While the number of people living in the shire is on the way up, the Moyne population figures are below the national growth rate of 8.8 per cent. 

The total population of Moyne is 16,495, up from the 15,955 recorded at the 2011 census. This represents a 3.38 per cent increase.

Population rates between the 2011 and 2016 census show a dramatic decrease in some of the smaller settlements in the shire.

Woolsthorpe dropped from 510 to 422, Mailors Flat from 471 to 425, Yambuk 324 to 267 and Macarthur from 618 to 522.

The biggest drop occurred in Crossley with the population falling from 351 to 215, a decrease of 38.74 per cent while Hawkesdale fell 25.46 per cent from 432 to 322.

The shire’s biggest towns fared better with the populations of Port Fairy, Koroit and Mortlake all on the rise.

Port Fairy remains the shire’s most populated town with 3340 people, up from 3094, an increase of 7.95 per cent.

Koroit has moved from 1958 in 2011 to 2055 in 2016, up 4.95. Mortlake now has a population of 1372, rising from its 2011 mark of 1354, a 1.32 per cent climb.

Moyne Shire mayor Jim Doukas said he was happy with the state of the municipality and questioned some of the census data.

“I find some of those figures hard to believe, maybe they have changed the boundaries a bit since the last census,” Cr Doukas said.

“Certainly in Crossley I can’t see where that level of population has decreased. 

“Maybe when they filled out their census, some people in Crossley may have put down Koroit as where they live, given it is the nearest town.

“And places like Hawkesdale that are a bit further out are always going to have ebbs and flows in population.

“From what I see and hear around the shire, I think we are heading in the right direction.

“People aren’t jumping out of their rubber boots but they are optimistic.” 

Cr Doukas believes the council’s ability to offer lifestyle blocks on small acreage is continuing to lure people out of the city. 

“People love living close to Port Fairy or Koroit and being able to have some land as well, it’s the best of both worlds,” he said.