Towns in Time is a compilation of time series data for Victoria's towns covering the years 1981 to 2011. The data is based on Census data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Towns in Time presents 2011 data for the 2011 definition of each town, together with data under the 2006 definition for 2006 and earlier years. A map showing the difference in the town's boundaries between 2006 and 2011 is attached to each data sheet. It is recommended the user assess this concordance when using time series data.

This summary shows the results of the forecasts for population, households and dwellings in the City of Greater Geelong. The period 2020, 2030 and 2040, as the short to medium term, is likely to be the most accurate and useful forecast information for immediate planning purposes.

It is important to look at the relationship between population and average household size. If the average household size is falling, then there will need to be growth in the number of households (and dwellings for them to live in) to maintain or grow the population.

Census employment and income data for persons working in creative industries and creative occupations.

This dataset consists of 14 individual datasets that underpin the interactive dashboards on the project's Data Tables webpage.

Project background:

Australian cultural and creative activity: A population and hotspot analysis is an Australian Research Council Linkage project (LP160101724) being undertaken by QUT and the University of Newcastle, in partnership with Arts Queensland, Create NSW, Creative Victoria, Arts South Australia and the Western Australian Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

This comprehensive project aims to grasp the contemporary dynamics of cultural and creative activity in Australia. It brings together population-level and comparative quantitative and qualitative analyses of local cultural and creative activity. The project will paint a complete national picture, while also exploring the factors that are producing local and regional creative hotspots.

Creative hotspots for study were selected in consultation with state research partners:

Queensland – Cairns, Sunshine Coast + Noosa, Gold Coast, Central West Queensland
New South Wales – Coffs Harbour, Marrickville, Wollongong, Albury
Victoria – Geelong + Surf Coast, Ballarat, Bendigo, Wodonga
Western Australia – Geraldton, Fremantle, Busselton, Albany + Denmark
South Australia – to be confirmed shortly

Statistical summaries drawn from a diverse range of data sources including the Australian Census, the Australian Business Register, IP Australia registration data, infrastructure availability lists and creative grants and rights payments as well as our fieldwork, inform hotspot reports.