VIC · Colac Otway Council
Barwon Downs, VIC, 3243
Current weather
11.8°COvercast
77% humidity · 22.4 km/h wind · 13.8° / 8.3° today · 4.5 mm rain
Suburb snapshot
Barwon Downs is a small locality in the Colac Otway area, home to around 136 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 7 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+250%), roughly 51.5 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, and some planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 136
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,037
- Dwelling vacancy
- 27%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 24 of 89
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,083
- Employment rate
- 61.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 4 / 0 / 0
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2026)
- 7
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 51.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 68 residents
- State safety percentile
- 48.7th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +250%
Most common offence types
- B19 Other Fire Related Offences2
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception1
- C32 Drug Possession2
- Other Crimes Against The Person2
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Barwon Downs General Store/Birregurra-Forest Rd
- Barwon Downs Public Hall/Birregurra-Forrest Rd
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
2 planning-related records
2021· 2 proposals
April 2021
- Use and Development of Land for Dwelling50 Kents RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision20 WALLACES ROAD BARWON DOWNS 3243Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020–2022; 2021 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Recent changes
- Two (2) Lot Subdivisionplanning20 WALLACES ROAD BARWON DOWNS 3243Lodged 29 Jan 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and Development of Land for Dwellingplanning50 Kents RoadLodged 16 Apr 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Barwon Downs General Store/Birregurra-Forest Rdtransport
- Barwon Downs Public Hall/Birregurra-Forrest Rdtransport
- B19 Other Fire Related Offencescrime2
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deceptioncrime1
- C32 Drug Possessioncrime2
- Other Crimes Against The Personcrime2
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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