Fastest growing Geelong suburbs (2016-2021)

Charlemont grew fastest in percentage terms, at +618%. Armstrong Creek added the most residents, 6,999. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 49 eligible Geelong suburbs.

This ranking shows which Geelong suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.

Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Geelong's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.

Geelong suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021

Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.

1

Charlemont

VIC 3217 · 2,612 residents

2,247 residents added · +618% · 2,612 residents in 2021

C 100.0
2

Fyansford

VIC 3218 · 1,206 residents

1,010 residents added · +515% · 1,206 residents in 2021

B 97.9
3

Mount Duneed

VIC 3217 · 6,182 residents

4,603 residents added · +292% · 6,182 residents in 2021

B 95.8
4

Curlewis

VIC 3222 · 4,175 residents

2,623 residents added · +169% · 4,175 residents in 2021

C 93.8
5

Armstrong Creek

VIC 3217 · 11,247 residents

6,999 residents added · +165% · 11,247 residents in 2021

C 91.7
6

Bellbrae

VIC 3228 · 1,346 residents

481 residents added · +56% · 1,346 residents in 2021

B 89.6
7

Point Lonsdale

VIC 3225 · 3,788 residents

1,103 residents added · +41% · 3,788 residents in 2021

B 87.5
8

Torquay

VIC 3228 · 18,534 residents

5,275 residents added · +40% · 18,534 residents in 2021

A 85.4
9

Moolap

VIC 3224 · 1,825 residents

451 residents added · +33% · 1,825 residents in 2021

D 83.3
10

Ocean Grove

VIC 3226 · 17,714 residents

3,548 residents added · +25% · 17,714 residents in 2021

B 81.2
11

Marshall

VIC 3216 · 2,299 residents

413 residents added · +22% · 2,299 residents in 2021

C 79.2
12

Connewarre

VIC 3227 · 953 residents

165 residents added · +21% · 953 residents in 2021

C 77.1
13

Lovely Banks

VIC 3213 · 2,782 residents

480 residents added · +21% · 2,782 residents in 2021

C 75.0
14

Batesford

VIC 3213 · 1,141 residents

188 residents added · +20% · 1,141 residents in 2021

A 72.9
15

Drysdale

VIC 3222 · 4,976 residents

701 residents added · +16% · 4,976 residents in 2021

B 70.8

Ranked from 49 qualifying suburbs.

Geelong suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021

Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.

1

Armstrong Creek

VIC 3217 · 11,247 residents

6,999 residents added · +165% · 11,247 residents in 2021

C 100.0
2

Torquay

VIC 3228 · 18,534 residents

5,275 residents added · +40% · 18,534 residents in 2021

A 97.9
3

Mount Duneed

VIC 3217 · 6,182 residents

4,603 residents added · +292% · 6,182 residents in 2021

B 95.8
4

Ocean Grove

VIC 3226 · 17,714 residents

3,548 residents added · +25% · 17,714 residents in 2021

B 93.8
5

Lara

VIC 3212 · 19,014 residents

2,659 residents added · +16% · 19,014 residents in 2021

C 91.7
6

Curlewis

VIC 3222 · 4,175 residents

2,623 residents added · +169% · 4,175 residents in 2021

C 89.6
7

Charlemont

VIC 3217 · 2,612 residents

2,247 residents added · +618% · 2,612 residents in 2021

C 87.5
8

Highton

VIC 3216 · 20,736 residents

1,783 residents added · +9% · 20,736 residents in 2021

B 85.4
9

Point Lonsdale

VIC 3225 · 3,788 residents

1,103 residents added · +41% · 3,788 residents in 2021

B 83.3
10

Belmont

VIC 3216 · 15,066 residents

1,011 residents added · +7% · 15,066 residents in 2021

B 81.2
11

Fyansford

VIC 3218 · 1,206 residents

1,010 residents added · +515% · 1,206 residents in 2021

B 79.2
12

Drysdale

VIC 3222 · 4,976 residents

701 residents added · +16% · 4,976 residents in 2021

B 77.1
13

Geelong

VIC 3220 · 5,811 residents

601 residents added · +12% · 5,811 residents in 2021

B 75.0
14

Bell Park

VIC 3215 · 5,602 residents

593 residents added · +12% · 5,602 residents in 2021

B 72.9
15

Grovedale

VIC 3216 · 14,869 residents

560 residents added · +4% · 14,869 residents in 2021

C 70.8

Ranked from 49 qualifying suburbs.

How we ranked these

100% population growth, ranked within Geelong's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.

Common questions about this ranking

What are the fastest growing Geelong suburbs (2016-2021)?

Charlemont grew fastest in percentage terms, at +618%. Armstrong Creek added the most residents, 6,999. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 49 eligible Geelong suburbs.

What period does this cover?

The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.

Why are there two different lists?

Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.

Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?

This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.

Which suburbs are eligible?

Suburbs in Geelong with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.

Same list in other cities

Related

Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.

Was the information on this page useful to you?

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or