Moving to Dunkeld VIC 3294
What the official numbers say about living in Dunkeld — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $220 a week, against a median household income of $1,309 a week.
About 72% of homes are owner-occupied and 24% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Dunkeld shrank 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (751 → 688 people).
Around 65% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Scotland.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Dunkeld scores a little above the national average (decile 6 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (67% of workers), while 19% work from home.
Nearest airport: Hamilton Airport, 24.9 km west.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 231 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 school · 4 cafes & restaurants · 1 park — see them all on the Dunkeld profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Dunkeld Consolidated School 1.4 km
Parks and reserves: Dunkeld Arboretum 900 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Dunkeld, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Crimson Rosella · New Holland Honeyeater · Long-billed Corella · Red Wattlebird · Superb Fairy-wren.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Dunkeld, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkeld here | 688 | — | 6/10 | 7% |
| Penshurst | 677 | $282,500 | 2/10 | 2% |
| Hamilton | 10,346 | $380,000 | 3/10 | 5% |
| Mortlake | 1,477 | $354,500 | 2/10 | 2% |
| Ararat | 8,500 | $380,000 | 2/10 | 21% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Southern Grampians — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Wannon — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3294 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Dunkeld profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $220 a week, and about 24% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 751 people to 688. It sits about 231 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line. Local government is Southern Grampians council, and the federal seat is Wannon.
Weighing up alternatives?
Keep an eye on Dunkeld
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