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 streetscape character, great community, a pub, close to the Otways, 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 small town on the move with many new home builds currently under way, proving Birregurra continues to be a very desirable place to live with its popular main street coffee shops and vibrant community.

“The town is centrally located between the two major local populations (being Geelong and Colac) and is seeing consistency in home sale numbers in the past six months, with eight recorded sales and others under contact keeping the market holding steady.

“This dry weather year has seen the farming community hold tightly to this productive country, with only 2 substantial acreage sales from limited listings.

“We see the market remaining constant over the winter period and with recent and future interest rate cuts predicted, the Spring looks bright for the future of property sales in Birregurra.”

Eric Foster – 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: 51%

Female: 49%

Median age: 43

5 year population change: 15%

House median sales price: $700,000

Change in median price: (5yrs) 51.5%

Median asking rent per week: $450

Average length of ownership: 13 years

Owner occupiers: 81%

Renters: 19%

House median value:

February 2025: $774,275

February 2024: $654,000

February 2023: $820,000

February 2022: $716,700

February 2021: $698,000

House sales per annum:

Period ending February 2025: 11

Period ending February 2024: 13

Land median sale price:

February 2025: $385,000

February 2024: $406,000

Land sales per annum:

Period ending February 2025: 3

Period ending February 2024: 2