🔍

Clunes

VIC 3370 • Rest of VIC

1,844
Population (2021)
$53,924
Median Household Income
150.60 km²
Area
$220/wk
Median Rent
RuralHistoricHeritageTourist HubAffordable

About Clunes

Clunes is a historic rural town in Victoria's Central Highlands, situated approximately 36 kilometres north of Ballarat and 139 kilometres from Melbourne, within the Shire of Hepburn. With a population of 1,844 spread across a large locality of around 150 square kilometres, it is a characterful regional centre known for its well-preserved 19th-century streetscape and gold rush heritage, as the site of Victoria's first registered gold discovery in 1850. The town has a noticeably older population with a median age of 51, attracting those drawn to its historic character and relaxed rural lifestyle.

Clunes has built a strong tourism identity over recent decades, most notably through its annual Clunes Booktown Festival, launched in 2007, which fills the historic main street with over ten book shops and draws visitors from across Australia. The town also has notable film heritage — scenes from the original Mad Max (1979) were filmed in and around Clunes — and a Wesley College campus adds an educational dimension to the community. With a median rent of just $220 per week, Clunes attracts tree-changers and those seeking an affordable, heritage-rich lifestyle within reach of Ballarat's services and the mineral springs country of nearby Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.

Clunes falls under postcode 3370 and is governed by Hepburn Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Ripon (Western Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3370
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Hepburn
Federal Electorate
Ballarat
State Electorate
Ripon (Western Victoria)
Type
Rural
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.29°, 143.79°
Statistical Area
Rest of VIC
Area
150.60 km²
Elevation
331m

🏷️ Property Prices June quarter 2025

Median sale prices in Clunes for the June quarter 2025. Median sale prices published by the Valuer-General Victoria.

🏡House
$415K
5 sales · ▼ 19.4% YoY

Source: Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report. Medians are for the latest quarter; the change shown is the official 12-month movement. Suburbs with very few sales in a quarter can be volatile.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$220
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,127
Avg Household Size
2.2 people
Median Age
51 years

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Clunes
0.5 km
6 min

Bus Services

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

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
139 km
By Train
No direct service; change at Ballarat (total approx. 2h+ with connections)
By Car (Peak)
1h 40min - 2h
By Car (Off-Peak)
1h 30min - 1h 45min

🛣️ Ballarat is 36km south; car is the most practical transport option for most residents

Walkability Car-Dependent

The historic main street provides limited local services, but most errands and commuting require a car

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
324.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 39.4%
Motor vehicle theft
200.4 / 100k
2yr Up 51.8% 10yr Down 35.2%
Non-FV assault
165 / 100k
2yr Up 31.0% 10yr Up 34.8%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
683.7 / 100k
2yr Up 119.2% 10yr Up 37.8%
View all offence subgroups for Hepburn →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,728
Census 2021
1,844
▲ 6.7% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$23,348
Personal Income 2021
$26,156
▲ 12.0% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$26,156 / yr
$503/wk
Household
$53,924 / yr
$1037/wk
Family
$69,628 / yr
$1339/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,459
Born Overseas 262

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 89
  • 2. New Zealand 33
  • 3. Netherlands 16
  • 4. Scotland 13
  • 5. Germany 12
  • 6. United States 10
  • 7. Chile 5
  • 8. Croatia 5
  • 9. Hong Kong 5
  • 10. Ireland 5

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 790
Australian 721
Irish 252
Scottish 238
German 83
Italian 57
Dutch 50
Australian Aboriginal 46
Maltese 33
Chinese 25

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,204
Both parents born in Australia
331
Both parents born overseas
189
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
52.5%
Christianity
37.0%
Buddhism
1.4%
Islam
0.2%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
97 (5.3%)
5-14 years
164 (8.9%)
15-19 years
83 (4.5%)
20-24 years
67 (3.6%)
25-34 years
147 (8.0%)
35-44 years
197 (10.7%)
45-54 years
260 (14.1%)
55-64 years
328 (17.8%)
65-74 years
302 (16.4%)
75-84 years
149 (8.1%)
85+ years
50 (2.7%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Clunes known for? +

Clunes is best known as the site of Victoria's first registered gold discovery in 1850 and for hosting the annual Clunes Booktown Festival, which transforms the historic main street into a celebration of books and reading each year. The town's well-preserved Victorian streetscape has also made it a popular film location, including the original Mad Max (1979).

How far is Clunes from Ballarat? +

Clunes is approximately 36 kilometres north of Ballarat, roughly a 35–45 minute drive via the Midland Highway.

Does Clunes have public transport? +

Clunes has a railway station with very limited V/Line services on the Maryborough corridor; a car is the most practical way to travel to and from the town for most journeys. Regional bus connections to Ballarat are also limited.

What is the population of Clunes? +

According to the 2021 Census, Clunes has a population of 1,844 people, spread across a large rural locality of approximately 150 square kilometres. The median age of 51 reflects its appeal to older residents and retirees.

Is Clunes a good place to live? +

Clunes suits those seeking a quiet, heritage-rich rural lifestyle with low median rents and a strong sense of community. It appeals particularly to retirees, creatives, and those wanting a tree-change within reasonable reach of Ballarat's services and the Hepburn Shire's mineral springs country.

What is the postcode for Clunes? +

The postcode for Clunes is 3370.

What is the average income in Clunes? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Clunes is about $503 per week (around $26,200 per year). The median household income is $1,037 per week and the median family income is $1,339 per week.

What is the median house price in Clunes? +

As of June quarter 2025, the median house price is $415,000, down 19.4% year-on-year. Figures are based on Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report.

What is the age profile of Clunes? +

The median age in Clunes is 51. The largest age group is 55–64 (328 residents, around 18%). Around 19% of residents are under 20 and about 27% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Clunes a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Clunes is part of the Hepburn 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.

How much is rent in Clunes? +

In Clunes, the median weekly rent is $220, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,127 (2021 Census).