suburb.guide

VIC · Mansfield Council

Barwite, 3722

Est. population · Jun 2025

296

Growth (1 yr)

+1.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+12.1%

Median age

50

Median income

$1,408/wk

Employment rate

64.2%

Languages at home

4.6%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

25.9/100
Below average

1160th in VIC

Verified 62% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • High desirability
What Barwite is known for: National parks, High desirability

Suburb profile

In Mansfield Council, Barwite keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.

Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Homes are neither a bargain nor a premium buy against the wider market.

Reported crime has been rising recently. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.

The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus parks and green space relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Barwite snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

296

+1.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

28.2%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#340

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

2nd

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

84th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
25.9/100 — Below average
National rank
6159th in Australia
State rank
1160th in VIC
Peer rank
#340 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#644 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
62%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

296(June 2025)

+1.7% annual · +12.1% over 5 years · 84th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.7%
5-year growth
+12.1%
Change in 1 year
+5
Change in 5 years
+32
Growth rank in VIC
84th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~350), extrapolated at +2.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
269
Median age
50
Median household income / week
$1,408
Dwelling vacancy
28.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
40 of 142
Median monthly mortgage
$1,317
Employment rate
64.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
97 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
2
Against the person
0
Against property
2
Rate per 1,000 residents
6.8
State safety percentile
2.1th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+100%

Most common offence types

  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception1

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Cambatong Reference AreaNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
3
Parks (OSM)
0

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Mansfield District Hospital (12.8 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
6
Participants per 1,000 residents
20.3

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
28° / 11°
Rainfall
176 mm · ~22 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
21° / 7°
Rainfall
233 mm · ~29 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
12° / 2°
Rainfall
385 mm · ~48 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 6°
Rainfall
295 mm · ~37 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

18 planning-related records

2021· 7 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Buildings and works; removal of native vegetation, alteration to access to road zone category 1
    1096 MANSFIELD-WHITFIELD ROAD BARWITE 3722Lapsed

  • August 2021

  • Development of dwelling
    LOT 2 REYNOLDS ROAD BARWITE 3722Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a shed
    922 MANSFIELD-WHITFIELD ROAD BARWITE 3722Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Use and Development of a Dwelling on a Lot less than 40 Ha in the Farm Zone
    369 SOLDIERS ROAD BARWITE 3722Withdrawn

  • May 2021

  • Use and development of dwelling and outbuilding
    1032 OLD TOLMIE ROADNOD issued by a delegate

  • March 2021

  • Buildings and works in association with the extension of an existing dwelling
    288 BYRNE LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Use and Development of Land for Group Accommodation.
    146 SOLDIERS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 11 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Two Lot Subdivision (dwelling excision)
    151 OLD TOLMIE ROAD BARWITE 3722In progress

  • November 2020

  • Two lot subdivision - amend the common boundary
    627 GLENROY ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Development of shed
    369 SOLDIERS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of dwelling in the farming zone
    1901 LONG LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Use and development of a dwelling in the farming zone (amendment to condition 1)
    LONG LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of agricultural shed
    146 OLD TOLMIE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Use and development of a dwelling and extension to existing shed
    1010 OLD TOLMIE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Use and development of a dwelling in the farming zone
    LONG LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Ending of Section 173 Agreement
    LOT 1 FRIDAYS ROADNo permit required
  • Two lot subdivision (excision of dwelling) amend condition 2
    875 OLD TOLMIE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Development of agricultural shed
    146 OLD TOLMIE ROAD BARWITE 3722In progress

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Indi
Member of Parliament
Helen HAINES (Independent)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
120,774
Turnout (2025)
92.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.4 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 56.7%Labor 43.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 37.5 km away).

Coalition 56.5%Labor 43.5%

0.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -0.9 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • TolmieLabor 45.0% · Coalition 55.0% TPP (2025)8.4 km away
  • MansfieldLabor 44.5% · Coalition 55.5% TPP (2025)13.2 km away
  • WhitfieldLabor 38.3% · Coalition 61.7% TPP (2025)31.9 km away
  • Bonnie DoonLabor 42.1% · Coalition 57.9% TPP (2025)32.2 km away
  • TatongLabor 33.9% · Coalition 66.1% TPP (2025)32.7 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

More in Mansfield Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.