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

20.1/100

#388 among Metro Melbourne suburbs

How this score is calculated

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 ProfileAustralian 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

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 dwelling
    638 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Withdrawn
  • Development of a farm shed
    638 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Withdrawn
  • Use and development of a dwelling and outbuildings and removal of native vegetation
    CA 2B MACLEODS ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2021

  • Buildings and works associated with a single dwelling
    75A SANDYS HILL ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a shed
    67 SLAUGHTERHOUSE ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2021

  • Installation of a shipping container for storage
    679 BUNINYONG - MOUNT MERCER ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Withdrawn
  • April 2021

  • Development of a Shed Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling
    243 Sand RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2021

  • Development of a replacement dwelling
    31 Smarts LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development for a dwelling
    Lot 2 Nicholsons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a dwelling and associated outbuilding and native vegetation removal
    LOT 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 vegetation
    LOT 2 ALLUVIAL LANE DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • October 2020

  • Extension to an outbuilding
    719 Buninyong - Mount Mercer RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • September 2020

  • Construction of an outbuilding
    237 Sandys Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a shed
    11 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 vegetation
    CA 3A BRENNANS ROAD DURHAM LEAD 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2020

  • Development of a dam
    Lot 5 Sandys Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2020

  • Use and development of a second dwelling
    475 Buninyong - Mount Mercer RoadLapsed
  • Development of a single dwelling, swimming pool and associated earthworks, and variation of a restriction
    51 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 vegetation
    81 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 amenitiesOpenStreetMap 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

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

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState 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 featuresOpenStreetMap 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 indexSuburb 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

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