🔍

Puckapunyal

VIC 3662 • Rest of VIC

1,108
Population (2021)
$67,600
Median Income
412.66 km²
Area
$265/wk
Median Rent
Military BaseRuralFamily-FriendlyEstablished

About Puckapunyal

Puckapunyal is a military locality in Victoria's Mitchell Shire, situated approximately 100 kilometres north of Melbourne near the town of Seymour. Home to the Puckapunyal Military Area (PMA), one of Australia's largest Army training establishments, the suburb's population of 1,108 is almost entirely made up of Australian Army personnel and their families. The median age of just 24 and the high proportion of males (692 out of 1,108) reflect the base's young, active military workforce, and the above-average median household income of $2,510 per week reflects ADF salary structures.

Life in Puckapunyal revolves around the military base, which provides on-base facilities including schooling, recreation, and essential services for Defence families. The nearby town of Seymour (approximately 10 kilometres away) offers supermarkets, schools, medical services, and transport connections including a V/Line rail link to Melbourne. The surrounding landscape features the open plains and bushland of central Victoria, and the base's large area of 412 square kilometres makes Puckapunyal one of the more extensive military training zones in the country.

Puckapunyal falls under postcode 3662 and is governed by Mitchell Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Euroa (Northern Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3662
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Mitchell
Federal Electorate
Nicholls
State Electorate
Euroa (Northern Victoria)
Type
Rural
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-36.93°, 144.94°
Statistical Area
Rest of VIC
Area
412.66 km²
Elevation
200m

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Seymour
10 km
Car required

Bus Services

  • Defence shuttle / local transport — Seymour township Approx 15 min

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
100 km
By Train
V/Line from Seymour (~10km away) to Southern Cross Station; approx 1h 15min
By Car (Peak)
1h 15min - 1h 45min
By Car (Off-Peak)
1h - 1h 15min

🛣️ Hume Highway (M31) passes through Seymour; on-base residents primarily use Defence-provided facilities and transport

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

Puckapunyal is a self-contained military base with on-base facilities, but off-base errands require a car; the nearby town of Seymour is the main service centre

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$265
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,714
Avg Household Size
3.2 people
Median Age
24 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
9.4%

22 state housing + 0 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,078
Census 2021
1,108
▲ 2.8% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Income 2016
$51,480
Income 2021
$67,600
▲ 31.3% increase

Income Comparison

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 911
Born Overseas 127

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 28
  • 2. Malaysia 18
  • 3. Germany 11
  • 4. New Zealand 9
  • 5. South Africa 9
  • 6. Nepal 6
  • 7. India 5
  • 8. Ireland 4
  • 9. Netherlands 4
  • 10. Scotland 4

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 546
English 414
Irish 130
Scottish 114
German 76
Australian Aboriginal 62
Dutch 29
Italian 29
New Zealander 15
Chinese 12

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

692
Both parents born in Australia
164
Both parents born overseas
184
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
54.2%
Christianity
34.6%
Islam
1.4%
Hinduism
0.8%
Buddhism
0.7%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
110 (9.9%)
5-14 years
161 (14.5%)
15-19 years
116 (10.5%)
20-24 years
169 (15.3%)
25-34 years
267 (24.1%)
35-44 years
187 (16.9%)
45-54 years
75 (6.8%)
55-64 years
16 (1.4%)
65-74 years
0 (0.0%)
75-84 years
0 (0.0%)
85+ years
0 (0.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Puckapunyal known for? +

Puckapunyal is best known as the site of the Puckapunyal Military Area (PMA), one of Australia's most significant Army training establishments. The base has a long history of training Australian soldiers and houses major Army units, schools, and support facilities.

How far is Puckapunyal from Melbourne? +

Puckapunyal is approximately 100 kilometres north of Melbourne, accessible via the Hume Highway (M31) to Seymour. The drive takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic.

Does Puckapunyal have public transport? +

Puckapunyal itself does not have a public train or bus stop within the base. The nearest V/Line station is at Seymour, approximately 10 kilometres away, which provides regular services to Melbourne's Southern Cross Station in about 1 hour 15 minutes.

What is the population of Puckapunyal? +

According to the 2021 Census, Puckapunyal has a population of 1,108 residents, predominantly comprising Australian Army personnel and their families. The very young median age of 24 and high proportion of males reflect the base's military demographic.

Is Puckapunyal open to the public? +

Puckapunyal Military Area is an active Defence establishment and is not open to general public access. Entry requires Defence authorisation. The nearby town of Seymour is the main gateway for visitors and residents accessing services in the area.

What is the postcode for Puckapunyal? +

The postcode for Puckapunyal, Victoria is 3662.