Jack River VIC 3971
Located in Victoria, Jack River sits 219 km from Melbourne CBD, around 2 hours 50 minutes by car. The locality has 161 residents, a median age of 47, and a median household income of $68,900 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the lower-middle tier nationally. The locality grew 20.1% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $228 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,283. Jack River is characterised by high flood risk. Walkability is low.
This locality is too small to rate.
The Liveability Rating is calculated for suburbs of 500 residents or more, and this one has 161. Below that the school, census and safety figures behind the score cover too few people to rank fairly against the rest of the state. The individual measures further down this page are still shown.
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Our score
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Is Jack River safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Jack River sits in the low band, with 3 incidents recorded in 2026 — up roughly 50% on the prior year.
3 offences
50.0% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–2025No crash in Jack River killed anyone or put anyone in hospital in 2021–2025.
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Walkability
Jack River is very car-dependent on foot — at 0/100, nearly all errands require a car.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Jack River.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 61
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Wellington: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Jack River is home to 161 residents, with a median age of 47, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $69,000 a year, with unemployment at 0.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
161
Median Age
47
Median Household Income
$68,900/yr
Census Median Rent
$228/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,283/mo
Avg Household Size
2.7
Median Personal Income
$31,824/yr
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
14.3%
Total Dwellings
56
Owner-Occupier Rate
81.8%
Houses
100.0%
Rental Stress
17.2%
Mortgage Stress
22.3%
Work From Home
39.7%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 87.0%
- English Spoken at Home
- 93.2%
- Employment Rate
- 66.2%
- Completed Year 12
- 26.7%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,960 a year through Wellington based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 81%
- Parks and recreation 18%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the locality around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Wellington
In the year to August 2026, 209 new dwellings were approved across Wellington. That mix is 180 houses and 29 units. Approvals are up 16.7% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2017).
Registered Aboriginal Parties are appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage for their area. They are the body to contact about cultural heritage here.
Climate & Setting
from Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport), 40.5 kmModerate rainfall — hot summers, cold winters with occasional frost.
- Elevation
- 28 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 12.2 km
- Annual rainfall
- 700 mm
- 102 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 26.7°C
- 11 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 4.1°C
- 15 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the locality centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
EV adoption
In postcode 3971, 13 of 4,327 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.3% (57 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.6%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3971, 951 rooftop-solar systems totalling 6.2 MW have been installed since 2001, against 2,244 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 42 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
The separate First Home Buyer Duty Reduction (stamp-duty concession) runs alongside this grant.
0 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3971 in 2025-26. The most was 48, in 2001-02.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Darren Chester The Nationals
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Darren Chester | 30.6% | 69.4% | +1.2 |
| 2022 | Darren Chester | 29.4% | 70.6% | +3.9 |
| 2019 | Darren Chester | 33.3% | 66.7% | -1.5 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Danny O'Brien The Nationals
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Danny O'Brien NP | 53.3% | 34.8% | 65.2% |
| 2018 | Danny O'Brien NP | 61.9% | 34.7% | 65.3% |
| 2014 | Peter Ryan NP | 57.3% | 34.3% | 65.7% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Jack River?
Every figure above is a locality average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 161 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Compare Jack River to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Jack River
Is Jack River a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Jack River is low (21/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Jack River?
Jack River has a moderate recorded bushfire history (52/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a moderate share of it (68/100). These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
What is the population of Jack River?
Jack River, VIC had a population of 161 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Jack River, VIC?
The postcode for Jack River, VIC is 3971.
How far is Jack River from Melbourne?
Jack River is 219 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 171 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Jack River?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Jack River was $68,900 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Jack River?
There are too few current rental listings in Jack River for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $228, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Jack River?
The median age of residents in Jack River was 47 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Jack River at risk of bushfire?
Jack River has a moderate recorded bushfire history (52/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the locality relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
What is the weather like in Jack River?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Jack River, Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) (40.5 km away), summer days average 26.7°C, winter nights 4.1°C, 700 mm of rain a year over 102 rainy days, and 11 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Jack River?
First-home buyers in VIC may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office Victoria; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Jack River belong to?
Jack River sits within the Wellington local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Jack River?
The average residential rates bill through Wellington is $1,960 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Jack River?
Across Wellington, 209 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 16.7% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Jack River in?
Jack River sits within the federal Division of Gippsland, currently held by Darren Chester (The Nationals).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2022
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
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