🔍

Muckleford

VIC 3451 • Victoria

426
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
52.03 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralGoldfieldsQuietSemi-RuralPeaceful

About Muckleford

Muckleford is a rural locality in central Victoria's Mount Alexander Shire, situated approximately 127 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, 35 kilometres from Bendigo, and just 7 kilometres west of the historic regional town of Castlemaine. Also known locally as Wattle Flat, the locality is set along Muckleford Creek — a minor tributary of the Loddon River — and is characterised by gently undulating farmland and smaller rural properties covering around 52 square kilometres. With a population of 426, Muckleford offers a quiet, semi-rural lifestyle within easy reach of Castlemaine's thriving arts and community scene.

The landscape features quartz-rich soils and fertile alluvial creek flats, supporting a mix of grazing and hobby farming typical of central Victoria's historic goldfields region. Castlemaine, just 7 kilometres to the east, provides convenient access to shopping, schools, community facilities, and the V/Line train service to Melbourne and Bendigo. The Mount Alexander region is celebrated for its strong arts community, weekly farmers markets, and extensive bushland walking tracks, drawing tree-changers and creative professionals from Melbourne. Muckleford appeals to those seeking affordable rural acreage with a genuine sense of landscape and community in the Victorian goldfields.

Muckleford falls under postcode 3451 and is governed by the Mount Alexander Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Bendigo, while state elections fall under the Macedon (Northern Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3451
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Mount Alexander
Federal Electorate
Bendigo
State Electorate
Macedon (Northern Victoria)
Type
Locality
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.13°, 144.21°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
52.03 km²
Population Density
8 /km²
Elevation
0m

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🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Castlemaine
7 km
N/A — car required

Bus Services

  • No regular bus service to Muckleford — Castlemaine 10 min by car

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
127 km
By Train
Drive to Castlemaine station (7 km), then V/Line to Melbourne Southern Cross (~1 hr 45 min)
By Car (Peak)
1 hr 30 min - 2 hr
By Car (Off-Peak)
1 hr 20 min - 1 hr 45 min

🛣️ Calder Highway accessible via Castlemaine; strong tree-changer community commuting to Melbourne

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

No local services or footpath network; Castlemaine is a short drive for all daily needs

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
304.2 / 100k
2yr Up 56.5% 10yr Down 14.6%
Motor vehicle theft
118.8 / 100k
2yr Up 22.2% 10yr Stable
Non-FV assault
232.9 / 100k
2yr Up 65.2% 10yr Up 20.2%
Robbery (unarmed)
0 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
313.7 / 100k
2yr Up 43.4% 10yr Stable
View all offence subgroups for Mount Alexander →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
426
▲ 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 Muckleford known for? +

Muckleford is known for its peaceful rural landscape in the heart of Victoria's central goldfields region. Also called Wattle Flat, the locality is set along Muckleford Creek and is part of the broader Mount Alexander area renowned for its strong arts community, hobby farms, and proximity to Castlemaine.

How far is Muckleford from Melbourne? +

Muckleford is approximately 127 kilometres north-west of Melbourne CBD, a drive of around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic. V/Line train services from nearby Castlemaine (7 km away) offer a public transport alternative.

Does Muckleford have public transport? +

There is no public transport directly serving Muckleford. The nearest V/Line train station is Castlemaine, approximately 7 kilometres to the east, which offers regular services to Melbourne Southern Cross and Bendigo.

What is the population of Muckleford? +

According to the 2021 Census, Muckleford has a population of 426 residents across its 52 square kilometre locality, making it a small rural community typical of the central Victorian goldfields.

Is Muckleford a good place to live? +

Muckleford is an excellent choice for those seeking affordable rural acreage in a scenic and historically rich part of Victoria. Its proximity to Castlemaine — with its thriving arts scene, farmers markets, and schools — makes it particularly popular with tree-changers from Melbourne.

What is the postcode for Muckleford? +

The postcode for Muckleford is 3451.

Is Muckleford a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Muckleford is part of the Mount Alexander 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.