VIC · Ballarat Council
Durham Lead, VIC, 3352
Current weather
9.5°CModerate rain showers
95% humidity · 34.7 km/h wind · 13.4° / 7.8° today · 5.6 mm rain
Desirability index
#388 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Durham Lead is a small locality in the Ballarat area, home to around 408 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 7 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+40%), roughly 17.2 offences per 1,000 residents, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 408
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,916
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 18 of 158
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,850
- Employment rate
- 63.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 12 / 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)
- 7
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 7
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 17.2
- State safety percentile
- 10.7th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +40%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage1
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft1
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
- B49 Other Theft4
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).
21 planning-related records
2021· 11 proposals
August 2021
- Alterations and addition to existing dwelling638 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Withdrawn
- Development of a farm shed638 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Withdrawn
- Use and development of a dwelling and outbuildings and removal of native vegetationCA 2B MACLEODS ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- Buildings and works associated with a single dwelling75A SANDYS HILL ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a shed67 SLAUGHTERHOUSE ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Installation of a shipping container for storage679 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Withdrawn
April 2021
- Development of a Shed Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling243 Sand RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Development of a replacement dwelling31 Smarts LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development for a dwellingLot 2 Nicholsons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development of a dwelling and associated outbuilding and native vegetation removalLOT 1 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Development of Two (2) Sheds Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling; Removal of Vegetation (1 tree)175 Sand RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 10 proposals
December 2020
- Development and Use of a Dwelling (partially commenced)150 Sand RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Use and development of a single dwelling and shed and removal of native vegetationLOT 2 ALLUVIAL LANE DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Extension to an outbuilding719 Buninyong - Mount Mercer RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Construction of an outbuilding237 Sandys Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a shed11 South Durham Bridge RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Re-Advertisement S72 Amendment: Amend the plans and conditions on the permit Current Permit: Use and development of a dwelling, associated outbuilding and removal of native vegetationCA 3A BRENNANS ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- Development of a damLot 5 Sandys Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Use and development of a second dwelling475 Buninyong - Mount Mercer RoadLapsed
- Development of a single dwelling, swimming pool and associated earthworks, and variation of a restriction51 Sandys Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- The development of the land for a two lot subdivision (boundary re-alignment) and removal of native vegetation81 LOCKYERS ROADPermit 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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Durham Lead Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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)
- 0
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
- 20.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #388 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Durham Lead Bushland Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
- Alterations and addition to existing dwellingplanning638 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Lodged 08 Aug 2021 · Withdrawn
- Buildings and works associated with a single dwellingplanning75A SANDYS HILL ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Lodged 21 Jul 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of an outbuildingplanning237 Sandys Hill RoadLodged 22 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development and Use of a Dwelling (partially commenced)planning150 Sand RoadLodged 04 Dec 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development for a dwellingplanningLot 2 Nicholsons RoadLodged 09 Feb 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of Two (2) Sheds Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling; Removal of Vegetation (1 tree)planning175 Sand RoadLodged 04 Jan 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a Shed Ancillary to an Existing Dwellingplanning243 Sand RoadLodged 13 Apr 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a damplanningLot 5 Sandys Hill RoadLodged 25 May 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a farm shedplanning638 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Lodged 05 Aug 2021 · Withdrawn
Data sources & freshness
- 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
Similar suburbs
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