🔍

Bowser

VIC 3678 • Victoria

44
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
5.30 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralRetirees
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About Bowser

Bowser is a tiny rural locality situated just north of Wangaratta in north-eastern Victoria, forming part of the Wangaratta Rural City Council area. The locality covers approximately 5.3 square kilometres of flat agricultural land in the Ovens Valley and had a very small population of around 44 residents at the 2021 Census. Located adjacent to the Hume Freeway and close to the Ovens River, Bowser sits at the heart of Victoria's north-east — a region renowned for its agriculture, viticulture, and the broader King Valley wine country nearby. The area is predominantly used for grazing and broad-acre cropping, with scattered rural residential holdings.

Despite its tiny size, Bowser benefits enormously from its proximity to Wangaratta — a regional city that offers hospitals, schools, shopping, and the popular King Street arts and dining precinct, all within a few minutes' drive. The locality's position on the Hume Freeway corridor makes it highly accessible, with Melbourne approximately 2.5 hours to the south and Albury-Wodonga about 45 minutes to the north. The north-east Victoria lifestyle is a strong draw — world-class cycling along the Rail Trail, award-winning wineries of the King and Ovens Valleys, and the alpine scenery of the Victorian High Country are all within easy reach of Bowser's quiet rural streets.

Bowser falls under postcode 3678 and is governed by the Wangaratta Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Nicholls, while state elections fall under the Ovens Valley (Northern Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3678
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Wangaratta
Federal Electorate
Nicholls
State Electorate
Ovens Valley (Northern Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-36.69°, 146.48°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
5.30 km²
Population Density
8 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 3678

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 3678 for the 2023–24 financial year (2019–20 data not published for this postcode).

Median 2019–20
N/A
Median 2023–24
$51,966
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$72,461

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 3678; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Wangaratta Station
3.5 km
45 min

Bus Services

  • V/Line coach connections — Wangaratta / Melbourne 10 min to Wangaratta

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
240 km
By Train
Approx. 2 hr 45 min from Wangaratta Station (V/Line North East Line)
By Car (Peak)
2 hr 30 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
2 hr 20 min

🛣️ Hume Freeway provides direct Melbourne access; V/Line train from nearby Wangaratta Station

Walkability Car-Dependent

Small rural locality; car essential for all daily needs; services available in nearby Wangaratta

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
44
▲ 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 Bowser. 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

Where is Bowser VIC located? +

Bowser is a small rural locality just north of Wangaratta in north-east Victoria, within the Wangaratta Rural City Council area.

What services are near Bowser? +

Wangaratta, just 3–4 km away, provides all major services including a hospital, supermarkets, schools, and a vibrant dining and arts precinct on King Street.

How far is Bowser from Melbourne? +

Bowser is approximately 240 km north-east of Melbourne, about a 2.5-hour drive via the Hume Freeway. The nearest V/Line train station is Wangaratta, with services to Melbourne taking around 2 hrs 45 min.

What is the postcode for Bowser Victoria? +

Bowser shares postcode 3678 with Wangaratta and surrounding north-east Victoria localities.

Is Bowser a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Bowser 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.

What is the population of Bowser? +

Bowser had a population of 44 at the 2021 Census.