🔍

Boisdale

VIC 3860 • Victoria

307
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
78.38 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralAgriculturalHistoricQuiet

About Boisdale

Boisdale is a small rural town in the Shire of Wellington in Victoria's Central Gippsland region, located approximately 9 kilometres north of Maffra, 27 kilometres north of Sale, and 176 kilometres east of Melbourne. The locality covers 78.4 square kilometres and recorded a population of 307 at the 2021 Census. Boisdale has deep pastoral roots — it was the original run of pioneer grazier Lachlan Macalister, who named it after the village of Boisdale on the Scottish island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

Today Boisdale remains a working agricultural community in the heart of Gippsland's dairying district, with dairy and vegetable farms dominating the surrounding landscape. The locality is accessed via Briagolong Road, with the larger towns of Maffra and Sale providing schools, shops, healthcare, and community services. The nearby Macalister Irrigation District and the landscapes of Central Gippsland make this an appealing area for those seeking a quiet rural lifestyle within a reasonable distance of regional centres.

Boisdale falls under postcode 3860 and is governed by the Wellington Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Gippsland, while state elections fall under the Gippsland East (Eastern Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3860
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Wellington
Federal Electorate
Gippsland
State Electorate
Gippsland East (Eastern Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.57°, 146.81°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
78.38 km²
Population Density
4 /km²
Elevation
0m

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🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Sale Railway Station
27 km
N/A (drive)

Bus Services

  • No regular bus service to Boisdale — Maffra / Sale 10 min to Maffra by car

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
176 km
By Train
Drive to Sale station (27 km), then Bairnsdale Line to Southern Cross — approx. 3 hr total
By Car (Peak)
2 hr 15 min - 2 hr 45 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
2 hr - 2 hr 15 min

🛣️ Access via Briagolong Road to Maffra, then Princes Highway. Car essential.

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

Small rural town; all services require driving to Maffra or Sale

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Wellington Local Government Area, which contains Boisdale. Rates are per 100,000 residents for the year ending September 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
494.7 / 100k
2yr Up 59.5% 10yr Down 28.0%
Motor vehicle theft
191.9 / 100k
2yr Up 84.4% 10yr Up 57.6%
Non-FV assault
432.8 / 100k
2yr Up 10.3% 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr Down 100.0% 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
577.8 / 100k
2yr Up 81.3% 10yr Up 72.3%
View all offence subgroups for Wellington →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
307
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
N/A
Personal Income 2021
N/A
▲ 0% increase

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Boisdale known for? +

Boisdale is known for its deep pastoral history as the original run of pioneer grazier Lachlan Macalister, and for being at the heart of Gippsland's dairying district. The name comes from Boisdale on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

How far is Boisdale from Melbourne? +

Boisdale is approximately 176 kilometres east of Melbourne CBD, typically a 2 to 2.5 hour drive via the Princes Highway through Sale and Maffra.

Does Boisdale have public transport? +

There is no direct public transport to Boisdale. The nearest train station is at Sale (27 km south), served by V/Line's Bairnsdale Line to Melbourne. A car is needed to access the locality.

What is the population of Boisdale? +

According to the 2021 Census, Boisdale had a population of 307 residents across its 78.4 square kilometre area, which includes the town and surrounding dairy and vegetable farms.

Is Boisdale a good place to live? +

Boisdale suits farming families and those who value a quiet, deeply rural Gippsland lifestyle. Maffra (9 km south) provides schools, shops, and services, making Boisdale a practical base for those working in the local agricultural sector.

What is the postcode for Boisdale? +

The postcode for Boisdale, VIC is 3860.

Is Boisdale a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Boisdale is part of the Wellington LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.