suburb.guide

VIC · South Gippsland Council

Bena, 3946

Est. population · Jun 2025

309

Growth (1 yr)

+0.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.3%

Median age

51

Median income

$1,687/wk

Employment rate

60.6%

Languages at home

2.8%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Green suburb
What Bena is known for: Green suburb

Suburb profile

Bena is a quieter smaller community in South Gippsland Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.

Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.

Crime reports are up on the previous period. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.

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

At a glance

Bena snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

309

+0.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

18.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Safety

11th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

58th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

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

309(June 2025)

+0.7% annual · +2.3% over 5 years · 58th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+2.3%
Change in 1 year
+2
Change in 5 years
+7
Growth rank in VIC
58th 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 (~300), extrapolated at +0.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
303
Median age
51
Median household income / week
$1,687
Dwelling vacancy
18%
Unoccupied private dwellings
25 of 139
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
60.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
117 / 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)
5
Against the person
1
Against property
4
Rate per 1,000 residents
16.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 303 residents
State safety percentile
11th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+150%

Most common offence types

  • B11 Cause Damage By Fire1
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
  • B45 Receiving Or Handling Stolen Goods1
  • Other Crimes Against The Person1

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
32
Parks (OSM)
1

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
Gippsland Southern Health Service - Korumburra (8.1 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)
10
Participants per 1,000 residents
32.4

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
25° / 12°
Rainfall
197 mm · ~25 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 9°
Rainfall
228 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 5°
Rainfall
261 mm · ~33 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 7°
Rainfall
304 mm · ~38 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).

13 planning-related records

2021· 4 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Develop land with a dwelling. Use of land for group accommodation.
    492 BENA-KONGWAK ROAD BENA 3946Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Development of land associated with agriculture (Shed)
    465 ANDERSONS INLET ROAD BENA 3946Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Development of single dwelling - Amend Permit allows
    20 Johnston CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Development of a dwelling and shed
    812 Andersons Inlet RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 9 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Develop land with habitable outbuilding (pool house and deck) - amend endorsed plans
    805 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) lot subdivision. Use and development land with a dwelling.
    1045 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    1030 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling
    805 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a domestic outbuilding
    46 Cochranes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Develop land with a domestic outbuilding
    485 Andersons Inlet RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling
    17 Tyers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    150 Bass Valley RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Development of land for an outbuilding
    445 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

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
Monash
Member of Parliament
Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,463
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.2 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 13.4 km away).

Coalition 60.5%Labor 39.5%

6.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -0.6 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • BenaLabor 36.7% · Coalition 63.3% TPP (2025)4.8 km away
  • KongwakLabor 41.5% · Coalition 58.5% TPP (2025)7.9 km away
  • KorumburraLabor 46.6% · Coalition 53.4% TPP (2025)8.4 km away
  • LochLabor 43.4% · Coalition 56.6% TPP (2025)8.7 km away
  • KernotLabor 40.6% · Coalition 59.4% TPP (2025)9.4 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)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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 South Gippsland Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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