Median house price
$581k
-11% change
VIC · Ballarat Council
Black Hill, 3350
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,094
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.4%
Median age
40
Median income
$1,471/wk
Employment rate
58.2%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$581,000
Languages at home
8.9%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Cantonese, Croatian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Black Hill sits in Ballarat Council as a regional smaller community that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. Day-to-day life leans on nearby towns and local hubs rather than the metro area. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Housing costs sit in a more approachable middle band than nearby premium pockets. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Desirability lands around average here: softer growth momentum weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with schools and education holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Black Hill snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$430/wk
Population (ERP)
2,094
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.4%
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
#31
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
43rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
56th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
65th
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
- 51.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 35% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 1998th in Australia
- State rank
- 434th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #31 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #99 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $430
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $581,000
- Median price change
- -10.6%
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
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025; Sep 2025 (council median) · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
2,094(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +3.4% over 5 years · 56th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.6%
- 5-year growth
- +3.4%
- Change in 1 year
- +12
- Change in 5 years
- +69
- Growth rank in VIC
- 56th 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 (~2,200), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,124
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $1,471
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 69 of 929
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,393
- Employment rate
- 58.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 727 / 136 / 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)
- 94
- Against the person
- 21
- Against property
- 62
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 44.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 101 residents
- State safety percentile
- 42.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -9.6%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage8
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft11
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle22
- B49 Other Theft7
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order9
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) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,042
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 65th
School list
- Black Hill Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1042 · 65th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 397 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
- St Columba's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1090 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 334 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Macarthur Street Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 951 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 83 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- St Alipius' Parish SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1052 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 248 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Ballarat North Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1002 · 48th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 330 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
13 public transport stops in this suburb
- Black Hill Pool/Chisholm St
- Clissold St/Peel St N
- Napier St/Peel St N
- Nicholson St/Chisholm St
- Peel St N/Gregory St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
42 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 playgrounds · 2 swimming pools · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 14 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 13 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 20/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 6.59
Community(1)
- Black Hill Primary SchoolSchool
601-607 Chisholm Street
Sport & outdoors(20)
- Binney ReservePark
- Black HillPark
- Chisholm Street ReservePark
- Park (9)
- Peal Street ParkPark
- Walter Jones Memorial ParkPark
- Playground (3)
- Sports field
- Black Hill Swimming PoolSwimming pool
- Swimming pool
Entertainment(1)
- Black Hill LookoutViewpoint
Transport(3)
3 bus stops
Other(9)
- Drinking water
- Black Hill trailsInformation
- Information
- Howitt Street Trig Station Natural Features ReserveNature Reserve
- Pineview Residential CareNursing Home
324 Nicholson Street
- Napier Street CarparkParking
- Parking (5)
- Black Hill Post OfficePost office
503 Peel Street North, Black Hill
- Shelter (5)
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
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Binney ReservePark
- Black HillPark
- Chisholm Street ReservePark
- Howitt Street Trig Station Natural Features ReserveNature reserve
- Peal Street ParkPark
- Walter Jones Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 17
- Parks (OSM)
- 14
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Nazareth House Aged Care (2.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 80
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 38.2
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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).
21 planning-related records
2021· 9 proposals
August 2021
- Demolition of outbuilding, partial demolition, alterations and additions to dwelling, demolition/development of fencing325 PEEL STREET NORTH BLACK HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling including demolition/development of fencing317 PEEL STREET NORTH BLACK HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Demolition and replacement of roof and guttering412 Peel Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition and alterations to a dwelling400 HAVELOCK STREET BLACK HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Development of a dwelling and associated works2 Mopoke LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Demolition of outbuildings110 Clissold StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Demolition of front fence (retrospective)48 Rowe StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Development of a dwelling and associated works1B Walker StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Installation of a solar panels (retrospective)410 Peel Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 12 proposals
December 2020
- Partial demolition to rear of dwelling and alterations and additions to an existing dwelling9 Clissold StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations, additions to dwelling including demolition of front fencing and construction of a garage, habitable outbuilding and vehicle crossing7 Napier StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Development of a dwelling207 Sim StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Development of outbuildings and a pergola622 Peel Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two lot subdivision and removal of vegetation113 Duggan StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling and demolition of garage54 Rowe StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to convert existing outbuilding into a second dwelling on a lot, a two (2) lot subdivision, and creation of carriageway easement1 CLISSOLD STREET BLACK HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a Dwelling102 Duggan StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling and demolition of outbuildings404 Nicholson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling and demolition of an outbuilding35 Rowe StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Two lot subdivision and development of a fence11 Moola StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling and demolition and development of a front fence334 Peel Street NorthPermit 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) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
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
- Ballarat
- Member of Parliament
- Catherine KING (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 116,238
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.3%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 39.3%Labor 60.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.4 km away).
Coalition 28.3%Labor 71.7%
11.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Black HillLabor 72.1% · Coalition 27.9% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- Ballarat EastLabor 72.9% · Coalition 27.1% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Ballarat NorthLabor 67.0% · Coalition 33.0% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Brown HillLabor 64.0% · Coalition 36.0% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- BallaratLabor 71.8% · Coalition 28.2% TPP (2025)2.3 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Ballarat Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.