suburb.guide

VIC · Moorabool Council

Darley, 3340

Est. population · Jun 2025

10,132

Growth (1 yr)

+2.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+12.0%

Median age

37

Median income

$1,951/wk

Employment rate

64.9%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$682,500

Languages at home

7.8%non-English

Most common: Punjabi, Hindi, Italian

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

45.8/100
Average

Top 45% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 89% confidence

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

Suburb profile

In Moorabool Council, Darley is a settled established suburb where everyday shopping leans on neighbouring suburbs. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.

Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.

Property prices are middling for the area: fair relative to what is nearby. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.

The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer growth momentum, plus schools and education compared with similar metro suburbs, though community and employment remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Darley snapshot

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

Median house price

$683k

+5.2% change

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

10,132

+2.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

4.1%

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

#140

among Metro Melbourne · Growth area

Safety

57th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

91st

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

5/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

41st

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
45.8/100 — Average
State standing
Top 45% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
2774th in Australia
State rank
567th in VIC
Peer rank
#140 among Metro Melbourne · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#331 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Data confidence
89%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$682,500
Median price change
+5.2%

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

10,132(June 2025)

+2.5% annual · +12.0% over 5 years · 91th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.5%
5-year growth
+12.0%
Change in 1 year
+242
Change in 5 years
+1,084
Growth rank in VIC
91th 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 (~11,850), extrapolated at +3.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
9,190
Median age
37
Median household income / week
$1,951
Dwelling vacancy
4.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
134 of 3,281
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
64.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,927 / 212 / 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)
618
Against the person
152
Against property
253
Rate per 1,000 residents
61
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 60 residents
State safety percentile
56.6th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+10.6%

Most common offence types

  • A211 Fv Serious Assault33
  • B21 Criminal Damage51
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle49
  • B49 Other Theft45
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order113

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
988
Median ICSEA percentile
41th
School list
  • Darley Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 988 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 505 students · Top SEA quarter 7%View on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

27 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Davies St/Grey St
  • Davies St/Grey St
  • Grey St/Nelson St
  • Nathan Dr/Davies St
  • Taylor Dr/Davies St

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

19 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 pubs · 2 playgrounds

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily errands
  • Great for outdoor family life — 22 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport — 27 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
32/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.11
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.39
Food & drink(1)
  • Bacchus Marsh golf clubPub

    Links Road, Darley

Sport & outdoors(12)
  • Bacchus Marsh Golf ClubGolf course

    Links Road

  • Gleneagles Court ReservePark
  • Park (8)
  • Playground (2)
Other(2)
  • Parking (4)
  • Shelter (2)

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

  • Bacchus Marsh Council Trench Geological ReserveNature reserve
  • Gisborne Road ReservePark
  • Gleneagles Court ReservePark
  • Riverbend Drive ParkPark
  • Telford ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
29
Parks (OSM)
22

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
Bacchus Marsh & Melton Regional Hospital (4.5 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)
374
Participants per 1,000 residents
36.9

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).

38 planning-related records

2022· 1 proposal

  • April 2022

  • Development of a Second Dwelling on the Lot
    1 MCMAHON COURT DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2021· 18 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Development and Use of a Dwelling.
    LOT 2 SWANS ROAD DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    151 CAMERONS ROAD DARLEY 3340Withdrawn
  • 69 lot subdivision and removal of sewerage easement E-4
    HOLTS LANE DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of a Trades Depot / Vehicle Store
    379 SWANS ROAD DARLEY 3340Withdrawn

  • August 2021

  • Variation of restrictions
    69 DARLEY DRIVE DARLEY 3340Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Development of a Replacement Dwelling and Ancillary Shed and Associated Buildings and Works (Tennis Court & Inground Swimming Pool)
    239 SWANS ROAD DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    154 GISBORNE ROAD DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a Machinery Shed and 30,000 lt Water Tank Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling
    529 Swans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Removal of Restrictive Covenant 2388443
    10 & 11 DAVID COURT DARLEY 3340Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    122 HOLTS LANE DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged Subdivision
    Lot F Myers StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development and Use of a Dwelling and Ancillary Shed
    337 SWANS ROAD DARLEY 3340NOD issued by a delegate

  • April 2021

  • Variation of Restrictive Covenant No. PS544486K
    11 BAKER STREET DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three (3) Lot Subdivision
    18 FREDRICK STREET DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Variation of Restrictive Covenant PS544486K to allow a building within 30m of the rear property boundary.
    23 Silverdale DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of Patio and Carport Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling
    1A Fredrick StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development and Use of a Dwelling in association with an Equestrian enterprise
    LOT 1 LERDERDERG GORGE ROAD DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Development of Two (2) Dwellings
    3 Hamish RoadLapsed
2020· 19 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    7 Victoria StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Development of Four (4) Dwellings
    19 Raglan StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Staged Multi-Lot Subdivision
    LOT A HOLTS LANE DARLEY 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Variation of Restrictions being Covenants PS544486K and AE658314Y to allow the construction of a shed at the rear of the lot.
    13 Baker StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of the Land for Signage (1 x 3sqm Promotional Sign)
    Lot B Holts LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Development of a Dwelling to Rear of Existing Dwelling and Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    17 Bourke StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a Shed Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling
    33 Bourkes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development and Use of a Dwelling and Shed
    96 Tramway LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    120 Holts LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Development of Three (3) Dwellings
    44 Jonathan DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    Cromarty CircuitNOD issued by a delegate

  • June 2020

  • Development of a Garage within the ESO2 Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling
    7 Hartog GrovePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    Holts LaneNOD issued by a delegate
  • Four (4) Lot Subdivision
    53 Camerons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of Three (3) Dwellings
    18 Fredrick StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Ending S173 Agreement No AE125089C
    99 Masons LaneWithdrawn

  • May 2020

  • Development of Two (2) Additional Dwellings and Three (3) Lot Subdivision
    22 Davies StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Variation of Restrictive Covenant W758680F items (c), (e) & (h).
    Manning BoulevardNOD issued by a delegate

  • February 2020

  • Development and Use of Five (5) Shops and the Development and Use of a Medical Centre
    Halletts WayNOD issued by the Resp. Authority

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

8 active roadworks / incidents

  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, WESTERN IN-BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE RAMP OF05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE-WESTERN IN RAMP ON, GISBORNE ROAD05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE-WESTERN IN RAMP ON, GISBORNE ROAD05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, WESTERN IN-BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE RAMP OF05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 16/06/2026 and 30/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be Nil and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.CONDONS LANE, BACCHUS MARSH ROAD15 Jun 2026 – 29 Aug 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 16/06/2026 and 30/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be Nil and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN IN-BACCHUS MARSH RAMP OF, WESTERN FREEWAY15 Jun 2026 – 29 Aug 2026
  • Other DTP Works (not Tram, Train or Bus Replacements) activities occurring between 20/05/2026 and 30/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Weekends 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE-WESTERN IN RAMP ON, GISBORNE ROAD19 May 2026 – 29 Aug 2026
  • Other DTP Works (not Tram, Train or Bus Replacements) activities occurring between 20/05/2026 and 30/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Weekends 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.GISBORNE ROAD, BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE-WESTERN IN RAMP ON19 May 2026 – 29 Aug 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated

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
Hawke
Member of Parliament
Sam RAE (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
118,785
Turnout (2025)
91.1%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
0.0 pp

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 42.4%Labor 57.6%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 12.3 km away).

Coalition 43.0%Labor 57.0%

0.6 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +0.4 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • DarleyLabor 56.8% · Coalition 43.2% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
  • Pentland HillsLabor 57.1% · Coalition 42.9% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
  • Bacchus MarshLabor 56.5% · Coalition 43.5% TPP (2025)4.1 km away
  • MaddingleyLabor 59.4% · Coalition 40.6% TPP (2025)5.4 km away
  • MyrniongLabor 47.3% · Coalition 52.7% TPP (2025)7.8 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)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
5/10

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 Moorabool Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.