🔍

Rainbow

VIC 3424 • Victoria

672
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
865.61 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralHistoricAffordableRetirees

About Rainbow

Rainbow is a small town in the Shire of Hindmarsh in the Wimmera region of northwest Victoria, located approximately 400 kilometres from Melbourne. With a population of around 672 people, Rainbow serves as the administrative centre of Hindmarsh Shire and sits on an ancient sand ridge known as a lunette, which inspired the town's name after wildflowers gave it a rainbow-like appearance. The town is surrounded by vast dryland farming country growing wheat, barley, and canola, with a flat agricultural landscape stretching across the Mallee.

Life in Rainbow revolves around the agricultural calendar and a strong sense of community spirit, with the town providing essential services including a hospital, schools, supermarket, and hotel for the surrounding farming district. The town hosts local events and has a proud history, having been dubbed the 'Metropolis of the Mallee' by 1910. Rainbow appeals to those who value rural living, wide open skies, and the warmth of a close-knit outback Victorian town, and is popular with farming families and those seeking affordable property.

Rainbow falls under postcode 3424 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Mildura (Northern Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3424
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
N/A
Federal Electorate
Mallee
State Electorate
Mildura (Northern Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-35.73°, 141.93°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
865.61 km²
Elevation
0m

🏷️ Property Prices June quarter 2025

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

🏡House
$220K
3 sales · ▼ 2.2% 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.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • V/Line coach — Horsham / Melbourne approx 5-6 hrs to Melbourne

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
400 km
By Train
No direct train; V/Line coach connection via Horsham
By Car (Peak)
4-4.5 hrs
By Car (Off-Peak)
4 hrs

🛣️ Very remote; car essential; Western Highway (A8) south to Horsham then Henty Highway

Walkability Car-Dependent

Small town centre has basic walkable amenities; car required for most needs

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
672
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
N/A
Personal Income 2021
N/A
▲ 0% increase

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Rainbow VIC located? +

Rainbow is a small town in Hindmarsh Shire in northwest Victoria, approximately 400 kilometres from Melbourne and 105 kilometres north of Horsham.

What is the population of Rainbow VIC? +

Rainbow had a population of approximately 672 people at the 2021 Census, making it the main service town for the broader Hindmarsh Shire district.

How did Rainbow VIC get its name? +

The town's name comes from a sand lunette (Rainbow Rise) covered with colourful wildflowers that gave it the appearance of a rainbow when the area was first settled in the late 1890s.

What services are available in Rainbow VIC? +

Despite its remote location, Rainbow has a hospital, primary school, supermarket, hotel, petrol station, and various local businesses serving the surrounding farming community.

What is the median house price in Rainbow? +

As of June quarter 2025, the median house price is $220,000, down 2.2% year-on-year. Figures are based on Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report.

What is the population of Rainbow? +

Rainbow had a population of 672 at the 2021 Census.