suburb.guide

VIC · Horsham Council

Dooen, 3401

Est. population · Jun 2025

242

Growth (1 yr)

-0.8%

Growth (5 yr)

-2.0%

Median age

47

Median income

$1,916/wk

Employment rate

70.6%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

25.2/100
Below average

1172nd in VIC

Verified 70% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
What Dooen is known for: National parks, Excellent transport, High desirability

Suburb profile

In Horsham Council, Dooen keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.

Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.

Crime reports are up on the previous period. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.

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

Dooen snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

242

-0.8% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

10.0%

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

#350

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

71st

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

1st

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

national SEIFA decile

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
25.2/100 — Below average
National rank
6261st in Australia
State rank
1172nd in VIC
Peer rank
#350 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#655 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

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

Population

Estimated resident population

242(June 2025)

-0.8% annual · -2.0% over 5 years · 1th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.8%
5-year growth
-2.0%
Change in 1 year
-2
Change in 5 years
-5
Growth rank in VIC
1th 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 (~250), extrapolated at -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
250
Median age
47
Median household income / week
$1,916
Dwelling vacancy
10%
Unoccupied private dwellings
10 of 100
Median monthly mortgage
$1,200
Employment rate
70.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
89 / 0 / 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)
21
Against the person
6
Against property
11
Rate per 1,000 residents
86.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 42 residents
State safety percentile
71.2th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+50%

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault4
  • B11 Cause Damage By Fire1
  • B21 Criminal Damage4
  • B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary3
  • Other Crimes Against The Person2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Horsham Primary School - Rasmussen Campus/Rasmussen Rd
  • Longerenong Rd/Henty Hwy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

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

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Dooen Swamp Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Police Paddock Nature ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
3
Parks (OSM)
0

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
Wimmera Base Hospital (7.8 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)
5
Participants per 1,000 residents
20.7

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
27° / 11°
Rainfall
86 mm · ~11 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 8°
Rainfall
138 mm · ~17 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 4°
Rainfall
220 mm · ~28 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 7°
Rainfall
178 mm · ~22 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).

8 planning-related records

2021· 5 proposals

  • July 2021

  • Extension to Existing Race Circuit at Wimmera Kart Racing Club Facility
    650 HENTY HIGHWAY DOOEN 3401Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Access onto a Road Zone 1 Category
    863 Henty HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged Subdivision
    Lot 3 Henty HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Dwelling
    7 River Heights roadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Dwelling, farm shed machinery shed and workshop shed
    219 BLUE RIBBON ROAD DOOEN 3401Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 3 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Development of an outbuilding associated with an existing dwelling
    64 River Heights RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • The use and development of a dwelling.
    111 Flacks RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Development of an extension to an existing aircraft hanger
    4D Harpers WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

1 active roadworks / incidents

  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 13/01/2026 and 30/06/2027 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 7:00 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 6 to 10 min.HENTY HIGHWAY, RIVERSIDE ROAD12 Jan 2026 – 29 Jun 2027

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
Mallee
Member of Parliament
Anne WEBSTER (The Nationals)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
121,604
Turnout (2025)
91.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-0.1 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 69.0%Labor 31.0%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 28.6 km away).

Coalition 66.9%Labor 33.1%

2.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -0.3 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • Horsham NorthLabor 31.7% · Coalition 68.3% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
  • Horsham EastLabor 32.4% · Coalition 67.6% TPP (2025)8.0 km away
  • HorshamLabor 36.3% · Coalition 63.7% TPP (2025)8.2 km away
  • Horsham WestLabor 36.6% · Coalition 63.4% TPP (2025)9.4 km away
  • HavenLabor 27.4% · Coalition 72.7% TPP (2025)13.1 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)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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

More in Horsham Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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