Demographics

Moyne Shire is located in South West Victoria and stretches along the Shipwreck Coast in the south to the pastoral areas in the north. Spanning an area of 5,478 km2, communities include Caramut, Ellerslie, Framlingham, Garvoc, Hawkesdale, Hexham, Kirkstall, Koroit, Macarthur, Mortlake, Nullawarre, Orford, Panmure, Peterborough, Port Fairy, Purnim, Winslow, Woolsthorpe, Woorndoo and Yambuk.

The shire is characterised by agriculture, fresh seafood, manufacturing and a healthy tourism industry. The dairy industry is the dominant form of agriculture, however sheep production and cereal crops are growing in size. manufacturing, health, retail and education are other important sectors.

There are beautiful beaches, rugged coastline, volcanic lakes and craters and vast pastoral country. Our many natural features include Bay of Islands Coastal Park, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, Griffiths Island, Hopkins Falls and the Port Fairy-Warrnambool rail trail.

There is also a rich cultural history of Aboriginal people with over 1,206 registered cultural heritage places. Cultural heritage places include Budj Bim, Framlingham Mission Reserve and Cemetery, Framlingham Forest, Hopkins Falls and Hopkins River Fish Traps, Tower Hill, Tooram Stones, Killarney Beach Middens, and Deen Maar.

The shire is bordered by Glenelg Shire in the west, Southern Grampians Shire and Ararat Rural City in the north, Corangamite Shire to the east, and envelops the Warrnambool City Council municipal area. Moyne has a total population of 17,374 (Census 2021) residents. Most of the growth within the shire is to the south in the coastal areas, with the entire population growing at approximately 0.5% per annum. It is projected by the state government that by 2021 the population will increase by 0.54% annually.

Most of the population is dispersed amongst 20-30 different communities in the shire with considerable disparity between communities. Differences include age structure with some communities having a concentration of families and young children and others with an ageing population. Degrees of disadvantage and access to services and internet are other points of difference between communities. 

More Information

Moyne Shire Council has developed demographics and population forecast websites that are available to the entire community. The websites are designed to inform community groups, the Council, investors, business, students and the general public.

Whether you want to find out household type, age structure or simply how many people live in your area, the two websites offers a wealth of information.

View the Moyne Shire community profile

View the Moyne Shire economic profile