Town by Town Snapshot: Birregurra

The size of Birregurra is approximately 126.4 square kilometres with the population of Birregurra recorded at 741 in 2011 and by the 2016 Census the population was 810 showing a population growth of 9.3 per cent in the area during that time.

Birregurra is a popular treechange community near the Princes Highway between Geelong and Colac and borders the western bank of the Barwon River.

The Otway Ranges are immediately south and there are undulating plains to the north.

The biggest event of the year has been the Birregurra Festival & Art Show which fills the town with visitors during the annual event.

In 1839 an Aboriginal mission station was established about six kilometres south of Birregurra on the Barwon River.

The station ceased in 1851 and one of its overseers, a Captain Bowden, had his name given to the place (Bowden’s Point) where the

Cape Otway Road crossed the river, and that place subsequently became Birregurra.

The Birregurra on Barwon township was surveyed in 1862 and the name is thought to be derived from an Aboriginal word describing ‘kangaroo camp’.

A Wesleyan chapel and school were opened in 1863 and there was also record of two hotels and a small flour mill.

The railway was extended from Geelong to Birregurra in 1876-77, prompting a steady growth in population to nearly 400 people by 1900.

The Otway Forrest railway line, branching from Birregurra was opened in 1891, looping southwards and skirting the Otway Ranges as it passed through numerous small farming settlements.

The town’s population approached 700 and stayed in that region until the 1960s and the Forrest railway line was closed in 1957.

CoreLogic data indicates the predominant age group in Birregurra is 60-69 years with households in Birregurra being primarily childless couples and are likely to be repaying $1,400-$1,799 per month on mortgage repayments, and in general, people in Birregurra work in a managerial occupation.

In 2011, 82.7 per cent of the homes in Birregurra were owner-occupied compared with 78.6 per cent in 2016.

Currently the median sales price of houses in the area is $531,000.

AGENT PERSPECTIVE:
“The real estate market in Birregurra has grown exponentially over the last three years in particular.

“Residential land values are driving a very buoyant market and the popularity and demand for property in this lovely town has never been higher.

“A definite sellers’ market, though, with further growth a certainty for buyers.”

Geoff Bennett – McCartney Real Estate, Winchelsea

TIDBIT:
A saleyard (1912) and a dairy factory (1913-55) opened in Birregurra enabling livestock and whole milk to be transported by train.

Population: 828

Male: 52.4%

Female: 47.6%

Median age: 44

5 year population change: 9.3%

Median house price: $550,000

Change in Median Price: (5yrs) is 83%

Median asking rent per week: $350

Average length of ownership: 9 years

Owner occupiers: 81%

Renters: 19%

Historic median house price:

November 2020: $550,000

November 2019: $528,750

November 2018: $485,000

November 2017: $395,000

November 2016: $302,500

House sales per annum:

Period ending November 2020: 18

Period ending November 2019: 16

Land median sale price:

November 2020: N/A

November 2019: N/A

Land sales per annum:

Period ending November 2020: 7

Period ending November 2019: 3