Moving to Orbost VIC 3888
What the official numbers say about living in Orbost — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Budget around $356,000 for a median house (based on 2024 sales). Sale prices moved up about 137% between 2014 and 2024.
Renting? The census median is $190 a week, against a median household income of $785 a week.
About 76% of homes are owner-occupied and 22% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Orbost shrank 9% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,493 → 2,264 people).
Around 57% of households are families, averaging 2.1 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, Philippines, New Zealand; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Italian, Tagalog.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Orbost scores below the national average (decile 1 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (79% of workers), while 12% work from home.
Nearest airport: Orbost Airport, 16.3 km south-east.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 308 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 8 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 2 parks — see them all on the Orbost profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Orbost Secondary College 500 m · Orbost North Primary School 650 m · Orbost Primary School 750 m · St Joseph's Primary School 950 m · Newmerella Primary School 4.5 km
Groceries: Orbost IGA X-press plus Liquor 650 m · Foodworks 900 m
Parks and reserves: Forest Park 1.1 km · Koala Court Reserve 1.2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Orbost, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Eurasian Blackbird · Common Starling · Grey Fantail · Red Wattlebird · Pacific Black Duck.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Orbost, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orbost here | 2,264 | $356,000 | 1/10 | 63% |
| Marlo | 602 | — | 6/10 | 44% |
| Lake Tyers Beach | 802 | $552,500 | 3/10 | 36% |
| Lakes Entrance | 5,145 | $520,000 | 1/10 | 30% |
| Kalimna | 1,350 | $385,000 | 2/10 | 26% |
| Swan Reach | 861 | — | 3/10 | 21% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be East Gippsland — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Gippsland — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3888 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Orbost profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
A house in Orbost has a median sale price of $356,000 (2024 sales). Renters pay a median $190 a week, and about 22% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 9% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,493 people to 2,264. It sits about 308 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line. Local government is East Gippsland council, and the federal seat is Gippsland.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Orbost vs Marlo.
Nearby guides: Marlo · Lake Tyers Beach · Lakes Entrance · Kalimna · Swan Reach.
Keep an eye on Orbost
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