VIC · Colac Otway Council
Cape Otway, 3233
Current weather
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76% humidity · 28.5 km/h wind · 12.1° / 7.5° today · 4.6 mm rain
Updated
- National parks
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Cape Otway is a residential smaller community in Colac Otway with a familiar suburban feel. Out in the wider region, it rewards those who value open country and a pace set by the land, not the clock. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.
The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Population
- Population
- 34
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $1,124
- Dwelling vacancy
- 42.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 19
- Median monthly mortgage
- $147
- Employment rate
- 48.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 0 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2026)
- 1
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 29.4
- State safety percentile
- 23.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -50%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
1 planning-related records
2020· 1 proposal
November 2020
- Building and Works Comprising Construction of an Outbuilding780 Lighthouse RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020–2022 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
Amenities
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Parker River Reference AreaNature reserve
- Stony Creek (Otways) Reference AreaNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- CAPE OTWAY LIGHTSTATIONNH1222
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Recent changes
- Benchamenitiesbench
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime1
- CAPE OTWAY LIGHTSTATIONheritageNH1222
- Parker River Reference Areagovernmentnature_reserve
- Stony Creek (Otways) Reference Areagovernmentnature_reserve
- Building and Works Comprising Construction of an Outbuildingplanning780 Lighthouse RoadLodged 04 Nov 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
More in Colac Otway Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.