Franchise opportunities in Castlemaine Surrounds, VIC
Geography: this report covers the Castlemaine Surrounds area (ABS SA2). Demographics from the ABS Census 2021.
How this opportunity score works
The score is a weighted 0–100 research signal, not a site-selection decision. It combines, per category:
- Demand (category fit for the population) — 30%
- Competition gap (trade-area model, more room scores higher) — 25%
- Demographic fit (income vs the category) — 20%
- 5-year population growth (percentile) — 15%
- Franchise availability (systems recruiting here) — 10%
Inputs: ABS Census 2021 (population, income, growth) and a trade-area competition model using OpenStreetMap / ABS business data where available. It doesn’t model rent, site specifics or local trading conditions, treat it as a starting point for research, then confirm on the ground and with the franchisor. See our methodology.
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For sale & open territories in Castlemaine Surrounds
258 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Castlemaine Surrounds:
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
Cafe2U
Coolabah Tree Cafe
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
Castlemaine Surrounds on the map
Where Castlemaine Surrounds sits and the real local businesses around its centre, the operators a new franchise would compete with. Tap a pin for the business name and type.
Loading nearby operators in Castlemaine Surrounds…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Quick-Service Food
482. Coffee & Café
433. Hair & Barber
39What it costs to start in Castlemaine Surrounds
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Castlemaine Surrounds best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Castlemaine Surrounds fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 48 |
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 43 |
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 39 |
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 34 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 31 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 29 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsCastlemaine Surrounds’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Castlemaine Surrounds snapshot
| Metric | Castlemaine Surrounds | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,147 | 18,304 | -50% |
| Median household income | $68,500 | $94,695 | -28% |
| 5-year population growth | 6.1% | 30.4% | -24.3 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Castlemaine Surrounds, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Castlemaine Surrounds | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52 years | Older market, skews to health, home and aged-support services |
| Average household size | 2.2 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,317/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,746/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $666/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $280/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,473/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.7 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Castlemaine Surrounds (202021028). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Castlemaine Surrounds lives, works and is housed, and what each signal means for siting a franchise here. All figures are real ABS Census 2021 counts for this area.
| Measure | Castlemaine Surrounds | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 8.4% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 37.5% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 50.4% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 98.6% | Suburban, car-based, drive-to trade area |
| Flats & apartments | 0.2% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 67.6% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 29.9% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | Tight labour market, strong incomes but harder hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Castlemaine Surrounds, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Quick-Service Food viability: High
The quick-service food opportunity in Castlemaine Surrounds scores 48 out of 100. With a population of 9,147, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited quick-service food outlet. At about 1 existing quick-service food operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($68,500) sits below the state average ($94,695), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee & Café | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Quick-Service Food | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | High | Saturated |
| Retail | 1 | High | Saturated |
Operator counts are a trade-area model derived from ABS population, not a live business census. Richer POI data (OpenStreetMap / Google Places) is ingested per methodology.
How Castlemaine Surrounds compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castlemaine Surrounds | 9,147 | $68,500 | 6.1% | Quick-Service Food | 48 |
| Wyndham Vale - North | 9,176 | $96,800 | 139.3% | Quick-Service Food | 61 |
| Flemington | 9,181 | $81,700 | -14.5% | Quick-Service Food | 42 |
| Moorabbin - Heatherton | 9,197 | $106,400 | -0.6% | Quick-Service Food | 52 |
| Alphington - Fairfield | 9,069 | $109,800 | -3.9% | Quick-Service Food | 50 |
| Kialla | 9,067 | $104,100 | 22.4% | Quick-Service Food | 61 |
| Norlane | 9,040 | $48,200 | 1.2% | Quick-Service Food | 39 |
Keep exploring Castlemaine Surrounds & Victoria
By category in Castlemaine Surrounds
Nearby Victoria areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Castlemaine Surrounds?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Castlemaine Surrounds at 48/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Coffee & Café and Hair & Barber.
How much does a franchise cost in Castlemaine Surrounds?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Quick-Service Food franchises run $350,000–$900,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=96). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Castlemaine Surrounds good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 43/100 in Castlemaine Surrounds, with about 1 existing operators in the trade area (Strong suitability).
Demographics: ABS Census 2021 & Regional Population. Category scores combine ABS demographics with a trade-area competition model and live franchise availability, see methodology. Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index.
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