VIC 3799 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Wesburn

With only 1,052 residents spread across 41.28 square kilometres, Wesburn sits well below average suburban density at 25.5 people per square km. Every single dwelling is a separate house, a 100% detached rate rarely seen even in regional Victoria, and median age of 43 runs 3 years above the national figure. Household income sits at the 49th percentile nationally, right at the middle of the distribution, yet the construction sector employs 27% of workers, well above state averages. The combination of a low-density, car-dependent footprint and a working-trades employment base signals a self-sufficient semi-rural community that functions independently of metropolitan services.

Wesburn urban fabric map

Population

1,052

Median Age

43.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,548/wk

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

3

41.28 km²· 25.5 people/km²· Family income $1,911/wk

Median house prices in Wesburn reached $630,000 in 2024, recovering from a post-peak dip after hitting $665,000 in 2021. The longer-term picture is compelling: prices have more than doubled from $312,500 in 2013, a 101.6% gain over 12 years and a compound annual growth rate of 6.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,798, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, making Wesburn more financially accessible than many outer-Melbourne markets. All dwellings are separate houses, so buyers face no apartment risk, and 38.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms compared to the state median profile. Outright ownership at 38.0% is notably high, indicating many residents hold their properties debt-free.

For Buyers

Median house prices in Wesburn reached $630,000 in 2024, recovering from a post-peak dip after hitting $665,000 in 2021. The longer-term picture is compelling: prices have more than doubled from $312,500 in 2013, a 101.6% gain over 12 years and a compound annual growth rate of 6.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,798, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, making Wesburn more financially accessible than many outer-Melbourne markets. All dwellings are separate houses, so buyers face no apartment risk, and 38.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms compared to the state median profile. Outright ownership at 38.0% is notably high, indicating many residents hold their properties debt-free.

For Investors

Rental demand in Wesburn is thin, with only 9.9% of dwellings occupied by renters, well below typical investment-grade suburbs. Weekly rent of $350 against a $630,000 median house price implies a gross yield around 2.9%, modest but higher than inner-city alternatives. The 7.5% vacancy rate is elevated and points to limited rental competition, which is both a risk for landlords and a sign the suburb leans strongly toward owner-occupation. Development activity registered only 3 applications in the past 12 months, all subdivision permits, suggesting new supply will stay constrained. For investors, the 6.0% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2024 is the primary return driver in this market, not yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

3

Last 12 Months

3

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
2
Other
1

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

Wesburn Primary School

ICSEA 980 Primary Government

Prep-6 · 77 students

Demographics

Wesburn's median age of 43 sits 3 years above the national average, reflecting an established owner-occupier base rather than a young family influx. Overseas-born residents account for just 9.9% of the population, which is 11.7 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic with English (475), Irish (107) and Scottish (91) the leading groups. University qualification rates reach only 15.2%, which is 14.9 percentage points lower than the national average, consistent with the suburb's trades and manual occupation base. Average household size of 2.8 persons is slightly above the national norm, and 309 families are couples with children compared to 229 couples without children.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.1%
15-24
15.9%
25-44
19.5%
45-64
30.8%
65+
18.4%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.7%
2 bed
12.3%
3 bed
45.8%
4+ bed
38.1%

Dwelling Structure

100.0%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 38.0% Mortgage 52.1% Rent 9.9%

All 100% of Wesburn's dwellings are separate houses, a uniformity that makes the suburb unusual even by regional Victorian standards. Ownership is strongly skewed toward long-term holders: 38.0% own outright and 52.1% hold a mortgage, leaving just 9.9% as renters. Bedroom distribution leans toward larger homes, with 45.8% being 3-bedroom and 38.1% with 4 or more bedrooms. Median house prices rose from $312,500 in 2013 to $630,000 in 2024, a 101.6% total gain, though prices remain 5.3% below the 2021 peak of $665,000. Rent-to-income at 22.6% is below the 30% stress threshold, confirming housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes at the 49th household income percentile nationally.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,798

Rent / wk

$350

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$714

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

7.5%

Unoccupied

29

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

22.6%

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

26.8%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
475
Irish
107
Scottish
91
Ancestry NS
65
Other
55
German
45

Household Composition

26.6%

Couples, no children

861

Total families

Economy & Employment

Construction dominates Wesburn's employment base at 27.0% of workers (72 people), a share that far exceeds typical suburban rates and reflects proximity to rural and semi-rural building markets. Healthcare employs 14.2% and Manufacturing 10.9%, with Education at 10.1% rounding out the top four. By occupation, Clerical and Admin workers (76) slightly edge out Labourers (72), but the concentration in trades and manual roles explains the below-national university qualification rate of 15.2%. Full-time employment runs at 60.2% of employed residents, and the unemployment rate of 4.3% is modest. Participation at 54.3% is relatively low, partly because 292 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 43.

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

Full-time

60.2%

Part-time

35.5%

Participation

54.3%

Employed

462

Occupations

Clerical/Admin 76
Labourers 72
Community/Personal 51
Managers 50
Sales 45
Professionals 42
Machinery/Drivers 39

Top Industries

Construction 27.0%
Healthcare 14.2%
Manufacturing 10.9%
Education 10.1%
Other Services 8.6%

University

15.2%

Postgraduate

3.3%

Born Overseas

9.9%

Dwellings

359

Transport to Work

Car dependency in Wesburn is high even by outer-suburban standards: 89.4% of residents drive to work and only 2.8% use public transport, well below national averages. This reflects the suburb's rural character and limited bus and train infrastructure. On the safety front, 43 total crimes were recorded at a rate of 40.9 per 1,000 residents, with justice procedures offences (16) and property offences (13) the most common categories. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on nearby towns for schooling. Volunteering stands at 15.6% of residents, above many comparable small communities, and housing stress is contained with rent-to-income at 22.6% and mortgage-to-income at 26.8%, both below stress thresholds.

Drive

89.4%

Public Transport

2.8%

Walk / Cycle

1.7%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

43

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

40.9

Offence Categories

Justice procedures offences
16
Property and deception offences
13
Crimes against the person
8
Other offences
3

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Wesburn compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 28%
Household Income
Bottom 49%
Rent Level
Top 28%
Renters
Bottom 15%
Uni Educated
Bottom 20%
Public Transport
Bottom 45%
Born Overseas
Bottom 29%
Density
Top 34%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wesburn a good suburb to live in?

Wesburn suits buyers who prioritise space, low housing stress and a stable owner-occupier community. With 100% separate houses, a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.8% well below the 30% stress threshold, and 88.3% of residents staying year to year, the suburb offers long-term stability. The trade-off is very limited public transport at 2.8% usage and no recorded schools within the boundary.

What is the median house price in Wesburn?

The median house price in Wesburn is $630,000 based on 2024 data, down from a peak of $665,000 in 2021 but more than double the $312,500 recorded in 2013. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,798 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 26.8%, below the stress benchmark.

What schools are in Wesburn?

No schools are recorded within the Wesburn suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 1,052 across 41.28 square kilometres, families travel to nearby towns for schooling. University qualifications locally sit at 15.2%, which is 14.9 percentage points below the national average.

Is Wesburn safe?

Wesburn recorded 43 total offences at a rate of 40.9 per 1,000 residents. The top categories were justice procedures offences (16 incidents) and property and deception offences (13 incidents). The small population base means individual incidents can move the rate, and the figure is comparable with other semi-rural Victorian communities of similar size.

Is Wesburn good for property investment?

The 6.0% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2024 supports a capital growth case, with prices rising 101.6% over 12 years. However, the rental market is small with only 9.9% renters, a 7.5% vacancy rate and a weekly rent of $350, implying a gross yield around 2.9%. Investors should expect income returns to be secondary to long-run price appreciation.

How is Wesburn's population changing?

Wesburn's population is 1,052, spread across a large 41.28 square kilometre area. Residential turnover is very low at 11.7%, with 88.3% of residents not moving in the previous year, suggesting the community is stable rather than growing rapidly. The suburb's development activity is minimal at 3 permit applications in the past 12 months.

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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