suburb.guide

VIC · Moorabool Council

Bolwarrah, 3352

Est. population · Jun 2025

49

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+4.3%

Median age

44

Median income

$1,499/wk

Employment rate

46.2%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • National parks
What Bolwarrah is known for: National parks

Suburb profile

Bolwarrah is a quieter smaller community in Moorabool Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice.

Open space is thinner than in many comparable suburbs, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market.

Reported crime has been falling recently. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.

At a glance

Bolwarrah snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

49

0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

15.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Safety

15th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

8th

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

49(June 2025)

0.0% annual · +4.3% over 5 years · 8th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
0.0%
5-year growth
+4.3%
Change in 1 year
0
Change in 5 years
+2
Growth rank in VIC
8th 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 (~50), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
48
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,499
Dwelling vacancy
15%
Unoccupied private dwellings
3 of 20
Median monthly mortgage
$1,029
Employment rate
46.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
17 / 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)
1
Against the person
0
Against property
1
Rate per 1,000 residents
20.4
State safety percentile
14.7th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-75%

Most common offence types

  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1

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

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bolwarrah Flora ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Ballan District Health and Care (13.9 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)
1
Participants per 1,000 residents
20.4

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
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).

7 planning-related records

2021· 4 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Development of Two (2) Sheds Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling, one shed using reflective materials
    880 SPARGO CREEK ROAD BOLWARRAH 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of a Replacement Dwelling and outbuilding and demolition of the existing dwelling
    791 SPARGO CREEK ROAD BOLWARRAH 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Earthworks Associated with Construction of a Dam
    Lots 1 & 6 Developmental RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Retrospective Removal of Vegetation (19 Trees)
    Lots 1 & 6 Developmental RoadWithdrawn
2020· 3 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Retrospective Removal of Vegetation (19 Trees)
    Lots 1 & 6 Developmental RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Development of a Replacement Dwelling and outbuilding and demolition of the existing dwelling
    791 Spargo Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a Replacement Dwelling and Development of a Shed
    109 Developmental 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
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 21.3 km away).

Coalition 47.3%Labor 52.7%

8.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -3.6 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • GordonLabor 55.5% · Coalition 44.5% TPP (2025)8.0 km away
  • BungareeLabor 37.5% · Coalition 62.5% TPP (2025)10.4 km away
  • Mount EgertonLabor 57.8% · Coalition 42.2% TPP (2025)13.2 km away
  • NewlynLabor 44.2% · Coalition 55.8% TPP (2025)15.3 km away
  • WarrenheipLabor 52.7% · Coalition 47.3% TPP (2025)17.5 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)
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

More in Moorabool Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.