suburb.guide

VIC · Ballarat Council

Brown Hill, 3350

Est. population · Jun 2025

4,557

Growth (1 yr)

+0.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.7%

Median age

36

Median income

$1,757/wk

Employment rate

65.2%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$684,000

Languages at home

4.2%non-English

Most common: Mandarin, Punjabi, Gujarati

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

60.9/100
Good

Top 22% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 96% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
  • National parks
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
What Brown Hill is known for: Green suburb, High desirability, National parks, Excellent transport, Education hub

Suburb profile

Brown Hill sits in Ballarat Council as a regional mid-sized suburb that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. 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 sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.

Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.

The desirability picture is good, powered mainly by community and employment, plus schools and education relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Brown Hill snapshot

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

Median house price

$684k

+1.3% change

Median rent

$430/wk

Population (ERP)

4,557

+0.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

5.1%

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

#4

among Country & regional · Growth area

Safety

26th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

60th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

52nd

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
60.9/100 — Good
State standing
Top 22% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
925th in Australia
State rank
272nd in VIC
Peer rank
#4 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#38 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
96%

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)
$684,000
Median price change
+1.3%

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

4,557(June 2025)

+0.7% annual · +2.7% over 5 years · 60th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+2.7%
Change in 1 year
+33
Change in 5 years
+120
Growth rank in VIC
60th 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 (~4,750), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
4,489
Median age
36
Median household income / week
$1,757
Dwelling vacancy
5.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
93 of 1,828
Median monthly mortgage
$1,619
Employment rate
65.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,513 / 200 / 6 (+ 3 other)

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)
141
Against the person
17
Against property
87
Rate per 1,000 residents
30.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 264 residents
State safety percentile
26th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-39.2%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage13
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft12
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle24
  • B49 Other Theft18
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order27

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
1,010
Median ICSEA percentile
52th
School list
  • Little Bendigo Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 986 · 40th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 84 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
  • St Francis Xavier SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 482 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
  • Caledonian Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1010 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 215 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • kindergartenkindergarten
  • kindergartenkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

16 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bradbury St/Humffray St N
  • Brown Hill Reserve/Humffray St N
  • Brown Hill Reserve/Humffray St N
  • Lawless Pl/Humffray St N
  • Uniting Church/Humffray St N

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

50 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 pubs · 3 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 2 swimming pools · 2 petrol stations · 2 post offices

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 17 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access — 16 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
26/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.22
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.79
Food & drink(1)
  • Brown Hill HotelPub
Shopping(1)
  • Brown Hill Milk BarConvenience store

    Humffray Street North

Sport & outdoors(18)
  • Brown Hill ReservePark
  • Hearns Road ParkPark
  • Park (9)
  • Playground (3)
  • Sports centre
  • Sports field
  • Brown Hill Swimming PoolSwimming pool
  • Swimming pool
Transport(9)

9 bus stops

Other(11)
  • Bench (4)
  • Drinking water
  • Hotel
  • Parking (4)
  • Brown Hill Service StationPetrol station
  • Petrol station
  • Picnic Table (4)
  • Brown Hill Post OfficePost office
  • Brown Hill Post OfficePost office

    69 Water Street, Brown Hill

  • Public toilets
  • Shelter (2)

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

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Brown Hill ReservePark
  • Hearns Road ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
24
Parks (OSM)
17

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
St John of God Hospital (5.9 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)
170
Participants per 1,000 residents
37.3

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).

54 planning-related records

2021· 27 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Staged 10 lot subdivision
    30 RYAN STREET BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by the RA
  • Use and development of a childcare centre and medical centre, removal of native vegetation and associated works
    214 STAWELL STREET NORTH BROWN HILL 3350In progress
  • Construction of an outbuilding
    39 THOMPSON STREET BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of an outbuilding
    183 HILLVIEW ROAD BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two Lot Subdivision
    218 DAYLESFORD ROAD BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling, outbuilding and fence and removal of a restriction (building envelopes)
    1 PALENTINO PLACE BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    42 APPLE ORCHARD DRIVE BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Amendment to existing permit to allow additional removal of native trees . Original permit issued for : Staged multi lot subdivision and removal of vegetation
    LOT 2 HILLVIEW ROAD BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a shed
    12 RUSTY RISE BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings and five lot subdivision
    327A Humffray Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Development of an outbuilding
    26 WILLOWBANK WAY BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    7 HOLMSGARTH COURT BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling and associated works
    38 APPLE ORCHARD DRIVE BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Development of a dwelling
    42 Apple Orchard DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dependent person's unit
    14 STRINGYBARK DRIVE BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Development of a single dwelling
    10 Gallowburn CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    2 Ninox CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling and tennis court, removal of native vegetation and removal of restrictions
    3 PALENTINO PLACE BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding
    12 GALA CLOSE BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Development of a second dwelling and two lot subdivision
    14 Illana StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for child care centre, indoor recreational facility (swimming pool), car parking to Council satisfaction and alteration of access to a road in a road zone category 1
    40 WATER STREET BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    10 Lautaret RoadWithdrawn
  • Subdivide the land into two lots and removal of the drainage and sewerage easement as shown on E1 on Lot 1 LP126266
    326 HUMFFRAY STREET NORTH BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development a dwelling
    4 Brooklyn CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Two lot subdivision
    9 RUSTY RISE BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision; and create access to a Road Zone, Category 1
    245 Daylesford RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outdoor covered area associated with a dwelling
    3/5 Canterbury StreetNo permit required
2020· 13 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Development of six additional dwellings and seven lot subdivsion
    6 BROPHY STREET BROWN HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding
    60 Stringybark DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Retrospective works partial demolition of existing brick fence and replacement with timber and wire fence
    278 Humffray Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    154 Finlay StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct a dwelling and create vehicle access to a Road Zone Category 1
    135 Daylesford RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    40 Gracefield RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a shed
    35 Gracefield RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Staged multi-lot residential subdivision, removal of native vegetation, removal of drainage easement E-3 and carriageway easement E-2 on PS428241R and removal of drainage easement E-3 and carriageway easement E-2 on LP218528G
    Lot A Hillview RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a second dwelling and two lot subdivision
    14 Illana StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    23 Springs RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    387 Humffray Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision
    102 Thompson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Development of a dwelling
    10 Bawden StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

24 active roadworks / incidents

  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 30/12/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON, DAYLESFORD ROAD05 May 2026 – 29 Dec 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 30/12/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.DAYLESFORD ROAD, WESTERN IN-DAYLESFORD RAMP OF05 May 2026 – 29 Dec 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 30/12/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN IN-DAYLESFORD RAMP OF, WESTERN FREEWAY05 May 2026 – 29 Dec 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/03/2026 and 30/01/2027 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Greater than 10 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, BALLARAT-BURRUMBEET ROAD16 Mar 2026 – 29 Jan 2027
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/03/2026 and 30/01/2027 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM, Weekends 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Greater than 10 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, BALLARAT-BURRUMBEET ROAD16 Mar 2026 – 29 Jan 2027
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 21/05/2026 and 28/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, WESTERN OUT-DAYLESFORD RAMP OF20 May 2026 – 27 Aug 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 21/05/2026 and 28/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON, DAYLESFORD ROAD20 May 2026 – 27 Aug 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 21/05/2026 and 28/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON20 May 2026 – 27 Aug 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 21/05/2026 and 28/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN OUT-DAYLESFORD RAMP OF, WESTERN FREEWAY20 May 2026 – 27 Aug 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON, DAYLESFORD ROAD24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated

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
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 6.2 km away).

Coalition 34.8%Labor 65.3%

4.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -2.2 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • Brown HillLabor 64.0% · Coalition 36.0% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
  • WarrenheipLabor 52.7% · Coalition 47.3% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
  • Ballarat EastLabor 72.9% · Coalition 27.1% TPP (2025)4.0 km away
  • Black HillLabor 72.1% · Coalition 27.9% TPP (2025)4.0 km away
  • CanadianLabor 68.8% · Coalition 31.2% TPP (2025)4.5 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

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.