🔍

Dunach

VIC 3371 • Victoria

83
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
24.17 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralHistoricAgriculturalPeaceful
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About Dunach

Dunach is a small rural locality in Victoria's Central Goldfields region, situated within the Shire of Central Goldfields approximately 170 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. With a 2021 Census population of 83 residents spread across 24 square kilometres of open farmland and remnant bushland, Dunach is one of the more thinly settled localities in central Victoria. The area falls within the state electorate of Ripon and carries the quiet, unhurried character typical of the Victorian goldfields interior.

Dunach is perhaps best known for the Dunach Forest Homestead Complex, a heritage-listed group of bluestone buildings constructed around 1873 for pastoralist Henry Chalk, comprising a homestead, kitchen, men's quarters, stables, barn, and smithy. The nearby localities of Talbot and Amherst, as well as the larger town of Maryborough, provide the nearest services and facilities for residents. The landscape is a blend of agricultural grazing land and State Forest, and the area suits those seeking a rural lifestyle with easy access to the quiet charms of the Central Goldfields wine and arts region. A private vehicle is essential for all travel and errands.

Dunach falls under postcode 3371 and is governed by the Central Goldfields 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
3371
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Central Goldfields
Federal Electorate
Wannon
State Electorate
Ripon (Western Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.20°, 143.64°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
24.17 km²
Population Density
3 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 3371

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 3371 for the 2023–24 financial year (2019–20 data not published for this postcode).

Median 2019–20
N/A
Median 2023–24
$42,473
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$49,787

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 3371; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Maryborough Station
18 km
N/A (drive only)

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
170 km
By Train
No direct service; nearest V/Line station at Maryborough (approx. 18 km away) with trains to Melbourne Southern Cross (~2 hr 30 min)
By Car (Peak)
2 hr - 2 hr 30 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
1 hr 50 min - 2 hr 10 min

🛣️ Car is essential for daily life; Maryborough is the nearest regional centre with V/Line rail connections to Melbourne.

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

Dunach has no local shops or services; a car is required for all errands, with Maryborough being the nearest town with full services.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
83
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
290.1 / 100k
2yr Up 45.8% 10yr Down 28.4%
Motor vehicle theft
152.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 26.2%
Non-FV assault
500.4 / 100k
2yr Up 74.2% 10yr Up 63.7%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
304.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 13.3%
View all offence subgroups for Central Goldfields →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

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Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dunach known for? +

Dunach is best known for the heritage-listed Dunach Forest Homestead Complex, a group of bluestone buildings dating from around 1873 built for pastoralist Henry Chalk. The locality also reflects the wider Central Goldfields history of pastoral farming and 19th-century settlement.

How far is Dunach from Melbourne? +

Dunach is approximately 170 kilometres north-west of Melbourne CBD, making it a roughly 2 to 2.5 hour drive. The nearest regional centre is Maryborough, approximately 18 kilometres away.

Does Dunach have public transport? +

Dunach has no public transport of its own. The nearest V/Line rail service operates from Maryborough station, approximately 18 kilometres away, with trains running to Melbourne Southern Cross in around 2.5 hours. A car is essential for getting around locally.

What is the population of Dunach? +

According to the 2021 Census, Dunach has a population of 83 residents across approximately 24 square kilometres, making it a very sparsely populated rural locality in the Central Goldfields Shire.

Is Dunach a good place to live? +

Dunach suits those seeking a genuinely rural lifestyle in central Victoria, with open farmland, State Forest surroundings, and the charm of the nearby Central Goldfields towns of Talbot and Maryborough. It requires full reliance on a car and a tolerance for distance from services.

What is the postcode for Dunach? +

The postcode for Dunach, Victoria is 3371.

Is Dunach a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Dunach is part of the Central Goldfields 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.