Moving to Swan Reach VIC 3903
What the official numbers say about living in Swan Reach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $210 a week, against a median household income of $1,074 a week.
About 87% of homes are owner-occupied and 12% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Swan Reach grew 38% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (625 → 861 people).
Around 75% of households are families, averaging 2.4 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, Scotland, New Zealand; most spoken languages besides English: Greek, Mandarin, Bengali.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Swan Reach scores below the national average (decile 3 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (80% of workers), while 18% work from home.
Nearest airport: Bairnsdale Airport, 26.9 km west.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 255 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 school — see them all on the Swan Reach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Swan Reach Primary School 700 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Swan Reach, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Common Starling · Red Wattlebird · Superb Fairy-wren · Welcome Swallow · Magpie-lark.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Swan Reach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Reach here | 861 | — | 3/10 | 21% |
| Metung | 1,899 | $691,500 | 6/10 | 17% |
| Bruthen | 820 | $322,500 | 2/10 | 55% |
| Nicholson | 1,322 | — | 4/10 | 12% |
| Kalimna | 1,350 | $385,000 | 2/10 | 26% |
| Lakes Entrance | 5,145 | $520,000 | 1/10 | 30% |
| Raymond Island | 589 | $500,000 | 3/10 | 36% |
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 3903 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Swan Reach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $210 a week, and about 12% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 38% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 625 people to 861. It sits about 255 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: Swan Reach vs Nicholson · Swan Reach vs Kalimna.
Nearby guides: Metung · Bruthen · Nicholson · Kalimna · Lakes Entrance · Raymond Island.
Keep an eye on Swan Reach
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