Town snapshot – Birregurra

The size of Birregurra is about 126.4sqkm with the population of Birregurra recorded at 810 in 2016 and by the 2021 Census the population was 942 showing a population growth of 15 per cent in the area during that time.

Birregurra remains a popular treechange community close to Geelong and Colac near the Barwon River.

COVID lockdowns boosted the towns desire as urbanites came to see the benefits of living in a small rural community devoid of traffic and the intrusive intensity of city life.

 

Birregurra fits the “rural village” image to a tee, off the main highway, heritage street scape character, great community, a pub, close to the Otway’s and an easy drive to regional centres and the beach.

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

The biggest event of the year has traditionally been the Birregurra Festival & Art Show which fills the town with visitors when the event is held.

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 also there was record of two hotels and a small flour mill.

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

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 1960’s and the Forrest railway line was closed in 1957.

CoreLogic data indicates that the predominant age group in Birregurra is 60-69 years with households in Birregurra being primarily childless couples and are likely to be repaying on average $1,517 per month on mortgage repayments, and in general, people in Birregurra work in a managers occupation.

AGENT PERSPECTIVE:

“Birregurra is a charming country town, renowned as a premium agricultural district as well as a “foody hotspot” with the world-famous Brae restaurant located just a few minutes out of town.

“This tightly-held farming region enjoys consistent rainfall, productive soil types, highly regarded beef cattle, and is conveniently located between Geelong and Colac.

“Like most other country locations around Geelong, 2024 has been a slower real estate period with only 9 sales recorded since Christmas and only 2 being of substantial acreage.

“Acreage prices across the Greater Birregurra region have retracted at least 10 per cent but coming off a big high at the end of COVID this is to be expected, especially with very soft livestock prices, a lack of rain and stock feed prices increasing dramatically.

“We expect this pattern to hold through the Winter period and look forward with anticipation to see what the spring market has in store.”

Matt Poustie – HF Richardson Property

TIDBIT:

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

Population: 942

Male: 50.9%

Female: 49.1%

Median age: 43

5 year population change: 15%

House median sales price: $705,000

Change in median price: (5yrs) 83.5%

Median asking rent per week: $450

Average length of ownership: 8 years

Owner occupiers: 81%

Renters: 19%

House median value:

April 2024: $674,000

April 2023: $698,000

April 2022: $771,000

April 2021: $644,000

April 2020: $483,500

House sales per annum:

Period ending April 2024: 13

Period ending April 2023: 11

Land median sale price:

April 2024: $385,000

April 2023: $406,000

Land sales per annum:

Period ending April 2024: 1

Period ending April 2023: 1