Warrnambool sits at the end of the Great Ocean Road, about three hours from Melbourne. It’s not the first place people think of for tech, but there’s a growing community here worth knowing about.

I visited recently to understand what’s happening.

The Community

Warrnambool’s tech community is small but genuine—perhaps 100-150 people working in tech-related roles across the town and surrounding South West region.

The community includes:

• Remote workers for Melbourne and interstate employers
• IT staff at local businesses and organisations
• Developers and designers running their own operations
• Tech-curious business owners and managers

What strikes you is the interconnection. In a community this size, people know each other. The tech community overlaps with business community overlaps with social community.

Major Employers

South West Healthcare: Regional health service with significant IT operations. Healthcare tech is a growing category.

Warrnambool City Council: Local government employs tech staff for citizen services, GIS, and infrastructure systems.

Deakin University Warrnambool Campus: Small but present, with some research computing and teaching technology roles.

Dairy and agriculture businesses: The surrounding region’s strong dairy industry creates demand for agricultural technology, farm management systems, and related services.

Local professional services: Accountants, lawyers, and consultants increasingly employ in-house tech capability.

Remote Work Reality

A significant portion of Warrnambool’s tech workers are employed by organisations elsewhere.

The appeal is obvious: affordable housing, beach lifestyle, strong community, and internet connectivity that’s improved dramatically in recent years.

Remote workers here tell me they value the work-life balance. You can surf before work, or walk the foreshore at lunch. The pace is different.

The challenge is professional isolation. Without nearby colleagues, remote workers need to be proactive about community connection.

Infrastructure

NBN: Warrnambool has mixed NBN infrastructure. Central areas have FTTP; outer areas are on fixed wireless or older technologies. Business-grade connections are available.

Mobile: 4G is reliable in town. 5G has arrived in limited areas.

Coworking: The South West Business Hub provides coworking options. It’s small but functional.

Cafes and casual workspaces: Several cafes cater to remote workers with reliable wifi and comfortable setups.

Community Events

South West Tech Meetup: Quarterly gatherings with presentations and networking. Attendance varies but core community is committed.

Warrnambool Business Network: Not tech-specific but includes tech-interested business owners.

Library Events: Warrnambool Library runs occasional tech literacy events open to the community.

Opportunities

For Tech Workers

Lifestyle arbitrage is real. Warrnambool housing costs are a fraction of Melbourne’s. Remote work lets you earn metropolitan salaries while living on a regional budget.

Local opportunities are limited but exist. For the right role at a local employer, competition is less intense than larger centres.

For Businesses

Tech-literate workers exist locally. You might not find every specialty, but general IT capability is available.

Remote hiring expands options dramatically. Many roles don’t require physical presence.

For Entrepreneurs

Warrnambool’s isolation can be advantage or disadvantage depending on your venture.

Local services for local businesses have obvious market. Technology products with national ambitions might benefit from elsewhere. Lifestyle businesses that can operate from anywhere work well.

Challenges

Scale: The market is small. Businesses serving only Warrnambool have limited addressable market.

Talent scarcity: Specialised skills are hard to find locally. Most specialised hiring requires remote workers.

Travel burden: When Melbourne meetings are unavoidable, three hours each way adds up.

Limited events and networking: The tech community does what it can, but there’s less happening than larger centres.

The Lifestyle Factor

Conversations in Warrnambool inevitably turn to lifestyle. People choose this location deliberately.

The beaches are genuinely excellent. The town has good restaurants, cultural events, and community organisations. Housing is affordable by Victorian standards. The pace of life is calmer.

For tech workers who prioritise lifestyle over career acceleration, Warrnambool offers something valuable.

Not everyone thrives here. If you need constant networking, frequent conferences, or the energy of a busy tech hub, you’ll feel isolated.

Recommendations

If you’re considering Warrnambool: Spend extended time there first. A weekend visit doesn’t reveal daily reality.

If you’re there and wanting connection: Engage actively with the existing community. Attend events, offer to help, contribute to building what you wish existed.

If you’re hiring in Warrnambool: Consider remote workers. The local talent pool is real but limited.

Warrnambool won’t ever be a major tech hub. That’s not the point. It’s a place where tech work can happen while living a particular kind of life.

For the right people, that’s exactly what they want.

Regional Development Victoria provides resources about regional living and employment, and ABC News covers South West Victoria regional stories regularly.