VIC · Surf Coast Council

Deans Marsh, 3235

Est. population · Jun 2025

353

Growth (1 yr)

+2.3%

Growth (5 yr)

+11.4%

Median age

47

Median income

$1,731/wk

Employment rate

57.4%

Languages at home

4.7%non-English

Most common: Spanish, German

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

28.9/100
Below average

1103rd in VIC

Verified 70% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Green suburb
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Deans Marsh is known for: National parks, Green suburb, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

In Surf Coast Council, Deans Marsh keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.

Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.

Crime reports are up on the previous period. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.

Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because growth momentum, plus 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

Deans Marsh snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

353

+2.3% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

28.5%

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

#306

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

9th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

90th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

9/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

67th

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
28.9/100 — Below average
National rank
5750th in Australia
State rank
1103rd in VIC
Peer rank
#306 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#597 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

353(June 2025)

+2.3% annual · +11.4% over 5 years · 90th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.3%
5-year growth
+11.4%
Change in 1 year
+8
Change in 5 years
+36
Growth rank in VIC
90th 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 (~400), extrapolated at +1.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
368
Median age
47
Median household income / week
$1,731
Dwelling vacancy
28.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
47 of 165
Median monthly mortgage
$1,479
Employment rate
57.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
125 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian 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)
5
Against the person
1
Against property
3
Rate per 1,000 residents
14.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 368 residents
State safety percentile
8.9th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+25%

Most common offence types

  • A232 Non-Fv Common Assault1
  • B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary1
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft1
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order1

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
1,045
Median ICSEA percentile
67th
School list
  • Deans Marsh Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1045 · 67th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 52 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

3 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 places of worship

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life1 parks mapped in suburb
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.72
Sport & outdoors(1)
  • Deans Marsh ArboretumPark
Other(2)
  • Parkers Road (Bambra) Bushland ReserveNature Reserve
  • St James Anglican ChurchPlace of worship

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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Deans Marsh ArboretumPark
  • Parkers Road (Bambra) Bushland ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
4
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

Places of worship

1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • St James Anglican Church

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Lorne Community Hospital (17.3 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)
11
Participants per 1,000 residents
31.2

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 normalsWorldClim 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).

8 planning-related records

2021· 1 proposal
  • June 2021

  • Renovation and extension of existing dwelling
    155 BAMBRA CEMETERY ROAD DEANS MARSH 3235Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 7 proposals
  • November 2020

  • Amend Endorsed Plans
    230 PENNYROYAL VALLEY ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • September 2020

  • Amend Red Line and Streamline License (Lic No. 32054110 and Lic No. 32270114) into one General License
    12 DEANS MARSH-LORNE ROAD DEANS MARSH 3235NOD issued by a delegate
  • Extension of the Existing Agricultural Shed
    415 SALT CREEK LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2020

  • Create access to a road in Road Zone Category 1
    22 DEANS MARSH-LORNE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amend Condition 2 , the endorsed Bushfire Management Plan and the endorsed plans to show removal of additional garage and removal of southern wall
    53 SMITHS LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2020

  • Construction of Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling in the Bushfire Management Overlay
    385 PARKERS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • January 2020

  • Alterations and Additions to Existing Dwelling
    650 Parkers RoadPermit issued by the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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 overlaysState 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 25.5 km away).

Coalition 37.8%Labor 62.2%

23.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +62.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Deans MarshLabor 62.6% · Coalition 37.4% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
  • BirregurraLabor 49.4% · Coalition 50.6% TPP (2025)12.6 km away
  • LorneLabor 52.1% · Coalition 47.9% TPP (2025)15.8 km away
  • Aireys InletLabor 71.6% · Coalition 28.4% TPP (2025)19.0 km away
  • Winchelsea SouthLabor 45.3% · Coalition 54.7% TPP (2025)19.6 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)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

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 Surf Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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