Town snapshot – Portarlington

The size of Portarlington is about 24.8sqkm and has many parks covering nearly 8.9 per cent of total area.

The population of Portarlington in 2016 was 3,618 and by the 2021 Census the population was 4,436 showing a population growth of 24% in the area during that time.

Portarlington has become another one of the Bellarine’s favoured destinations, as such the population has swelled since the last Census with today’s resident population punching its way to surpass 5,000.

The town has transformed from a coastal hamlet dominated by holiday homes with stalwart local home owners being in the minority, to a town where both young families and retirees want to call home.

One of the factors contributing to the town popularity is the daily ferry service which Port Phillip Ferries offer with two separate daily services between both Docklands and Portarlington; and Docklands and Geelong.

Located on the north-east side of the Bellarine Peninsula, Portarlington’s naming is a little obscure, possibly it was named after Portarlington in Ireland, a market town south-west of Dublin.

Surveyed town lots were first sold in Portarlington in 1851, about eight years after Anne Drysdale settled at nearby Drysdale on her pastoral run.

The Bellarine Peninsula was an early agricultural region for cereal crops, and later for hay, onions, peas and potatoes.

CoreLogic data indicates that the predominant age group in Portarlington is 50 -59 years with households in Portarlington being a mix of young families childless couples and are likely to be repaying on average $1,657 per month on mortgage repayments, and in general, people in Portarlington work in a professional occupation.

 

AGENT PERSPECTIVE:

“We are seeing a strong level of buyer support for the residential property market in Portarlington.

“While the median house price has eased over the past 12 months it is encouraging to see buyers acting decisively where they see value.

“At Panorama Portarlington, we have just completed the first of our Ready Homes which has been built by GJ Gardiner.

“This stunning residence is perfect for a downsizer and is for sale at $825,000.

“We expect to see further improvement in the market this year as interest rate reductions underpin buyer support for property.”

Luke Campbell – Director, Neville Richards

TIDBIT:

Portarlington’s first public jetty was opened in 1859, lengthened into deeper water in 1870 and rebuilt a few years later

Population: 4,436

Male: 48.2%

Female: 51.8%

Median age: 62

5 year population change: 22.6%

House median sales price: $835,000

Change in median price: (5yrs) 29.3%

Median asking rent per week: $490

Average length of ownership: 15 years

Owner occupiers: 79%

Renters: 21%

House median value:

May 2025: $831,315

May 2024: $903,500

May 2023: $902,800

May 2022: $996,000

May 2021: $830,400

House sales per annum:

Period ending May 2025: 82

Period ending May 2024: 79

Land median sale price:

May 2025: $565,000

May 2024: $630,000

Land sales per annum:

Period ending May 2025: 9

Period ending May 2024: 11