Watchem is a rural locality in Victoria, 307 km from Melbourne CBD, around 3 hours 35 minutes by car. Population is 124; the median age is 56 and the median household income is $53,612 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 40% nationally. Population grew 8.8% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $175 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $477. The area shows 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 124. 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.
How do you rate the liveability in Watchem?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
Not enough data to score this locality.
Residents say
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Median House Price
Public listings dataThe median house sale price in Watchem sits at $70,000, broadly flat year-on-year. That said, only three sales settled in the quarter, so the median is a noisy signal — treat it as a direction rather than a level.
$70,000
Based on only 3 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Is Watchem safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Watchem sits in the low band, with 2 incidents recorded in 2026 — down roughly 78% on the prior year.
2 offences
77.8% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–2025No crash in Watchem 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
Watchem 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 Watchem.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 78
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
Buloke: 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
Watchem is home to 124 residents, with a median age of 56 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $54,000 a year, with unemployment at 0.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
124
Median Age
56
Median Household Income
$53,612/yr
Census Median Rent
$175/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$477/mo
Avg Household Size
2.1
Median Personal Income
$24,180/yr
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
50.0%
Total Dwellings
50
Owner-Occupier Rate
86.0%
Houses
86.0%
Rental Stress
17.0%
Mortgage Stress
10.7%
Work From Home
38.7%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 69.4%
- English Spoken at Home
- 75.0%
- Employment Rate
- 26.5%
- Completed Year 12
- 18.5%
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 $2,140 a year through Buloke based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 97%
- Parks and recreation 1%
- Residential 1%
- Zones under 1% 1%
Rezoned since Oct 2025
- Public Use Zone → Farming Zone · C44blok, May 2026 3.0 ha
- Township Zone → Public Use Zone · C44blok, May 2026 2.0 ha
Land in this locality moved from one zone to another by a planning scheme amendment (Vicmap Planning, CC BY 4.0). Exhibited amendments are proposals and can change or lapse.
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: Buloke
In the year to August 2026, 16 new dwellings were approved across Buloke. Almost all of the pipeline is detached houses. Approvals are down 50.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2007).
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 Wycheproof, 32.6 kmDry climate.
- Elevation
- 112 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Annual rainfall
- 357 mm
- 57 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- —
- Winter min (Jul)
- —
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 3482, 0 of 211 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.4% (3 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.4%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3482, 54 rooftop-solar systems totalling 0.6 MW have been installed since 2001, against 110 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 1 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 3482 in 2025-26. The most was 8, in 2004-05.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
Land transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with State Revenue Office Victoria
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with State Revenue Office Victoria.
At $70,000 this is under the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with State Revenue Office Victoria.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-28 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Anne Webster The Nationals
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Anne Webster | 31.0% | 69.0% | -0.1 |
| 2022 | Anne Webster | 31.0% | 69.0% | +3.3 |
| 2019 | Anne Webster | 33.8% | 66.2% | -3.6 |
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 Jade Benham The Nationals
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Jade Benham NP | 51.2% | 35.9% | 64.1% |
| 2018 | Ali Cupper IND | 50.3% | 44.4% | 55.6% |
| 2014 | Peter Crisp NP | 52.0% | 29.8% | 70.2% |
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 Watchem?
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 124 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.
Compare Watchem to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Watchem
Is Watchem a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Watchem is low (26/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Watchem?
Watchem has a low recorded bushfire history (37/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a moderate share of it (67/100). These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
What is the population of Watchem?
Watchem, VIC had a population of 124 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Watchem, VIC?
The postcode for Watchem, VIC is 3482.
How far is Watchem from Melbourne?
Watchem is 307 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 216 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Watchem?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Watchem was $53,612 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 Watchem?
There are too few current rental listings in Watchem for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $175, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Watchem?
The median age of residents in Watchem was 56 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Watchem at risk of bushfire?
Watchem has a low recorded bushfire history (37/100). 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 Watchem?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Watchem, Wycheproof (32.6 km away), 357 mm of rain a year over 57 rainy days over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Watchem?
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 Watchem belong to?
Watchem sits within the Buloke local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Watchem?
The average residential rates bill through Buloke is $2,140 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Watchem?
Across Buloke, 16 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 50.0% 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 Watchem in?
Watchem sits within the federal Division of Mallee, currently held by Anne Webster (The Nationals).
Search another suburb or address
Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · 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.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.