Town by town snapshot: Ocean Grove

The size of Ocean Grove is approximately 18.5 square kilometres and has 13 parks covering nearly 6.2 per cent of total area.

The population of Ocean Grove in 2011 was 12,555 people and by the 2016 Census the population was 14,161 showing a population growth of 12.8% in the area during that time.

There has been significant growth in Ocean Grove since the last Census, boosted by developments like Kingston and Oakdene estates that have been going gangbusters in recent years, driving the population quickly towards 20,000.

Supporting this residential growth is the brand spanking Kingston Village that opened to much fanfare last week.

Although Ocean Grove’s origins date back to the 1870’s with the establishment of a Methodist camp, the early 1950’s saw many postwar European migrant families settled in Ocean Grove, mainly Dutch, Polish, German and Yugoslav.

Ocean Grove underwent a building boom during the 1970’s and 80s’, but even during the previous decade it became evident that urban growth would be paramount.

In 1962, long-time residents raised money to purchase a 143-hectare piece of land considered to be the last significant bushland in the area.

Named the Ocean Grove Nature Reserve, it is a habitat for a rare small blue butterfly which breeds in ant nests.

The area east of old Ocean Grove was known as Collendina, which has the Shell Road Recreation Reserve, a State primary school (1993) and secondary college (1992) and a Catholic primary school (1982).

Ocean Grove is the largest town on the Bellarine Peninsula and performs an increasing dormitory role to Geelong, and the number of holiday homes has declined.

CoreLogic data indicates that the predominant age group in Ocean Grove is 0-9 years with households in Ocean Grove being primarily young couples with children and are likely to be repaying $1,800 – $2,399 per month on mortgage repayments, and in general, people in Ocean Grove work in a professional occupation.

In 2011, 75.8 per cent of the homes in Ocean Grove were owner-occupied compared with 76.1 per cent in 2016.

Population: 14,165

Male: 48%

Female: 52%

Median age: 42

5 year population change: 12.8%%

Median house price: $670,000

Change in Median Price: (5yrs) is 34%

Median asking rent per week: $450

Average length of ownership: 11

Owner occupiers: 78%

Renters: 22%

 

Historic median house price:

August 2019: $670,000

August 2018: $685,000

August 2017: $595,000

August 2016: $535,000

August 2015: $500,000

 

House sales per annum:

Period ending August 2019: 301

Period ending August 2018: 414

 

Land median sale price:

August 2019: $338,000

August 2018: $285,000

 

Land sales per annum:

Period ending August 2019: 73

Period ending August 2018: 159