VIC · Surf Coast Council

Bells Beach, 3228

Current weather

9.6°CMainly clear

85% humidity · 28.4 km/h wind · 12.7° / 8.7° today · 6.9 mm rain

Last updated 2 July 2026 at 6:15 pm AEST

Suburb snapshot

Bells Beach is a small locality in the Surf Coast area, home to around 151 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 10 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+25%), roughly 66.2 offences per 1,000 residents, and notable planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.

Population

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): 0 / 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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:05 pm AEST · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Total offences (2026): 10
Against the person: 3
Against property: 5
Rate per 1,000 residents: 66.2
Person-crime prevalence: About 1 in 50 residents
State safety percentile: 58.6th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate): +25%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

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

Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:14 pm AEST · Year ending March release

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.31 Aug 2021
165 BELLS ROAD BELLS BEACH 3228Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
Use and Development of a Dwelling21 Apr 2021
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 Greenhouses09 Feb 2021
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.26 Nov 2020
200 BONES ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling07 Aug 2020
45 HURST ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
Construction of an Agricultural building (shed)30 Jul 2020
130 BELLS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of shed to be used in conjunction with existing dwelling17 Jul 2020
110 JAROSITE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Amend Condition 16 - Native Vegetation Removal03 Jul 2020
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.19 May 2020
95 HURST ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
Dwelling Extension17 Jan 2020
115 HURST ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020–2022 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:31 pm AEST · 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.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:15 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

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.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:05 pm AEST · 2021 SEIFA release

Heritage

1 state heritage place

BELLS BEACH SURFING RECREATION RESERVENH2032

Data sources & freshness

State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:33 pm AEST

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 · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 6:14 pm AEST

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

OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:16 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Recent changes

A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime1
A232 Non-Fv Common Assaultcrime1
A722 Non-Fv Harassment And Private Nuisancecrime1
B21 Criminal Damagecrime2
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime2
BELLS BEACH SURFING RECREATION RESERVEheritageNH2032
Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwellingplanning45 HURST ROADLodged 07 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and additions to existing dwelling, construction of a habitable outbuilding and separate studio and associated removal and lopping of native vegetation.planning200 BONES ROADLodged 26 Nov 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Amend Condition 16 - Native Vegetation Removalplanning210 Jarosite RoadLodged 03 Jul 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an Agricultural building (shed)planning130 BELLS ROADLodged 30 Jul 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:13 pm AEST · Year ending March release
State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:33 pm AEST
PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:31 pm AEST · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

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