VIC · South Gippsland Council
Buffalo, VIC, 3958
Current weather
13.1°COvercast
76% humidity · 11.9 km/h wind · 16.1° / 10.3° today · 3.8 mm rain
Desirability index
#188 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Buffalo is a small locality in the South Gippsland area, home to around 284 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 16 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+1500%), roughly 56.3 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, and some planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 284
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,649
- Dwelling vacancy
- 28.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 38 of 132
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,150
- Employment rate
- 62.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 5 / 0 / 0
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2026)
- 16
- Against the person
- 8
- Against property
- 8
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 56.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 36 residents
- State safety percentile
- 52.2th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +1500%
Most common offence types
- A211 Fv Serious Assault4
- A212 Non-Fv Serious Assault1
- A231 Fv Common Assault1
- B21 Criminal Damage2
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft3
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Neals Rd/Meeniyan - Promontory Rd
- Neals Rd/Meeniyan - Promontory Rd
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
8 planning-related records
2021· 4 proposals
September 2021
- Development associated with Agriculture (Stockyard shelter)1030 MEENIYAN-PROMONTORY ROAD BUFFALO 3958Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and works associated with the construction of an agricultural shed705 WHITELAWS TRACK BUFFALO 3958Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Use and development of land with a dwelling and outbuilding15 HALL ROAD BUFFALO 3958Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Develop land with a replacement dwelling55 BUFFALO-STONY CREEK ROAD BUFFALO 3958Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 4 proposals
November 2020
- Buildings and works to construct an agricultural building in association with the use of the land for grazing animal production245 Eastaways RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Develop land with an outbuilding1075 Meeniyan-Promontory RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Use and development of land for a poultry (geese) farm90 McRae RoadNOD issued by a delegate
March 2020
- Development of land for an agricultural shed425 Buffalo North RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020; 2020–2022; 2021 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 18
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 27.9/100
- Cohort rank
- #188 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Building and works associated with the construction of an agricultural shedplanning705 WHITELAWS TRACK BUFFALO 3958Lodged 07 Sep 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct an agricultural building in association with the use of the land for grazing animal productionplanning245 Eastaways RoadLodged 27 Nov 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with a replacement dwellingplanning55 BUFFALO-STONY CREEK ROAD BUFFALO 3958Lodged 19 Feb 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with an outbuildingplanning1075 Meeniyan-Promontory RoadLodged 16 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development associated with Agriculture (Stockyard shelter)planning1030 MEENIYAN-PROMONTORY ROAD BUFFALO 3958Lodged 22 Sep 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of land for an agricultural shedplanning425 Buffalo North RoadLodged 02 Mar 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development of land for a poultry (geese) farmplanning90 McRae RoadLodged 08 Apr 2020 · NOD issued by a delegate
- Use and development of land with a dwelling and outbuildingplanning15 HALL ROAD BUFFALO 3958Lodged 17 Mar 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Neals Rd/Meeniyan - Promontory Rdtransport
- Neals Rd/Meeniyan - Promontory Rdtransport
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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