suburb.guide

VIC · Ballarat Council

Canadian, 3350

Est. population · Jun 2025

4,175

Growth (1 yr)

+0.9%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.7%

Median age

37

Median income

$1,438/wk

Employment rate

59%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$593,800

Languages at home

9.9%non-English

Most common: Punjabi, Mandarin, Urdu

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

46.5/100
Average

Top 43% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 89% confidence

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

Suburb profile

Canadian sits in Ballarat Council as a regional mid-sized suburb that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. Neighbouring centres cover more of the weekly rhythm than the distant capital does. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout.

The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing. Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.

The local market is more attainable than many surrounding suburbs. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.

Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus safety lag behind, despite relative strength in housing affordability and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Canadian snapshot

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

Median house price

$594k

+23% change

Median rent

$430/wk

Population (ERP)

4,175

+0.9% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

7.0%

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

#23

among Country & regional · Growth area

Safety

50th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

64th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

4/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

25th

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
46.5/100 — Average
State standing
Top 43% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
2651st in Australia
State rank
544th in VIC
Peer rank
#23 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#156 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
89%

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)
$593,800
Median price change
+23.1%

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

4,175(June 2025)

+0.9% annual · +2.7% over 5 years · 64th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.9%
5-year growth
+2.7%
Change in 1 year
+36
Change in 5 years
+108
Growth rank in VIC
64th 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 (~4,450), extrapolated at +1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
4,098
Median age
37
Median household income / week
$1,438
Dwelling vacancy
7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
119 of 1,701
Median monthly mortgage
$1,387
Employment rate
59%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,358 / 203 / 15

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)
224
Against the person
35
Against property
158
Rate per 1,000 residents
53.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 117 residents
State safety percentile
50.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+8.2%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage26
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary9
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft16
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle44
  • B49 Other Theft30

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
2
Median school ICSEA
952
Median ICSEA percentile
25th
School list
  • Canadian Lead Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 952 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 235 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
  • Sovereign Hill SchoolSpecial · Government · 2.0 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

11 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bartley Ave/Geelong Rd
  • Hocking Ave/Geelong Rd
  • Kinnersley Ave/Geelong Rd
  • Kinnersley Ave/Geelong Rd
  • Milverton Lane/Geelong Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

40 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

4 playgrounds

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 14 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access — 11 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
17/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.42
Community(1)
  • Canadian Lead Primary SchoolSchool

    301 Otway Street South

Sport & outdoors(18)
  • Alex Mills ParkPark
  • Canadian Gully ReservePark
  • Lake Esmond Botanical GardensPark
  • Park (8)
  • Sawyer Avenue ReservePark
  • Playground (4)
  • Sparrow GroundSports field
  • Sports field
Other(9)
  • Bench (2)
  • Pax Hill Activity CentreCamp Site
  • Canadian Pines Retirement VillageNursing Home

    508 Kline Street

  • Parking (9)
  • Picnic Table (2)
  • Field ToiletPublic toilets
  • Public toilets
  • PavillionShelter
  • Shelter (3)

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

5 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Alex Mills ParkPark
  • Canadian Gully ReservePark
  • Craig Court ReservePark
  • Lake Esmond Botanical GardensPark
  • Sawyer Avenue ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
23
Parks (OSM)
14

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
Ballarat Base Hospital (4.4 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)
206
Participants per 1,000 residents
49.3

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).

42 planning-related records

2021· 15 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Construction of four (4) dwellings
    742 GEELONG ROAD CANADIAN 3350Withdrawn
  • Extension to existing warehouse and associated works
    1/128 ELSWORTH STREET EAST CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Use and development of a medical centre, installation of business identification signage, reduction in number of car parking spaces and creation/alterations of access to road zone.
    733 GEELONG ROAD CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision and creation of access to a road zone
    716 GEELONG ROAD CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Development of a dwelling
    1 HAMMILL CLOSE CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Two lot subdivision
    400 FUSSELL STREET CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision
    4 Glendenning StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Subdivision of land into 4 lots and construction of more than one dwelling on a lot generally in accordance with endorsed plans
    317 Lal Lal StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Development of a non-habitable outbuilding (shed and carport)
    527 RICHARDS STREET CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Development of an outbuilding
    7 AVENWOOD CLOSE CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Additions to an existing industrial building (vehicle repairs)
    11 Elsworth Street EastPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    2 Lyric CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of five warehouses, a staged six lot subdivision and reduction of car parking
    615 OTWAY STREET SOUTH CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Use and development of a Takeaway food premises (as of right) and warehouses, removal of native vegetation and associated reduction in car parking requirements and provision of bicycle facilities
    209A ELSWORTH STREET EAST CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of the land for a medical centre; display business identification signage; reduction of car parking requirement; and alteration of access to a Road Zone (Category 1)
    733 Geelong RoadLapsed
2020· 25 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Verandah attached to existing Dwelling
    10 Carnaby WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision and development of a car port
    407 Joseph StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Five lot subdivision
    128 ELSWORTH STREET EAST CANADIAN 3350Withdrawn
  • Construction of eight dwellings, eight lot subdivision and waiver of two visitor car spaces
    7 GLENDENNING STREET CANADIAN 3350In progress
  • Development of an outbuilding and verandah
    22 Kevlar ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Development of a dwelling
    16 Hammill ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a single dwelling and boundary fencing
    10 Boyd CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged Development of 35 Dwellings and a Staged 35 Lot Subdivision
    Lot A Joseph StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision
    452 FUSSELL STREET CANADIAN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Construction of five warehouses
    6 Marli ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Development of a dwelling
    18 Lyric CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    12 Lyric CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a fence
    114 Bennett StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Four lot subdivision
    2 Marli ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Two lot subdivision
    722 Geelong RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling and outbuilding
    326 Spencer StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    531 Richards StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Use of land for a restricted retail premises (auction house)
    401 Lal Lal StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Development of a dwelling
    304 Spencer StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of two warehouses, a two lot subdivision and reduction in car parking
    619 RODIER STREET CANADIAN 3350In progress

  • April 2020

  • Multi lot subdivision - Amendment to remove condition 2(f) of Planning Permit and Landscape Plan
    420 Kline StreetWithdrawn
  • Development of an outbuilding
    420 Richards StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Development of a dwelling and outbuilding
    334 Spencer StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivide the land into two lots and creation of carriageway easement E-4 and removal of part of the carriageway easement E-2 now contained within Lot 6
    1/128 Elsworth Street EastPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Extension to warehouse and reduction in carparking
    660 Otway Street SouthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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
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 4.0 km away).

Coalition 30.5%Labor 69.5%

8.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -1.2 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • CanadianLabor 68.8% · Coalition 31.2% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
  • Mount PleasantLabor 70.5% · Coalition 29.5% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
  • Ballarat EastLabor 72.9% · Coalition 27.1% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
  • Brown HillLabor 64.0% · Coalition 36.0% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
  • Mount ClearLabor 67.0% · Coalition 33.0% TPP (2025)3.3 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)
4/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

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.