New figures reveal the most female-dominated neighbourhood in Victoria

Men may outnumber women in some of Melbourne’s outer suburbs but one Victorian neighbourhood is totally ruled by females. See why.

Core-Plus Pilates Balwyn owner Greg Cotton feels outnumbered. Picture: David Caird

A Mornington Peninsula locality is Victoria’s women capital, while men are well in the majority in some of Melbourne’s outer suburbs, says a new ABS report.

Mornington West has a sex ratio of only 82.8 males per 100 females, making it the most feminine of all places in the state.

Women also vastly outnumber men in Melbourne suburbs such as Armadale (sex ratio 84.8), Balwyn (87.6) and Camberwell (89.5), according to the ABS report Regional Population by Age and Sex.

Greg Cotton, manager of pilates and yoga studio CorePlus Balwyn, said it was a female-oriented business with a 95 per cent female clientele.

“All the instructors here are female, I’m the only male staff member,” he said.

It’s also a very family-oriented workplace, and two of the staff are also my daughters. I love it.”

Dr Bob Birrell said the predominance of women on the Mornington Peninsula and in some established Melbourne suburbs reflects the older population.

When it comes to male domination, Truganina North in the city’s outer west is on top with a sex ratio of 136.7 men per 100 females, followed by Rockbank/Mt Cottrell (122.4), and Broadmeadows (113.8).

Dr Bob Birrell said the predominance of women on the Mornington Peninsula and in some established Melbourne suburbs reflected the older population, and the fact that women live longer than men.

“You’re going to get more women than men in those places, it’s to be expected,” he said.

As to why there were so many men in some outer suburbs, Dr Birrell said it could be linked to the level of migrants in those areas.

“It’s possible that in the settlement process out there, men are the pioneers, and families tend to come later,” he said.

The report revealed that Greater Melbourne has a sex ratio of 97.8, higher than regional centres Geelong (96.4), Bendigo (95.4), Maryborough (93.4) and Ballarat (89.2).

The resort town of Paynesville on the Gippsland lakes has the state’s oldest population, with a median age of 61.2 compared to the Victorian median of 37.9.

Other older places include Mornington West (57.2), Lakes Entrance (55.2), Euroa (54.9), Pt Nepean (53.4) and Daylesford (52.8).

Young people are most likely to be found in the inner city. Picture: Ian Currie

Young people are mostly likely to be found in inner city places like Parkville, which has a median age of 26.8, and Melbourne CBD North (26.4).

Youngest regional towns include Robinvale (36.6), Shepparton South East (36.9) and Seymour Surrounds (38.8).

Greater Melbourne has a median age of 36.8 compared to 43 for regional Victoria.

Dr Birrell said that Melbourne was much younger than most regional locations because of a big outflow of country youth into Melbourne.

“It’s even more so in the inner city because when people move to Melbourne for first jobs they are likely to go to inner areas, and there’s a much higher proportion of students in these areas,” he said.

The ABS report found that people aged 20-44 years made up 38 per cent of Melbourne’s population, compared to 29 per cent for the rest of the state.