🔍

Fryerstown

VIC 3451 • Victoria

232
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
31.75 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
HistoricHeritageRuralBushlandPeaceful
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About Fryerstown

Fryerstown is a small historic locality in Victoria's Mount Alexander Shire, situated on Fryers Creek approximately 10 kilometres south-east of Castlemaine and 100 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. With a 2021 Census population of 232, this once-thriving gold rush town has shrunk dramatically from its peak of an estimated 15,000 residents during the 1850s goldrush, when it was home to hundreds of houses and 30 hotels. Today it is a quiet semi-rural locality within the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park precinct, covering 31.7 square kilometres of the Victorian goldfields landscape.

Fryerstown is rich with gold mining history and heritage, most notably the Herons Reef Historic Gold Diggings — an extraordinary site containing ruins and remnants of virtually every known method of gold extraction from the Victorian era, including a remarkably intact Cornish miner's cottage dating to 1867. The locality attracts history enthusiasts, bushwalkers, and heritage tourists who come to explore the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. Residents and visitors rely on nearby Castlemaine for everyday services, shops, schools, and the V/Line rail link to Melbourne.

Fryerstown falls under postcode 3451 and is governed by the Mount Alexander Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Bendigo, while state elections fall under the Macedon (Northern Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3451
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Mount Alexander
Federal Electorate
Bendigo
State Electorate
Macedon (Northern Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.13°, 144.21°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
31.75 km²
Population Density
7 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 3451

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 3451, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$42,632
Median 2023–24
$51,501
▲ 20.8% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$64,269

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 3451; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Castlemaine
10 km
N/A (drive)

Bus Services

  • V/Line bus/coach connections — Castlemaine / Bendigo Approx. 15 min to Castlemaine

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
100 km
By Train
Drive to Castlemaine (~10 km), then V/Line to Southern Cross (~90 min)
By Car (Peak)
85-100 min via Calder Freeway
By Car (Off-Peak)
75-85 min

🛣️ Castlemaine is the nearest service hub with V/Line rail access to Melbourne

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

A heritage rural locality with no local shops; residents drive to Castlemaine for all services

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
232
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
304.2 / 100k
2yr Up 56.5% 10yr Down 14.6%
Motor vehicle theft
118.8 / 100k
2yr Up 22.2% 10yr Stable
Non-FV assault
232.9 / 100k
2yr Up 65.2% 10yr Up 20.2%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
313.7 / 100k
2yr Up 43.4% 10yr Stable
View all offence subgroups for Mount Alexander →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

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Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fryerstown known for? +

Fryerstown is best known for its exceptional gold rush heritage. Once home to an estimated 15,000 residents during the 1850s Victorian gold rush, the locality now contains the Herons Reef Historic Gold Diggings within the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, featuring ruins of gold extraction works and an intact Cornish miner's cottage from 1867.

How far is Fryerstown from Melbourne? +

Fryerstown is approximately 100 kilometres north-west of Melbourne CBD, a drive of around 85–100 minutes via the Calder Freeway.

Does Fryerstown have public transport? +

Fryerstown itself has no rail or regular bus service. The nearest V/Line train station is at Castlemaine, approximately 10 km away, which provides regular services to Melbourne's Southern Cross Station and Bendigo. A car is needed to reach Castlemaine.

What is the population of Fryerstown? +

According to the 2021 Census, Fryerstown has a population of 232 residents — a dramatic contrast to its gold rush peak of an estimated 15,000 people in the 1850s.

Is Fryerstown a good place to live? +

Fryerstown offers a peaceful rural lifestyle steeped in history, surrounded by the natural and heritage landscapes of the Castlemaine goldfields region. It suits those who value quiet bush living and heritage charm, with Castlemaine's town amenities a short drive away.

What is the postcode for Fryerstown? +

The postcode for Fryerstown, VIC is 3451.

Is Fryerstown a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Fryerstown is part of the Mount Alexander 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.