Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Baw Baw Council
Drouin West, 3818
Est. population · Jun 2025
412
Growth (1 yr)
+1.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+15.4%
Median age
54
Median income
$1,583/wk
Employment rate
61.5%
Languages at home
2.9%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Drouin West is a quieter smaller community in Baw Baw Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Open space is thinner than in many regional towns, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market.
Crime reports are up on the previous period. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Drouin West snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
412
+1.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.9%
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
#245
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
69th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
84th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
46th
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
- 32.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5190th in Australia
- State rank
- 994th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #245 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #502 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
412(June 2025)
+1.7% annual · +15.4% over 5 years · 84th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.7%
- 5-year growth
- +15.4%
- Change in 1 year
- +7
- Change in 5 years
- +55
- Growth rank in VIC
- 84th 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 (~500), extrapolated at +3.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 361
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,583
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 13 of 146
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,509
- Employment rate
- 61.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 133 / 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)
- 34
- Against the person
- 8
- Against property
- 14
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 82.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 45 residents
- State safety percentile
- 68.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +41.7%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage3
- B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
- B49 Other Theft5
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order8
- Other Crimes Against The Person6
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 999
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 46th
School list
- Drouin West Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 999 · 46th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 239 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Amenities
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 0/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Community(1)
- Drouin West Primary SchoolSchool
535 Main Neerim Road
Other(1)
- Parking
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Whiskey Creek Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 5
- 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
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Proposed West Gippsland Hospital (7.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 14
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.0
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 25° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 197 mm · ~25 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 228 mm · ~28 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 261 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 304 mm · ~38 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).
13 planning-related records
2021· 5 proposals
August 2021
- Building and works to construct an agricultural building.60 OLD SALE ROAD DROUIN WEST 3818Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- Use of the land for a Place of Assembly limited to wedding ceremonies and a restaurant and associated buildings and works.120 STOCK ROAD DROUIN WEST 3818Lapsed
June 2021
- Buildings and works to construct a second dwelling and subdivide land into 2 lots560 OLD SALE ROAD DROUIN WEST 3818Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Demolition and construction of two new amenities buildings850 Main Neerim RoadNo permit required
February 2021
- Buildings and works to construct an agricultural building425 Old Sale RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 8 proposals
November 2020
- Use and development of a dwelling and create access to a road in a Road Zone, Category 189 Old Sale RoadNOD issued by a delegate
- Increase the licensed area that liquor is allowed to be consumed or supplied655 Princes WayNOD issued by a delegate
September 2020
- Buildings and works to construct an extension to an existing dwelling.23 Connor RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling465 Main Neerim RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to extend the existing dwelling455 Main Neerim RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Re-subdivide the land into 3 lots210A STOCK ROAD DROUIN WEST 3818Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Use of caravan storage, alter access to a road in a Road Zone, Category 1 and associated works.350 Main Neerim RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Buildings and works to construct an extension to a building associated with the use of a hotel655 Princes WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
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
- Monash
- Member of Parliament
- Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 116,463
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -1.2 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.5 km away).
Coalition 64.7%Labor 35.4%
10.6 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -9.1 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Drouin WestLabor 34.4% · Coalition 65.6% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- Drouin CentralLabor 51.8% · Coalition 48.2% TPP (2025)5.9 km away
- DrouinLabor 48.0% · Coalition 52.0% TPP (2025)6.2 km away
- LabertoucheLabor 25.3% · Coalition 74.7% TPP (2025)6.3 km away
- JindivickLabor 39.9% · Coalition 60.1% TPP (2025)6.4 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Baw Baw Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.