The 2025/26 financial year was a year of varying sentiment throughout the 12 month period. This sentiment was chiefly governed by interest rate trends. While rate cuts in February, May and August 2025 improved sentiment and activity in the property markets, the reversal of these in February, March and May 2026 had a deflating effect on market performance in the latter stages of the financial year.
So, let’s look at the performance of each of the Great Ocean Road towns during this period. As a reference, these sales are house sales, that is, a free-standing dwelling on its own title. We do not include land sales or units although freestanding dwellings with common driveways are included. The median house price is calculated as the “middle” price when all the sales are ranked from lowest to highest.
Anglesea saw 61 house sales recorded for the financial year, which was 8 less than in 2024/25 (69). The median house price was $1,237,500, which was down from $1,400,000 the year before. The top sale for the year was $6,050,000. The sub $2m price range dominated the statistics with 50 of the 61 sales below this price point, hence the correction in the median house price. Anglesea attracts a mixed demographic of owner occupiers, lifestyle buyers and retirees.
Aireys Inlet recorded 21 house sales for the 2025/26 financial year which was an increase from 14 in the 2024/25 financial year. The median house price decreased to $1,390,000, down from $1,450,000. The top sale was $2,050,000. This was the only sale recorded above $2m.
Due to the low numbers of sales, we have always grouped Fairhaven, Moggs Creek and Eastern View together. There are only 863 rateable properties in this area. There were 16 sales for the financial year, which is slightly down from 18 the year before. For context the average amount of sales over the past 30 years has been 18. The median house price came in at $1,375,000, which is down from $1,875,000 (with the low number of sample numbers this figure does move around depending on what sold that year). The top sale for the year was $3,300,000. There were 11 sales between $1m-$2m, 5 above $2m.
Lorne saw the total number of house sales at 28, slightly below the previous year’s 33. The median house price increased to $2,032,000 which is up from $1,700,000. The top sale for the year was $5,080,000. There were 13 sales below $2m, 9 sales between $2m – $3m, 4 in the $3m – $4m and just the one above $4m.
Torquay continues to be a very active owner-occupier market with 352 house sales for the financial year, which was up from 339 in the 24/25 financial year. The median house price has been calculated at $1,180,000 which is slightly up from the previous financial year of $1,170,000 in 24/25. The top sale for the year was $4,620,000. Torquay is primarily an owner – occupier market now where affordability is a prime driver in price setting and this is reflected in these results.
Jan Juc recorded 59 house sales, up from 50 in 24/25, with the median house price coming in at $1,372,000 which was slightly up from $1,265,000 in the previous financial year. The top sale for Jan Juc was $5,450,000. The demographic is similar to Torquay.
Apollo Bay, Skenes Creek, Marengo and Wongarra: recorded 52 house sales for the year, which was the same as the previous year, with the median house price coming in at $800,000, down from $890,000 in the previous year. The top sale for the year was $2,000,000
In summary, the broader economic backdrop continues to influence property markets. Both buyers and sellers seek as much certainty as possible when making significant financial decisions, and as a result, interest rate trends remain a significant driver of market sentiment. Those trends, however, are influenced by a range of economic factors. Inflationary pressures, together with global events such as the conflict in the Middle East, continue to add uncertainty to the economic outlook. In periods like this, many prospective buyers and sellers understandably adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach. What has become increasingly clear over the past financial year is that market confidence is driven less by the actual level of interest rates and more by the direction in which they are heading. Even those not reliant on borrowing have shown caution. Barring any unforeseen economic events, the next meaningful lift in market activity is likely to coincide with broad confidence that interest rates have peaked and the next trend is downward. It is still too early to fully assess the impact of the proposed changes to Capital Gains Tax and negative gearing. However, early indications suggest that uncertainty surrounding the potential unintended consequences of these proposals is also contributing to a more cautious property market.
We hope you found this Great Ocean Report informative and if we can ever be of any assistance in any real estate matter, please do not hesitate to call on 5220 0000.