Twenties’ land of plenty
GEELONG’S young demographic are flocking to Waurn Ponds and Armstrong Creek as new data reveals the median age in each Geelong suburb.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows Waurn Ponds has a median age of 25, the youngest across the Geelong region, while Queenscliff has a median age of 59, the oldest across the region.
Three of the five youngest suburbs — Armstrong Creek, Curlewis and Mount Duneed — are all suburbs where a lot of development has occurred.
This has meant a lot of young families are moving into these areas for the infrastructure available and more affordable prices.
Warralily estate manager Ben Stewart said 68 per cent of Warralily buyers in Armstrong Creek were aged between 25 and 44.
“Forty-three per cent of our buyers are couples with children, with these families buying based on the community amenity that Warralily offers including schools, shops, dining and landscaped creek, parks and playgrounds,” Mr Stewart said.
Young couple Andrew and Sherryn Van der Lugt moved to Armstrong Creek from Grovedale as they saw growth potential and wanted more of a community feel.
“There is a really good sense of community with lots of families around,” Mr Van der Lugt said.
The couple said they built their second home and love the location and have almost finished registering their daughter Frankie, five months, at the child care that is being built nearby.
Barry Plant, Highton agent Deane Hughes said Deakin University, the shopping centre and Epworth Hospital were attracting a lot of people to Waurn Ponds.
“It is one of the most tightly held markets … there used to be an average of 10-15 properties on the market and now there are just four,” Mr Hughes said.
He said a few years ago people decided to hang onto their property to see what happened with the proposed hospital, shopping centre upgrade and train station.
“Now that it is all here, no one wants to move,” he said.
Data shows the suburbs where the demographic has remained the same over the past five years are the suburbs that have the highest numbers of stock turnover, including Geelong West, Belmont and Newtown.
Buxton, Newtown agent Dylan Taggert said these were also some of the most popular suburbs across Geelong.
The suburb that has had the biggest demographic change is Marshall, according to the ABS. The median age has dropped from 47 to 39 in five years.
Mr Taggert said Marshall was a bit of a new suburb with house and land packages available.
In Geelong, data shows the oldest suburb is Fyansford with a median age of 52.
Across the Geelong region, suburbs on the Bellarine Peninsula have the oldest median age and this is because they are typically known as retirement areas.
Queenscliff has the oldest demographic with a median age of 59.
Fletchers, Queenscliff agent James Gladman said they were getting a lot of interest from people that were close to retiring.
“They are buying them with a five to 10-year plan where they are in their mid-40s or 50s and using it as a holiday house for five or 10 years before they look to retire down here,” Mr Gladman said.
The full list of Geelong’s suburb demographics is available online at geelongadvertiser.com.au.