Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Greater Bendigo Council
Emu Creek, 3551
Est. population · Jun 2025
440
Growth (1 yr)
+1.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+11.7%
Median age
45
Median income
$1,963/wk
Employment rate
69.5%
Languages at home
0.8%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Emu Creek offers a slower smaller community life in Greater Bendigo Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.
Reported crime has been falling recently. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Desirability lands around average here: softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus parks and green space weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Emu Creek snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$475/wk
Population (ERP)
440
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.6%
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
#89
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
2nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
86th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
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
- 42.8/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3286th in Australia
- State rank
- 656th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #89 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #230 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 62%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $475
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Sep 2025 (council median) · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
440(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +11.7% over 5 years · 86th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.9%
- 5-year growth
- +11.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +8
- Change in 5 years
- +46
- Growth rank in VIC
- 86th 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 +2.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 376
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,963
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 6 of 130
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 69.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 126 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 3
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 2
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 6.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 376 residents
- State safety percentile
- 2.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -40%
Most common offence types
- A212 Non-Fv Serious Assault1
- B21 Criminal Damage1
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
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
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
- Emu Creek Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Emu Valley Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- 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
- St John of God Bendigo Hospital (12.1 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)
- 15
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.1
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
- 27° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 115 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 133 mm · ~17 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 180 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 172 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).
14 planning-related records
2021· 6 proposals
August 2021
- Realignment of existing title boundaries, creation of easement on lot 1 and construction of a dwelling on lot 2200 RED TANK ROAD EMU CREEK 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Development of the land for an outbuilding (carport)93 Collins LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Construction of shed670 Emu Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development of land for a dwellingLOT 1 JAMES COOK DRIVE EMU CREEK 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Use and Development for a dwellingLOT 8 HARGREAVES ROAD EMU CREEK 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of an outbuilding686 Emu Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 8 proposals
December 2020
- Construction of dwelling and shed (Amended plans to increase depth of garage)Lot 4 Collins LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of an outbuilding40 Collins LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Construction of an outbuilding258 Emu Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- 3 lot subdivision and removal of native vegetation136 Kronks LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development of land for a dwelling and outbuilding138 Collins LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Buildings and works for the construction of a patio129 Red Tank RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Construction of dwelling and shedLot 4 Collins LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Construction of an outbuilding and removal of one tree142 Red Tank RoadPermit 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
- Overlay applies
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
- Bendigo
- Member of Parliament
- Lisa CHESTERS (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 120,088
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +51.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.1 km away).
Coalition 49.5%Labor 50.5%
0.9 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +50.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Axe CreekLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
- MandurangLabor 46.6% · Coalition 53.4% TPP (2025)5.3 km away
- StrathfieldsayeLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)5.3 km away
- StrathdaleLabor 50.0% · Coalition 50.0% TPP (2025)8.4 km away
- Spring GullyLabor 59.7% · Coalition 40.3% TPP (2025)9.0 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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Greater Bendigo Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.