suburb.guide

VIC · Macedon Ranges Council

Benloch, 3435

Est. population · Jun 2025

148

Growth (1 yr)

+1.4%

Growth (5 yr)

+9.6%

Median age

37

Median income

$1,958/wk

Employment rate

57.1%

Languages at home

5.5%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Green suburb
  • National parks
What Benloch is known for: Green suburb, National parks

Suburb profile

Benloch is a welcoming smaller community in Macedon Ranges Council, with a settled community character. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.

Local amenities are on the light side, so many everyday needs are met by travelling to a neighbouring suburb or town. Green space punches above what many comparable suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.

Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period.

At a glance

Benloch snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

148

+1.4% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

31.7%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Safety

15th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

79th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

9/10

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

148(June 2025)

+1.4% annual · +9.6% over 5 years · 79th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.4%
5-year growth
+9.6%
Change in 1 year
+2
Change in 5 years
+13
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 (~150), extrapolated at +1.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
138
Median age
37
Median household income / week
$1,958
Dwelling vacancy
31.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
20 of 63
Median monthly mortgage
$1,728
Employment rate
57.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
45 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
3
Against the person
1
Against property
2
Rate per 1,000 residents
20.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 138 residents
State safety percentile
14.7th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-85%

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault1
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Amenities

1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

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
Other(1)
  • Camp Site

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

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Langley I97 Bushland ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
23
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
Kyneton District Health Service (19.9 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)
5
Participants per 1,000 residents
33.8

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
27° / 13°
Rainfall
126 mm · ~16 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
21° / 9°
Rainfall
148 mm · ~18 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 4°
Rainfall
218 mm · ~27 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 8°
Rainfall
188 mm · ~24 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).

5 planning-related records

2021· 2 proposals

  • June 2021

  • Development of the Land for a Replacement Dwelling and Removal of Non-Native Vegetation
    45 SID SMITH LANE BENLOCH 3435Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Development of the land for a dwelling and decommision of existing house
    45 Sid Smith LaneWithdrawn
2020· 3 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Development of an outbuilding (shed).
    119 Feeneys LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Development of outbuilding
    232 Feeneys LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding (shed)
    40 Long Ryans 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
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
Bendigo
Member of Parliament
Lisa CHESTERS (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
120,088
Turnout (2025)
94.0%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+51.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 30.2 km away).

Coalition 46.5%Labor 53.5%

2.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +53.5 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • PyalongLabor 43.3% · Coalition 56.7% TPP (2025)17.7 km away
  • TooboracLabor 41.1% · Coalition 58.9% TPP (2025)20.2 km away
  • KynetonLabor 65.3% · Coalition 34.7% TPP (2025)20.7 km away
  • Kyneton EastLabor 60.0% · Coalition 40.0% TPP (2025)20.9 km away
  • RedesdaleLabor 45.6% · Coalition 54.4% TPP (2025)23.6 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)
9/10
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 Macedon Ranges Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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