🔍

Cape Clear

VIC 3351 • Victoria

148
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
30.32 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralHistoricAgriculturalQuiet
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About Cape Clear

Cape Clear is a small rural locality situated approximately 37 kilometres south-west of Ballarat and 154 kilometres west of Melbourne, within the Golden Plains Shire in Victoria. With a population of 148 residents spread across some 30 square kilometres, the community is modest in size and deeply rooted in agricultural life. The area's income levels align with those of surrounding rural localities, reflecting a lifestyle centred on farming and the quiet rhythms of country Victoria.

The locality has a rich history linked to the Victorian gold rush of the mid-19th century, when it attracted Irish miners who named it after Cape Clear Island in Ireland — the population once swelled to tens of thousands during the gold rush era. Today, Cape Clear is characterised by open farmland, sheep and cattle grazing, and a tight-knit community that values the tranquillity of rural living. Visitors and residents alike are drawn to the historic Cape Clear Hotel and the scenic pastoral landscape of the Golden Plains region.

Cape Clear falls under postcode 3351 and is governed by the Golden Plains Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Wannon, while state elections fall under the Ripon (Western Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3351
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Golden Plains
Federal Electorate
Wannon
State Electorate
Ripon (Western Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.76°, 143.64°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
30.32 km²
Population Density
5 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 3351

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 3351, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$45,935
Median 2023–24
$53,972
▲ 17.5% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$63,900

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 3351; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Limited regional services — Ballarat Approx. 40-50 min

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
154 km
By Train
No direct train service; drive to Ballarat for V/Line services
By Car (Peak)
1 hr 45 min - 2 hrs
By Car (Off-Peak)
1 hr 30 min - 1 hr 45 min

🛣️ Car is the primary mode of transport; Western Freeway via Ballarat is the main route to Melbourne

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

A car is essential for all daily errands in this rural locality with no walkable commercial centre

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
148
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
189.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 57.4%
Motor vehicle theft
130.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 13.1%
Non-FV assault
63.3 / 100k
2yr Up 16.6% 10yr Down 22.6%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
174.9 / 100k
2yr Up 29.0% 10yr Down 31.2%
View all offence subgroups for Golden Plains →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

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Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cape Clear known for? +

Cape Clear is known for its gold rush history — the area once swelled to a population of 25,000 at the height of the Victorian gold rush in the mid-19th century, named by Irish miners after Cape Clear Island in Ireland. Today it is a quiet farming locality in the Golden Plains Shire.

How far is Cape Clear from Melbourne? +

Cape Clear is approximately 154 kilometres west of Melbourne, making it roughly a 1.5 to 2 hour drive via the Western Freeway through Ballarat.

Does Cape Clear have public transport? +

Cape Clear has very limited public transport options. There is no rail service; the nearest train station is in Ballarat, about 37 km away. A car is the primary way to get around.

What is the population of Cape Clear? +

According to the 2021 Census, Cape Clear has a population of 148 residents, making it a very small rural locality within the Golden Plains Shire of Victoria.

Is Cape Clear a good place to live? +

Cape Clear suits those seeking a genuine rural lifestyle with plenty of open space, quiet surroundings, and a sense of history. It is best suited to people comfortable with car-dependent living and who value the slower pace of country Victoria.

What is the postcode for Cape Clear? +

The postcode for Cape Clear, Victoria is 3351.

Is Cape Clear a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Cape Clear is part of the Golden Plains 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.