Suburb Property Profile: Colac, VIC 3250
Located approximately 148–150km south-west of Melbourne's CBD, Colac sits within the Colac Otway Shire, on the southern shore of Lake Colac in Victoria's Western District. As one of the fastest-growing areas in regional Victoria, the town has drawn home buyers seeking affordability alongside a genuine lakeside lifestyle, all within a manageable drive of Geelong. Here's our comprehensive guide to the area.
Location Demographics
The population of Colac sits at 12,756 according to the 2021 Census. The median age is 44, and the largest age group is 25–34, at around 14% of residents, with roughly 21% under 20 and 26% aged 65 or older. Median household income sits at $1,108 per week.
Travel & Infrastructure
Colac railway station, on the Warrnambool line, connects the town to Geelong in around an hour, with Melbourne accessible from there. By car, Geelong is a one-hour drive via the Princes Highway, giving Colac genuine connectivity to both Geelong's CBD and onward to Melbourne.
Shopping
Colac Town Centre serves the community's everyday shopping needs, giving residents a genuine local hub without needing to travel to Geelong for the basics.
Schools & Recreation
Colac has a range of local schools serving the town and surrounding district, reflecting its role as the main service centre for the Colac Otway Shire.
Local Amenities
Lake Colac, the largest natural freshwater lake in Victoria, is the town's centrepiece, popular for fishing, water activities and recreation. The Colac Botanic Gardens, established in 1868 and later remodelled in 1910 by William Guilfoyle — designer of Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens — cover around 16 hectares on the lake's northern shore and hold more species than any other provincial garden in Victoria, including several trees listed on the National Trust's Significant Trees Register. The nearby Colac Bird Reserve, Meredith Park and Barongarook Conservation Reserve add further green space along the lake's walking trail, and the Colac Golf Club and Colac Yacht Club round out the town's recreational offering.
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Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at iBuildNew, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country's most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the new home building industry. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia's evolving home building and construction landscape.
