suburb.guide

VIC · Surf Coast Council

Bells Beach, 3228

Est. population · Jun 2025

149

Growth (1 yr)

+1.4%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.6%

Median age

48

Median income

$2,600/wk

Employment rate

61.9%

Languages at home

7%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Heritage area
What Bells Beach is known for: Heritage area

Suburb profile

Bells Beach is a quieter smaller community in Surf Coast Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub.

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. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.

Local crime has been trending higher of late. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.

At a glance

Bells Beach snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

149

+1.4% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

43.1%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Safety

61st

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

79th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

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

Population

Estimated resident population

149(June 2025)

+1.4% annual · +14.6% over 5 years · 79th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.4%
5-year growth
+14.6%
Change in 1 year
+2
Change in 5 years
+19
Growth rank in VIC
79th 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 (~200), extrapolated at +3.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
151
Median age
48
Median household income / week
$2,600
Dwelling vacancy
43.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
31 of 72
Median monthly mortgage
$2,600
Employment rate
61.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
44 / 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)
10
Against the person
3
Against property
5
Rate per 1,000 residents
67.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 50 residents
State safety percentile
60.9th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+25%

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault1
  • A232 Non-Fv Common Assault1
  • A722 Non-Fv Harassment And Private Nuisance1
  • B21 Criminal Damage2
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Amenities

9 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

2 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Sport & outdoors(5)
  • Picnic area
  • Paragliding & Hang Gliding Site - Pilot rating PG2 / HG Intermediate (Launching only)Sports field
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (2)
Entertainment(3)
  • Viewpoint (3)
Other(1)
  • Parking

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
2
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
Hospital (19.2 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)
3
Participants per 1,000 residents
20.1

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
26° / 12°
Rainfall
128 mm · ~16 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
21° / 10°
Rainfall
124 mm · ~16 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
149 mm · ~19 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 8°
Rainfall
182 mm · ~23 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).

10 planning-related records

2021· 3 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Use and development of a replacement dwelling Reason for Revision: Amend the application plans to show the existing dwelling to be demolished and replaced with a new Studio/Home based business.
    165 BELLS ROAD BELLS BEACH 3228Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Use and Development of a Dwelling
    168 Bells RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Use of the Land for Horticulture and Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of Greenhouses
    115 Hurst RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 7 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Alterations and additions to existing dwelling, construction of a habitable outbuilding and separate studio and associated removal and lopping of native vegetation.
    200 BONES ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling
    45 HURST ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Construction of an Agricultural building (shed)
    130 BELLS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of shed to be used in conjunction with existing dwelling
    110 JAROSITE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amend Condition 16 - Native Vegetation Removal
    210 Jarosite RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Use land for utility installation (water transfer pipes), construct earthworks which change the rate of flow or discharge point of water across a property boundary, construct building and works (clean & enlarge dams, construct underground water tanks and interconnect water supplies) associated with an existing section 3 use (two dwellings on a lot) and remove native vegetation.
    95 HURST ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Dwelling Extension
    115 HURST ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • BELLS BEACH SURFING RECREATION RESERVENH2032

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

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
Corangamite
Member of Parliament
Libby COKER (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
114,123
Turnout (2025)
94.7%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+0.2 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 42.0%Labor 58.0%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 18.2 km away).

Coalition 33.7%Labor 66.3%

8.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.8 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • BellbraeLabor 70.0% · Coalition 30.1% TPP (2025)4.6 km away
  • Torquay NorthLabor 66.6% · Coalition 33.4% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
  • TorquayLabor 59.8% · Coalition 40.2% TPP (2025)10.1 km away
  • Torquay EastLabor 63.2% · Coalition 36.8% TPP (2025)11.0 km away
  • Freshwater CreekLabor 61.1% · Coalition 38.9% TPP (2025)13.5 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)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

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 Surf Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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