VIC · Murrindindi Council
Castella, VIC, 3777
Current weather
10°CRain showers
97% humidity · 35.7 km/h wind · 13° / 9.3° today · 12.2 mm rain
Desirability index
#77 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Castella is a small locality in the Murrindindi area, home to around 257 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 11 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+267%), roughly 42.8 offences per 1,000 residents, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and some planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 257
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,978
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 95
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,817
- Employment rate
- 66.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 11 / 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)
- 11
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 8
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 42.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 257 residents
- State safety percentile
- 39.6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +266.7%
Most common offence types
- B11 Cause Damage By Fire1
- B22 Graffiti1
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary1
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft2
- Other Crimes Against The Person1
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).
5 planning-related records
2021· 2 proposals
July 2021
- Single Dwelling and Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Use and development of land for a dwelling and shed2838 MELBA HIGHWAY CASTELLA 3777Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Single Dwelling Development of the land for a single dwelling53 Banksia CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 3 proposals
November 2020
- Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of the land for a storage shed2900 Melba HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of the land for the purpose of a domestic outbuilding19A Banksia CourtLapsed
June 2020
- Single Dwelling Use and development of the land for a dwelling2760 Melba HighwayPermit 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
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Parking (2)
- Public toilets
- Shelter (2)
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Castella Central ParkPark
- Kinglake G134 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- 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
- Overlay applies
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
- 84.6/100
- Cohort rank
- #77 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Castella Central Parkgovernmentpark
- Kinglake G134 Bushland Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
- Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of the land for a storage shedplanning2900 Melba HighwayLodged 20 Nov 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Development of the land for the purpose of a domestic outbuildingplanning19A Banksia CourtLodged 16 Nov 2020 · Lapsed
- Single Dwelling Development of the land for a single dwellingplanning53 Banksia CourtLodged 11 Jan 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Single Dwelling Use and development of the land for a dwellingplanning2760 Melba HighwayLodged 02 Jun 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Single Dwelling and Garages/Carports/Outbuildings Use and development of land for a dwelling and shedplanning2838 MELBA HIGHWAY CASTELLA 3777Lodged 13 Jul 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- B11 Cause Damage By Firecrime1
- B22 Graffiticrime1
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime1
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
- 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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