is $1,200,000, recorded in the April to June 2024 quarter. Prices peaked at $1,725,000 in 2022 and have since corrected 30.4%. From the 2013 trough of $630,000, the 14-year compound annual growth rate is 4.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,232.
What schools are in Queenscliff?
No schools are recorded inside the Queenscliff suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Bellarine Peninsula suburbs. The local population is highly educated with 43% holding university qualifications, which is 12.9 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Queenscliff safe?
Queenscliff recorded 48 offences in the period measured, a crime rate of 31.7 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences make up 40 of those 48 incidents. Crimes against the person total 5. The IRSD disadvantage decile of 9 indicates very low relative disadvantage, consistent with a low-crime profile.
Is Queenscliff good for property investment?
The 40% vacancy rate signals a holiday and second-home market rather than stable rental demand, and with only 14.3% of dwellings rented, yield is thin. Weekly rent of $369 against a $1,200,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%. The 4.7% CAGR over 14 years supports a long-term capital growth thesis, but the 30.4% correction from the 2022 peak illustrates coastal market volatility.
How is Queenscliff's population changing?
Queenscliff has 1,516 residents and a low turnover rate, with 80.3% of residents not having moved in the past year. The median age of 62 is 22 years above the national median, and the labour participation rate of 42.2% reflects a predominantly retired community. Development activity is minimal at 4 applications in 12 months, suggesting stable rather than growing population.
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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