Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · East Gippsland Council
Buchan, 3885
Est. population · Jun 2025
196
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.6%
Median age
54
Median income
$1,083/wk
Employment rate
51.7%
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
In East Gippsland Council, Buchan keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state.
Crime reports are up on the previous period. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Desirability sits below average overall, with growth momentum, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Buchan snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
196
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
29.4%
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
#411
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
76th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
53rd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
54th
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
- 16.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6850th in Australia
- State rank
- 1261st in VIC
- Peer rank
- #411 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #733 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
196(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +1.6% over 5 years · 53th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- +1.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- +3
- Growth rank in VIC
- 53th 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 (~200), extrapolated at -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 201
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,083
- Dwelling vacancy
- 29.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 32 of 109
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,000
- Employment rate
- 51.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 79 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 20
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 2
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 102
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 201 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +400%
Most common offence types
- A231 Fv Common Assault1
- B21 Criminal Damage1
- C32 Drug Possession2
- D11 Firearms Offences10
- D13 Explosives Offences3
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,017
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 54th
School list
- Buchan Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1017 · 54th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 23 students · Top SEA quarter 20%View 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- United - Buchan Early Learningchildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
1 public transport stops in this suburb
- Buchan - Orbost Rd/Buchan Rd
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
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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Dicksons Cave ReserveNature reserve
- Murrindal Flora ReserveNature reserve
- Slocombes Cave ReserveNature reserve
- Timbarra River South Nature Conservation ReserveNature reserve
- Wyatts ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 67
- 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
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Orbost Regional Health (42.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Buchan Bush NursingNurse
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)
- 6
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.6
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
- 24° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 187 mm · ~23 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 190 mm · ~24 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 15° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 188 mm · ~24 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 218 mm · ~27 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).
10 planning-related records
2021· 1 proposal
May 2021
- Use and Development of a Dwelling5553 BUCHAN-ORBOST ROAD BUCHAN 3885Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 9 proposals
December 2020
- Buildings and Works for a replacement dwelling within a Bushfire Management Overlay1275 Basin RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Buildings and works for an outbuilding within a Bushfire Management Overlay454 Gelantipy RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a replacement dwelling and agricultural shed1071 Basin RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Development of a replacement agricultural shed74 Lanes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Buildings and works for a replacement dwelling226 Moons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a replacement farm shed in a road zone setback2 Anderson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Buildings and works for a dwelling reconstruction187 Old Buchan RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Development of kennels associated with an existing domestic animal husbandry use2378 Bruthen-Buchan RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- Development of a farm shed1275 Basin RoadPermit 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
Heritage
2 heritage places
- BUCHAN CAVES RESERVENH1978
- MURRINDAL RIVER TRUSS BRIDGENH2311
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Gippsland
- Member of Parliament
- Darren CHESTER (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 118,075
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 69.4%Labor 30.6%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 50.2 km away).
Coalition 72.2%Labor 27.8%
2.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- BuchanLabor 28.8% · Coalition 71.2% TPP (2025)10.7 km away
- Nowa NowaLabor 22.9% · Coalition 77.1% TPP (2025)34.1 km away
- Swifts CreekLabor 31.0% · Coalition 69.0% TPP (2025)38.1 km away
- BruthenLabor 30.4% · Coalition 69.6% TPP (2025)39.6 km away
- OrbostLabor 29.3% · Coalition 70.7% TPP (2025)44.8 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
More in East Gippsland Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.