VIC · Warrnambool Council
Bushfield, VIC, 3281
Current weather
13.6°CDense drizzle
78% humidity · 28.6 km/h wind · 15.9° / 10.6° today · 7.4 mm rain
Desirability index
#70 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Bushfield is a small locality in the Warrnambool area, home to around 596 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 19 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+90%), roughly 31.9 offences per 1,000 residents, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- 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)
- 19 / 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)
- 19
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 31.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 149 residents
- State safety percentile
- 25.9th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +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
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
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
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Public toilets
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bushfield Recreation ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 72.6/100
- Cohort rank
- #70 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
- Bushfield Recreation Reservegovernmentpark
- Amended wording of condition 2planning12 McKenzies RdLodged 14 Jul 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Amended wording to condition 1 and revised design of garageplanning61 Bellmans RdLodged 19 Mar 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and works to construct an outbuildingplanning60 Forresters RoadLodged 28 Jan 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construct an outbuildingplanning50 BRIDGE RD BUSHFIELD 3281Lodged 17 Aug 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construct an outbuilding (associated with a dwelling)planning23 McKenzies RdLodged 25 Jul 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a barnplanning2 Rodger PlLodged 20 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a garageplanning94 Bridge RdLodged 28 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a shedplanning91 Rodger PlLodged 03 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by the RA
- Construction of an outbuildingplanning12 McKenzies RdLodged 18 Jun 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- 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
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