Irrewarra vs Colac

Colac is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 47 in Irrewarra. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Irrewarra, about half of households are couple families. In Colac, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Irrewarra tends to suit couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Irrewarra carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 83/100)
  • Colac has more childcare (10 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Irrewarra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($238/wk vs $260/wk)
  • But Colac has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 7%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Irrewarra carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 83/100)
  • Colac has more GPs (5 vs 0)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Irrewarra and Colac drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Irrewarra Colac
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Irrewarra Colac
Walkability 0 / 4
Irrewarra — Walkability: 0/100 Colac — Walkability: 4/100
Safety 49 / 17
Irrewarra — Safety: 49/100 Colac — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Irrewarra — Low fire risk: 100/100 Colac — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 26 / 1
Irrewarra — Low flood risk: 26/100 Colac — Low flood risk: 1/100

Demographics

Colac has more residents (9,243 vs 365); Irrewarra has higher household incomes ($82,316 vs $57,616).

Irrewarra Colac
Population 365 9,243
+2432% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.8% +2.2%
Median age 47 44
Median household income $82,316/yr
+30% vs other
 $57,616/yr
Median weekly rent $238/wk $260/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Irrewarra Colac
0-4 3.3% / 5.4%
Irrewarra — 0-4: 3.3% Colac — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 13.2% / 10.7%
Irrewarra — 5-14: 13.2% Colac — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 9.3% / 5.0%
Irrewarra — 15-19: 9.3% Colac — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 3.6% / 5.4%
Irrewarra — 20-24: 3.6% Colac — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 9.6% / 13.8%
Irrewarra — 25-34: 9.6% Colac — 25-34: 13.8%
35-44 8.2% / 10.6%
Irrewarra — 35-44: 8.2% Colac — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 16.2% / 11.2%
Irrewarra — 45-54: 16.2% Colac — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 14.5% / 11.8%
Irrewarra — 55-64: 14.5% Colac — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 15.6% / 12.6%
Irrewarra — 65-74: 15.6% Colac — 65-74: 12.6%
75-84 7.1% / 9.0%
Irrewarra — 75-84: 7.1% Colac — 75-84: 9.0%
85+ 1.9% / 4.8%
Irrewarra — 85+: 1.9% Colac — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Irrewarra 43.4% lone person
Irrewarra — Lone Person: 43.4% Irrewarra — Couple Families: 50.0% Irrewarra — One Parent Families: 6.6% Irrewarra — Group Household: 0.0% Irrewarra — Other Families: 0.0%
Colac 51.2% lone person
Colac — Lone Person: 51.2% Colac — Couple Families: 25.5% Colac — One Parent Families: 15.5% Colac — Group Household: 5.8% Colac — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Irrewarra 6.6% renting
Irrewarra — Owned Outright: 50.4% Irrewarra — Mortgage: 43.0% Irrewarra — Renting: 6.6%
Colac 31.3% renting
Colac — Owned Outright: 39.8% Colac — Mortgage: 28.8% Colac — Renting: 31.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Irrewarra Colac
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 17.1%
Irrewarra — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% Colac — Certificate III & IV: 17.1%
Bachelor Degree 6.3% / 6.4%
Irrewarra — Bachelor Degree: 6.3% Colac — Bachelor Degree: 6.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 5.8%
Irrewarra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Colac — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 1.4%
Irrewarra — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Colac — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 0.9%
Irrewarra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Colac — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Irrewarra Colac
England 3.0% / 1.4%
Irrewarra — England: 3.0% Colac — England: 1.4%
China — / 1.5%
Irrewarra — China: not among its largest Colac — China: 1.5%
Taiwan — / 1.3%
Irrewarra — Taiwan: not among its largest Colac — Taiwan: 1.3%
Fiji 1.1% / —
Irrewarra — Fiji: 1.1% Colac — Fiji: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.0%
Irrewarra — New Zealand: not among its largest Colac — New Zealand: 1.0%
India — / 0.6%
Irrewarra — India: not among its largest Colac — India: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Irrewarra 100.0% houses
Irrewarra — Houses: 100.0% Irrewarra — Townhouses: 0.0% Irrewarra — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Colac 85.9% houses
Colac — Houses: 85.9% Colac — Townhouses: 12.6% Colac — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Irrewarra Colac
Median house price — $500,000
Median unit price — $415,000
Median land price — $260,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 36 days
from 112 sales

Zoning mix

Irrewarra has more rural and farming land (92% vs 2%).

Irrewarra Colac
Rural and farming 92% 2%
Parks and recreation 6% 78%
Residential 0% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 2%
same for both
Commercial 0% 1%
Industrial 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Irrewarra Colac
New dwellings approved 226
across Colac Otway
same for both
Approvals change year on year +64%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Irrewarra Colac
Houses — 5.7%
$575/wk on $525K
Units — 4.6%
$405/wk on $455K

Ranking within VIC

Irrewarra Colac
House price — Higher than 11% of VIC
Income Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 65% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 69% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 100% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 40% of VIC

Liveability

Irrewarra Colac
Grade — D
Score — 27/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Colac carries more crime risk (83 vs 51); Colac carries more flood risk (99 vs 74).

Irrewarra Colac
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
51/100
 High
83/100
Flood High
74/100
 High
99/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Irrewarra Colac
Inside the suburb 0 9
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Irrewarra

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Colac

  • Colac Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Trinity College Colac Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Colac Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Colac South West Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Colac West Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Irrewarra Colac
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 13
Parks & reserves 4 20
Childcare 0 10
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 7
Fuel stations 1 4
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Irrewarra Colac
Walkability score 0/100 4/100
Distance to Melbourne 150.9 km 151.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 111 min 115 min
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 3249
 0.3%
postcode 3250
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 3249
 29
postcode 3250

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Irrewarra Colac
Car (driver) 68.2% / 78.1%
Irrewarra — Car (driver): 68.2% Colac — Car (driver): 78.1%
Worked from Home 19.5% / 6.5%
Irrewarra — Worked from Home: 19.5% Colac — Worked from Home: 6.5%
Car (passenger) 7.8% / 8.3%
Irrewarra — Car (passenger): 7.8% Colac — Car (passenger): 8.3%
Walked Only 4.5% / 6.0%
Irrewarra — Walked Only: 4.5% Colac — Walked Only: 6.0%
Bicycle — / 0.9%
Irrewarra — Bicycle: not among its largest Colac — Bicycle: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.1%).

Setting

Irrewarra Colac
Elevation 117 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 115 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 38.5 km 41.6 km

NBN connectivity

Irrewarra Colac
Connectivity score 30/100 67/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
185 premises
 40%
5,207 premises

Climate

Irrewarra Colac
Annual rainfall 607 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Irrewarra Colac
Average residential rate $2,023/yr
same for both
Council Colac Otway
same for both

Federal electorate

Irrewarra Colac
Division Wannon
same for both
Member Dan Tehan
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Irrewarra Colac
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Irrewarra

Rural

Colac

Affordable Regional Centre Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Irrewarra

Irrewarra vs Beeac Irrewarra vs Colac East Irrewarra vs Warncoort Irrewarra vs Yeo Irrewarra vs Ondit Irrewarra vs Ombersley

Other comparisons with Colac

Colac vs Elliminyt Colac vs Cororooke Colac vs Colac East Colac vs Ondit Colac vs Colac West Colac vs Balintore
Full data on Irrewarra Full data on Colac
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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