VIC · Greater Geelong Council
Barwon Heads, VIC, 3227
Current weather
14.2°CModerate drizzle
78% humidity · 32.7 km/h wind · 16.6° / 11.1° today · 4.7 mm rain
Desirability index
92/100
How this score is calculated#19 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Barwon Heads is a smaller suburban community in the Greater Geelong area, home to around 4,353 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 158 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-24%), roughly 36.3 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many Public Transport Victoria stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 4,353
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $2,226
- Dwelling vacancy
- 26.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 559 of 2,114
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,184
- Employment rate
- 56.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 83 / 94 / 44
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)
- 158
- Against the person
- 20
- Against property
- 106
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 36.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 218 residents
- State safety percentile
- 31.7th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -24%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage15
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary10
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft7
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle25
- B49 Other Theft14
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,120
- Barwon Heads Primary SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
25 public transport stops in this suburb
- Barwon Heads Rd/Sheepwash Rd
- Knox Dr/Carr St
- Knox Dr/Sheepwash Rd
- Saratoga Ave/Sheepwash Rd
- Taits Rd/Carr St
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).
109 planning-related records
2021· 54 proposals
September 2021
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings and a Front Fence32 OZONE ROAD BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
- Extension of a Dwelling and Construction of a Fence in a Special Building Overlay20 GLYNDON COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Single Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay34 COTTESLOE DRIVE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of an Outbuilding and Garage13 GOLIGHTLY STREET BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alterations and Additions to a Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay14 MULGOA COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Swimming Pool in a Special Building Overlay4 CHANTICLEER PLACE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension and Addition to an Existing Dwelling in an SBO and DDO18 HOPGOOD PLACE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Existing Dwelling95 CARR STREET BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Dwelling1-3 GEORGE STREET BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Existing Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay69 TAITS ROAD BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
- Construction of a Dwelling126 HITCHCOCK AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Dwelling12 PUNT ROAD BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Dwelling within an Environmental Significance Overlay3/36 SARATOGA AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Dwelling10 SEAVIEW AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and Development of a Cafe and Reduction of Car Parking64 HITCHCOCK AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
- Extension to Existing Outbuildings8 CURLEW COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- Construction of a Dwelling38A WATTLE BIRD CRESCENT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Dwelling20 BARWON TERRACE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Front Fence1C Grandview ParadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Fence on the Front Boundary6 REID STREET BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings & Works Associated with an Extension to Existing Dwelling25 Hopgood PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use of Land for Sale and Consumption of Liquor (Restaurant and Cafe Licence)64 HITCHCOCK AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling5/45 HITCHCOCK AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
- Construction of a second dwelling and 2 lot subdivision25-27 ARALUEN COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Lapsed
June 2021
- Construction of a Fence Associated with an Existing Dwelling6 River ParadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Front Fence39 Margate StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling3/45 Hitchcock AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a dwelling on a lot less than 300m2 and works on land affected by a Design and Development Overlay (DDO41)96 GOLF LINKS ROAD BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Construction of a Dwelling28 Von Nida AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Additions to a Dwelling and Deck within a Special Building Overlay37 Reid StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Dwelling3 Chanticleer PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings31 WATTLE BIRD CRESCENT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of an Outbuilding31 George StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay12 Tremont CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling3 Cosham CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings1 COTTESLOE DRIVE BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
April 2021
- Alterations and Additions to Dwelling6 Tremont CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Fence17 Cottesloe DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Extension to an Existing Dwelling15 Mulgoa CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Dwelling and Swimming Pool in a Special Building Overlay16 Coogee CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 55 proposals
55 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020; 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
54 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bendigo BankBank
- Bakery Bar LoungeBar
- Bbq (2)
- Beach BooksBooks
- Bus stop
- Free shuttle busBus stop
- Annie's Provedore & Produce StoreCafe
- Bacman OrangeCafe
- Shack Dining Co.Cafe
- Starfish BakeryCafe
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Barwon Heads Community ParkPark
- Moonah ParkPark
- Seabanks EstatePark
- The MewsPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Barwon Heads Pharmacypharmacy
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- BARWON HEADS BRIDGENH1848
- BARWON HEADS GOLF CLUBNH2258
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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)
- 12
- Parks (OSM)
- 10
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
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 92.0/100
- Cohort rank
- #19 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- BARWON HEADS BRIDGEheritageNH1848
- BARWON HEADS GOLF CLUBheritageNH2258
- Barwon Heads Pharmacyhealthpharmacy
- Barwon Heads Community Parkgovernmentpark
- Moonah Parkgovernmentpark
- Seabanks Estategovernmentpark
- The Mewsgovernmentpark
- Additions to a Dwelling and Deck within a Special Building Overlayplanning37 Reid StreetLodged 24 May 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alterations and Additions to Dwellingplanning6 Tremont CourtLodged 30 Apr 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alterations and Additions to a Dwelling in a Special Building Overlayplanning14 MULGOA COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Lodged 16 Sep 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- 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
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