Geelong’s occupation pockets decided by lifestyle choice and income

Why do more teachers live in Torquay? And why do librarians live in Highton? We’ve mapped Geelong’s occupation pockets. SEE THE DATA

Plumbing teacher Steven Buckland lives in Torquay. Like many of his fellow vocational teachers he loves living so close to the surf. Picture: Alan Barber

Most of our region’s vocational education teachers live in Torquay.

As do most of the region’s plumbers.

Gordon TAFE plumbing teacher Steven Buckland said he lives in the Surf Coast town because he loves how it offers everything his family needs for a healthy lifestyle.

“We’re surrounded by like-minded families in a thriving community that provides quality job opportunities, sports clubs, arts and music that cater to our interests,” he said.

“I’ve spent most of my life surfing and chasing waves, so when some close friends moved to

this area, it felt like the perfect place for us to settle down on the Surf Coast.

“Having the beach right in our backyard gives us the perfect opportunity to start the day by walking with our dog or surfing before heading to work.

“We feel very fortunate to call this place home.”

Gordon TAFE plumbing teacher Steven Buckland feels very fortunate to call Torquay home. Picture: Alan Barber

Mr Buckland has been working at The Gordon as a plumbing teacher for more than two years.

What he loves most about his job is giving back to the community by sharing 30 years of experience and skills with the plumbers of the future.

While Torquay is a popular location for many, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows librarians prefer Highton.

Holly Mirams is a Geelong Regional Libraries library officer and has lived in Highton for about four years.

She said she loves the convenience of where she lives.

“I’m so close to the centre of town and most things I need to get to aren’t more than about half an hour’s drive,” she said.

“I love the easy access to parks and the river especially – I’m very close to Buckley Falls, which is prime dog walking territory.”

Ms Mirams loves everything about her job, but particularly the customer service.

“I love talking to so many different people and assisting them with such a wide variety of queries,” she said.

Holly Mirams is a library officer with Geelong Regional Libraries and lives in Highton, a suburb she loves for its convenient proximity to the CBD and open spaces. Picture: Monika Berry

Torquay was also a living hub for those with senior roles, such as chief executives, managing directors and school principals.

Across the Geelong and Surf Coast region the most popular job was sales assistant – someone who sells things such as food, clothing and appliances in retail or wholesale.

Professor Louise Johnson of Deakin University’s Alfred Deakin Institute is a social geographer, and said the concentration of different occupations in different suburbs made sense.

“Torquay is all about surfing and the culture with accessibility to Geelong,” she said.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all that it would be up there for people who have relatively high incomes.”

Prof Johnson said income, status and environment were factors that led to creating pockets of different occupations.

“I imagine when looking at trades, retail workers and service workers that’s where you’ll get more of a concentration in the northern parts of the city,” she said.

“Those areas are a lot more affordable, so it comes down to the price of housing.

“There are areas of high amenity, high-priced housing and those places are only going to be available and accessible to those of high income.

“You also have the notion of a high status area and that’s where places like Highton and Newtown come in.”

Prof Johnson said there was also middle ground of suburbs, which attracted other professionals like nurses and teachers.

She said there was a disadvantage to have concentrations of occupations and incomes in one area.

“Areas that are usually higher income, higher status tend to be better serviced and you tend to find areas with low income, lower education and other not-so-positive indicators of people’s social position usually have poorer-quality services,” she said.

“Those areas in general don’t have the political muscle or cultural capital to demand and get higher-quality services.”

Originally published as Geelong’s occupation pockets decided by lifestyle choice and income