🔍

Bowmans Forest

VIC 3735 • Victoria

106
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
56.09 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralHistoricQuietSemi-Rural
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About Bowmans Forest

Bowmans Forest is a rural locality in north-east Victoria, approximately 20 kilometres south-east of Wangaratta within the Rural City of Wangaratta. With a population of 106 at the 2021 Census across 56.1 square kilometres, it is a quiet farming community set among the foothills leading to Victoria's Alpine region. The area takes its name from William Bowman, who established one of the region's earliest pastoral runs of 50,000 acres here in 1838.

Steeped in gold rush history — the track to the Buckland Gold Field passed through the locality in the 1850s — the area today is primarily agricultural, with rolling pastures and scattered bushland. The historic town of Beechworth lies approximately 10 kilometres to the south, offering heritage buildings, boutique shops, and local produce. Wangaratta provides the nearest major services, schools, and V/Line train connections to Melbourne, making Bowmans Forest appealing for those seeking rural tranquillity within reach of regional amenities.

Bowmans Forest falls under postcode 3735 and is governed by the Wangaratta Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Indi, while state elections fall under the Ovens Valley (Northern Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3735
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Wangaratta
Federal Electorate
Indi
State Electorate
Ovens Valley (Northern Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-36.52°, 146.60°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
56.09 km²
Population Density
2 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 3735

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 3735 for the 2023–24 financial year (2019–20 data not published for this postcode).

Median 2019–20
N/A
Median 2023–24
$51,259
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$59,239

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 3735; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Wangaratta Station
20 km
N/A (drive required)

Bus Services

  • Limited regional bus services — Wangaratta 20-25 min

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
250 km
By Train
Drive to Wangaratta Station (20 min), then V/Line to Melbourne Southern Cross (~2 hr 45 min)
By Car (Peak)
3 hr - 3 hr 30 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
2 hr 45 min - 3 hr

🛣️ Via Hume Freeway from Wangaratta; Beechworth is 10 km south

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

No shops or services in the locality; Wangaratta or Beechworth required for all errands

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
106
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Wangaratta Local Government Area, which contains Bowmans Forest. Rates are per 100,000 residents for the year ending September 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
260.4 / 100k
2yr Down 21.1% 10yr Up 26.2%
Motor vehicle theft
131.8 / 100k
2yr Up 36.4% 10yr Up 98.4%
Non-FV assault
280.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 16.6%
Robbery (unarmed)
3.3 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
286.8 / 100k
2yr Down 25.2% 10yr Down 29.3%
View all offence subgroups for Wangaratta →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

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Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bowmans Forest known for? +

Bowmans Forest is known for its rich pastoral and gold rush history. William Bowman established one of the region's first pastoral runs here in 1838, and the track to the Buckland Gold Field passed through the locality during the 1850s gold rush.

How far is Bowmans Forest from Melbourne? +

Bowmans Forest is approximately 250 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, which is around a 3-hour drive via the Hume Freeway. The regional city of Wangaratta is about 20 kilometres to the north-west.

Does Bowmans Forest have public transport? +

Bowmans Forest has very limited public transport. The nearest V/Line train station is in Wangaratta, about 20 kilometres away, offering services on the North East line to Melbourne Southern Cross station.

What is the population of Bowmans Forest? +

According to the 2021 Census, Bowmans Forest has a population of 106 residents spread across 56.1 square kilometres, reflecting its quiet rural character in north-east Victoria.

Is Bowmans Forest a good place to live? +

Bowmans Forest offers a peaceful rural lifestyle amid rolling farmland and bushland in Victoria's High Country foothills. It appeals to those who enjoy country living with the historic town of Beechworth nearby and Wangaratta providing major services, shops, and rail connections.

What is the postcode for Bowmans Forest? +

The postcode for Bowmans Forest, Victoria is 3735.

Is Bowmans Forest a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Bowmans Forest is part of the Wangaratta LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.