suburb.guide

VIC · Mornington Peninsula Council

Bittern, 3918

Est. population · Jun 2025

4,271

Growth (1 yr)

+0.1%

Growth (5 yr)

-1.7%

Median age

46

Median income

$1,615/wk

Employment rate

57.3%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$850,000

Languages at home

3%non-English

Most common: Greek, Italian, German

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

59.7/100
Good

Top 23% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 100% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Coastal
  • Green suburb
  • National parks
  • High desirability
  • Excellent transport
What Bittern is known for: Coastal, Green suburb, National parks, High desirability, Excellent transport

Suburb profile

Bittern wears its coastal identity openly, a mid-sized suburb built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Neighbouring pockets and the city remain accessible for work, dining and weekends away from the beach. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix.

Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses and trains linking the suburb to surrounding areas. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.

A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.

Desirability rates good overall, led by growth momentum, while schools and education land closer to the middle of the pack for similar coastal suburbs.

At a glance

Bittern snapshot

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

Median house price

$850k

+10% change

Median rent

$595/wk

Population (ERP)

4,271

+0.1% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

5.5%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#12

among Coastal & beach · Mature

Safety

40th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

45th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

37th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

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

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
59.7/100 — Good
State standing
Top 23% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
1049th in Australia
State rank
290th in VIC
Peer rank
#12 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#38 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
100%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
$595
Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$850,000
Median price change
+10.4%

Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

4,271(June 2025)

+0.1% annual · -1.7% over 5 years · 45th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.1%
5-year growth
-1.7%
Change in 1 year
+5
Change in 5 years
-72
Growth rank in VIC
45th 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 (~4,500), extrapolated at +0.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
4,276
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$1,615
Dwelling vacancy
5.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
94 of 1,708
Median monthly mortgage
$1,842
Employment rate
57.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,513 / 100 / 3

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)
179
Against the person
31
Against property
73
Rate per 1,000 residents
41.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 138 residents
State safety percentile
39.5th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+7.8%

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault10
  • B21 Criminal Damage11
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle22
  • B49 Other Theft14
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order56

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
978
Median ICSEA percentile
37th
School list
  • Bittern Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 978 · 37th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 78 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Bittern ELCchildcare

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

13 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bittern Rail Replacement Bus Stop
  • Bittern Railway Station
  • Bittern Station
  • Frankston-Flinders
  • Park & Ride

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

42 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 3 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
  • Great for outdoor family life — 10 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access — 13 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
62/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.23
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.34
Food & drink(1)
  • Peppy's PizzaFast food
Shopping(3)
  • Bittern Sunday marketMarketplace
  • Bittern IGASupermarket
Community(3)
  • Bittern ELCChildcare
  • Bittern HallCommunity centre
  • Bittern Primary SchoolSchool

    10 Portsmouth Road

Health & services(1)
  • Discount ChemistPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(11)
  • Flinders Street ReservePark
  • Goris Close ReservePark
  • Graham Myers Memorial ReservePark
  • Park (3)
  • Warringine ParkPark
  • Playground (3)
  • Sports field
Transport(1)

1 train stations

Other(10)
  • Bbq
  • Bittern Fire StationFire station
  • Garden (2)
  • Lorna's Triangle Bushland ReserveNature Reserve
  • Bitten Railway Station Car ParkParking
  • Parking (11)
  • Bittern MotorsPetrol station
  • Australia PostPost office
  • Public toilets
  • Shelter (3)

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

10 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bapaume Street Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Flinders Street ReservePark
  • Goris Close ReservePark
  • Graham Myers Memorial ReservePark
  • Haig Street ReservePark
  • Lens ReservePark
  • Lorna's Triangle Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Rosyth Road ReservePark
  • Warringine ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
17
Parks (OSM)
10

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

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
2
Nearest hospital
The Bays Hospital (4.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • Discount ChemistPharmacy
  • First Steps PsychologyDisney StreetPsychotherapist

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
188
Participants per 1,000 residents
44.0

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
24° / 13°
Rainfall
155 mm · ~19 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 11°
Rainfall
186 mm · ~23 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
203 mm · ~25 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 9°
Rainfall
207 mm · ~26 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).

52 planning-related records

2021· 26 proposals

  • August 2021

  • USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY, ALTERATION OF ACCESS TO A ROAD IN A TRANSPORT ZONE 2, AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    527 STONY POINT ROAD BITTERN 3918NOD issued by a delegate
  • VEGETATION REMOVAL AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    10 CRESWELL ROAD BITTERN 3918Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DWELLING AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    12 CRESWELL ROAD BITTERN 3918Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SHED, DWELLING ADDITIONS AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS.
    273 DISNEY STREET BITTERN 3918Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • VEGETATION REMOVAL
    182 SOUTH BEACH ROAD BITTERN 3918Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • CONSTRUCTION OF A DOUBLE STORY DWELLING AND SIDE FENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    1/7 PARK STREET BITTERN 3918Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DWELLING GENERALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    2/7 PARK STREET BITTERN 3918Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SHED AND THE REMOVAL OF VEGETATION GENERALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    39 FLINDERS STREET BITTERN 3918Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • SUBDIVISION OF LAND INTO FOUR (4) LOTS INCLUDING ASSOCIATED ALTERATION TO ACCESS FROM A ROAD IN ROAD ZONE, CATEGORY 1 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    2546 FRANKSTON-FLINDERS ROAD BITTERN 3918NOD issued by a delegate
  • 3 LOT SUBDIVISION - SPEAR
    2452 FRANKSTON-FLINDERS ROAD BITTERN 3918Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • DEVELOPMENT OF A VERANDAH AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    6 Alma StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • DEVELOPMENT OF A DWELLING AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    2/67 Hendersons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • RETROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF A WAREHOUSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBMITTED PLANS
    15 Bullecourt RoadNo permit required

  • April 2021

  • CHANGE OF USE FOR RETIREMENT VILLAGE/18 DWELLINGS
    2488 FRANKSTON-FLINDERS ROAD BITTERN 3918NOD issued by a delegate
  • THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DWELLING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    3/7 Park StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CARPORT AND ASSOCIATED WORKS GENERALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    36 Morton CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • 2 LOT SUBDIVISION - SPEAR
    32 PARK STREET BITTERN 3918Withdrawn
  • OUTBUILDING - VICSMART
    6/7 Park StreetWithdrawn
  • DEVELOPMENT OF AN OUTDOOR LIVING AREA, STUDIO AND COVERED GAMES AREA GENERALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    93 Dunlop RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Proposed Tree Removal
    116 Dunlop RoadNo permit required
  • CONSTRUCTION OF A DOUBLE STORY DWELLING AND SIDE FENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    1/7 Park StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • CONSTRUCTION OF A PALING FENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    6/7 Park StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE STOREY DWELLING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    4/7 Park StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • DWELLING ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    14 Cooke StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    11 Sandstone Island CirclePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • CONVERT MAIN BATHROOM TO HAVE WHEEL CHAIR ACCESS
    16 Wilson AvenueLapsed
2020· 14 proposals

  • December 2020

  • DEVELOPMENT OF A SECOND DWELLING, VEGETATION REMOVAL AND ASSOCIATED WORKS GENERALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    32 Park StreetNOD issued by a delegate
  • DEVELOPMENT OF A FRONT FENCE AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    227 South Beach RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • RETROSPECTIVE EARTH MOUND FOR PLAYGROUND
    6 VIMY STREET BITTERN 3918In progress

  • November 2020

  • THE DEVELOPMENT OF DWELLING ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS AND OTHER WORKS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE SINGLE DWELLING ON A LOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    158 Myers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OUTBUILDING (GARAGE)
    40 Wellington RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • DEVELOPMENT OF A SHED - VICSMART
    2 Ella CloseWithdrawn
  • 2 LOT SUBDIVISION - VICSMART - SPEAR
    9 Creswell RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • FENCE
    10 Cedar Rose TerraceWithdrawn

  • August 2020

  • GARAPORT - VICSMART
    81 Jacka StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • DEVELOPMENT OF AN OUTBUILDING AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    22 Park StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • CHANGE OF USE TO RETIREMENT VILLAGE/18 DWELLINGS
    2488 Frankston-Flinders RoadWithdrawn
  • DEVELOPMENT OF OUTBUILDING AND ASSOCIATED WORKS GENERALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMITTED PLANS
    16 Sandstone Island CirclePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • DEVELOPMENT OF AN OUTBUILDING (HORSE STABLES) AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    580 Stony Point RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • CONSTRUCT A GARAGE AND A CARPORT AND ASSOCIATED WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENDORSED PLANS
    184 Hendersons 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
Flinders
Member of Parliament
Zoe McKENZIE (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
127,540
Turnout (2025)
93.4%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+1.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.8%Labor 45.2%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 11.7 km away).

Coalition 46.6%Labor 53.4%

8.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +5.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • BitternLabor 53.4% · Coalition 46.6% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
  • Crib PointLabor 51.6% · Coalition 48.4% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
  • Hastings WestLabor 49.4% · Coalition 50.6% TPP (2025)3.4 km away
  • HastingsLabor 50.3% · Coalition 49.7% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
  • SomersLabor 64.9% · Coalition 35.1% TPP (2025)6.1 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)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Mornington Peninsula Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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