Town snapshot – St Leonards

THE size of St Leonards is approximately 28.5sqkm and has 13 parks covering nearly 9.9 per cent of total area.

The population of St Leonards in 2016 was 2,484 and by the 2021 Census the population was recorded at 3,542 showing a population growth of 43% in the area during that time.

The significant population growth in St Leonards shows that many new families and retirees are choosing to make St Leonards home.

St Leonards’ origins began when James Langdon took up his St Leonards pastoral station in the area in 1849, possibly taking the name from the town of that name in Sussex, England.

Langdon was a partner of George Cole, a Melbourne merchant and owner of Coles Wharf on the Yarra River.

Shortly after Langdon’s purchase Cole acquired land along the foreshore, both sides of the present-day St Leonards.

He is thought to have established a firewood trade from the Bellarine Peninsula to Melbourne and to have built the first houses at St Leonards.

Along with several coastal towns on the Bellarine Peninsula, St Leonards became a camping and fishing resort.

St Leonards has grown steadily since the 1960’s and has a foreshore reserve from Indented Head (to its north) to Lower Bluff wildlife reserve, interspersed with three camping areas.

CoreLogic data indicates that the predominant age group in St Leonards is 50 – 59 years with households in St Leonards being primarily a mix of childless couples and young families who are likely to be repaying on average $1,654 per month on mortgage repayments, and in general, people in St Leonards work in a professional occupation.

AGENT PERSPECTIVE:

“We continue to see steady sale prices across the township with a mixture of established beach houses and new estate homes achieving solid results, currently homes in St Leonards are averaging around 100 days on market, which is slightly longer than the 80 day average of around 12 months ago.

“Vacant land prices have now stabilised after strong growth in the last five years with the majority of blocks in the suburb now achieving between $700 – $800 per sqm.

“The growth has been driven mostly by retirees seeking the peaceful sea change lifestyle moving from greater Melbourne and regional hubs such as Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.

“Given the median house price in St Leonards is $720,000 making the area still one of the more affordable townships on the Bellarine, we are anticipating continued demand and growth moving forward.”

Lachlan Campbell – Neville Richards

 

TIDBIT:

A pier was functioning by 1862 and was used for the carriage of agricultural produce as well as for poultry, pigs and fish.

Population: 3,542

Male: 48.7%

Female: 51.3%

Median age: 56

5 year population change: 43%

House median sales price: $702,500

Change in median price: (5yrs) 32.9%

Median asking rent per week: $475

Average length of ownership: 10 years

Owner occupiers: 75%

Renters: 25%

House median value:

May 2025: $757,000

May 2024: $784,000

May 2023: $784,200

May 2022: $859,000

May 2021: $695,500

House sales per annum:

Period ending May 2025: 148

Period ending May 2024: 127

Land median sale price:

May 2025: $340,000

May 2024: $370,000

Land sales per annum:

Period ending May 2025: 24

Period ending May 2024: 23