Town by town snapshot – Marong

Marong is approximately 76.1 square kilometres and has one park covering nearly 0.1 per cent of total area.

The population of Marong in 2011 was 901 people and by the 2016 Census it had jumped to 1438 showing strong growth of 59.6 per cent in the area during that time.

Marong is a rural township on the Calder Highway, 13 kilometres west of Bendigo and was also the administrative centre of Marong Shire and rural city from 1908 until 1994.

It is thought that the name was derived from an Aboriginal word meaning a native or Murray pine tree.

Marong has become popular with young families and first homebuyers with the median age at 31, one of the lowest in the state.

Although set in the gold fields region, Marong was not a gold town, being situated on Bullocks Creek, it became a gold-washing place and Commissioners’ camp in 1852 and a school was opened in 1859.

Gold discoveries occurred in the vicinity of Marong in 1853, but the significant discovery was Wilsons Reef in 1867 about four kilometres eastwards.

Mining and cereal growing were the district’s main activities and there were about 60 hectares of vineyards.

In 1876 the Marong railway station was opened on the line from Bendigo to Inglewood

Marong’s position on the railway line and the highway preserved it from decline, whereas some former gold mining villages are marked by ruins.

In 1908 the Marong Shire’s offices were transferred from Lockwood to Marong.

Marong’s highway location and proximity to Bendigo have contributed some residential growth to the township.

CoreLogic data indicates that the predominant age group in the town is 0-9 years with households in Marong being primarily couples with children and are likely to be repaying $1400 – $1799 per month on mortgages.

In general, people in Marong work in a trades occupation.

In 2011, 83 per cent of the homes in Marong were owner-occupied compared with 82.1 per cent in 2016.

 

TITBIT:

In 1908 the Marong shire’s offices were transferred from Lockwood to Marong.

 

Population: 1438

Male: 49.4%

Female: 50.6%

Median age: 31

5-year population change: 59.6%

House median value: $639,000

Change in Median Price: (5yrs) is 32.8%

Median asking rent per week: $420

Average length of ownership: 8 years

Owner occupiers: 84%

Renters: 16%

 

House median sale price:

November 2021: $560,000

November 2020: $452,500

November 2019: $405,000

November 2018: $348,000

November 2017: $386,250

 

House sales per annum:

Period ending November 2021: 34

Period ending November 2020: 30

 

Land median sale price:

November 2021: $187,000

November 2020: $148,000

 

Land sales per annum:

Period ending November 2021: 6

Period ending November 2020: 36