Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Warrnambool Council
Bushfield, 3281
Est. population · Jun 2025
687
Growth (1 yr)
+1.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.1%
Median age
43
Median income
$2,125/wk
Employment rate
69.4%
Languages at home
1.6%non-English
Most common: Russian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Bushfield offers a slower smaller community life in Warrnambool Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.
Reported crime has been rising recently. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Bushfield snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
687
+1.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.5%
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
#61
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
22nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
74th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 41.6/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3475th in Australia
- State rank
- 694th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #61 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #254 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 62%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
687(June 2025)
+1.2% annual · +3.1% over 5 years · 74th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.2%
- 5-year growth
- +3.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +8
- Change in 5 years
- +21
- Growth rank in VIC
- 74th 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 (~750), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 596
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $2,125
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 9 of 202
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,625
- Employment rate
- 69.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 194 / 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)
- 19
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 27.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 149 residents
- State safety percentile
- 22.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +90%
Most common offence types
- A231 Fv Common Assault2
- A712 Non-Fv Stalking1
- C32 Drug Possession7
- D11 Firearms Offences2
- D12 Prohibited And Controlled Weapons Offences2
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
Amenities
3 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 0/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.68
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Bushfield Recreation ReservePark
- Playground
Other(1)
- Public toilets
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bushfield Recreation ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- St John of God Warrnambool Hospital (6.1 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)
- 32
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 46.6
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° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 112 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 164 mm · ~20 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 251 mm · ~31 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 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).
14 planning-related records
2021· 5 proposals
August 2021
- Construct an outbuilding50 BRIDGE RD BUSHFIELD 3281Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- Construct an outbuilding (associated with a dwelling)23 McKenzies RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Amended wording to condition 1 and revised design of garage61 Bellmans RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Extension to existing shed61 BELLMANS RD BUSHFIELD 3281In progress
February 2021
- Extension to a dwelling and construction of an outbuilding98 Bridge RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 9 proposals
November 2020
- Multi- lot subdivision in stages creation of roads and reserves119 BRIDGE RD BUSHFIELD 3281Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Construction of a garage94 Bridge RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Construction of a barn2 Rodger PlPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a shed91 Rodger PlPermit issued by the RA
July 2020
- Amended wording of condition 212 McKenzies RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Construction of an outbuilding12 McKenzies RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Construction of an outbuilding (shed)39 Quinns RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Use & Development of land for a Telecommunications Facility (4G & 5G), and creation of an access to a Transport Zone 263 MCKENZIES RD BUSHFIELD 3281Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority
January 2020
- Building and works to construct an outbuilding60 Forresters 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
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
- Wannon
- Member of Parliament
- Dan TEHAN (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,788
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 60.9%Labor 39.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 7.5 km away).
Coalition 61.8%Labor 38.2%
0.9 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +38.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WoodfordLabor 36.2% · Coalition 63.8% TPP (2025)2.9 km away
- Mailors FlatLabor 26.1% · Coalition 73.9% TPP (2025)5.2 km away
- Warrnambool North CentralLabor 39.3% · Coalition 60.7% TPP (2025)6.1 km away
- Warrnambool WestLabor 41.1% · Coalition 58.9% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
- Warrnambool CentralLabor 49.2% · Coalition 50.8% TPP (2025)6.7 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)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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 Warrnambool Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.