Town by Town Snapshot: Wye River

THE size of Wye River district is about 35.8 square kilometres with the population of Wye River recorded at 234 in 2011 and by the 2016 Census the population was 51 showing a population decline of 78.2 per cent in the area during that time.

This significant decline would mostly be due to the 2015 Christmas bushfires, which devastated the area and destroyed more than 100 homes.

Wye River is a small coastal town situated between Lorne and Apollo Bay, along one of the most spectacular sections of the Great Ocean Road.

Located on the river it’s named after, with a rugged and bushy mountain backdrop, its picturesque scenery where the rainforest meets the sea is a visitor’s delight.

The town boasts a very popular general store located beside the river, and the town’s hotel is perched high above the beach, offering visitors great views while eating and drinking.

The main sandy beach near the river mouth is patrolled during the warmer months of the year, while the surrounding rocky platforms, rock pools and reefs are great for fishing and exploring.

CoreLogic data indicates that the predominant age group in Wye River is 50-59 years with households in Wye River being primarily childless couples and are likely to be repaying $1,000-$1,399 per month on mortgage repayments, and in general, people in Wye River work in a labourer occupation.

In 2011, 77.4 per cent of the homes in Wye River were owner-occupied compared with 61.5 per cent in 2016.

The median sales price of houses in the area is $877,500.