“They’re pretty expensive and large houses,” she said. “It creates a requirement to have a wealthy owner to purchase and maintain properties like that.”
Fowler said having the airport within a 35-minute drive was also appealing to a cashed-up clientele, particularly people who traveled regularly for work.
Greater Macedon Ranges Shire Jennifer Anderson said while Mount Macedon had a veneer of wealth and was home to some rich people, there were many in the wider community who were also struggling.
“People might come up here and see it’s a beautiful environment with all these large houses and rich people, but you can forget that among that we have a diverse community,” she said.
The latest census data showed Mount Macedon had a median weekly income of $2,647 with median monthly mortgage repayments of $2,604. The median weekly rent was $330.
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Anderson said the council offered outreach services to local residents who were struggling.
“Often these people don’t want to say they’re at risk if they’re surrounded by others doing well,” she said.
Stonnington councillor Matthew Koce, whose ward covers Toorak, also insisted his municipality took in an economically diverse community with some residents of public housing living not far from some of Melbourne’s most pricey real estate.
He said the calls he took from Toorak residents echoed the concerns of other areas, which typically included problems with street trees, footpath damage and required upgrades to drainage.
“I find the community to be reasonable across the board,” he said.
Brighton and North Brighton were among the wealthiest postcodes with an annual average income just shy of $140,000. The Red Hill postcode was also on the rich list pushing past $108,000.
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