suburb.guide

VIC · Greater Bendigo Council

Eppalock, 3551

Est. population · Jun 2025

872

Growth (1 yr)

+1.8%

Growth (5 yr)

+11.5%

Median age

43

Median income

$1,883/wk

Employment rate

59.6%

Languages at home

3%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

36.1/100
Below average

866th in VIC

Verified 62% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
What Eppalock is known for: National parks, Green suburb, High desirability

Suburb profile

In Greater Bendigo Council, Eppalock 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 family life visible on every street. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.

With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.

Housing sits in the middle of the local market: neither cheap nor premium. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.

Desirability sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus safety the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Eppalock snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$475/wk

Population (ERP)

872

+1.8% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

7.8%

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

#91

among Country & regional · Emerging

Safety

46th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

85th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

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
36.1/100 — Below average
National rank
4453rd in Australia
State rank
866th in VIC
Peer rank
#91 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#394 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

Population

Estimated resident population

872(June 2025)

+1.8% annual · +11.5% over 5 years · 85th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.8%
5-year growth
+11.5%
Change in 1 year
+15
Change in 5 years
+90
Growth rank in VIC
85th 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 (~1,000), extrapolated at +2.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
746
Median age
43
Median household income / week
$1,883
Dwelling vacancy
7.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
20 of 255
Median monthly mortgage
$1,624
Employment rate
59.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
236 / 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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
42
Against the person
12
Against property
13
Rate per 1,000 residents
48.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 62 residents
State safety percentile
46th (lower crime is better)
No change (daily rate)
0%

Most common offence types

  • A212 Non-Fv Serious Assault3
  • A231 Fv Common Assault5
  • B21 Criminal Damage3
  • B49 Other Theft5
  • F23 Maritime Regulations Offences7

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

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

4 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Basil Brown ArboretumNature reserve
  • Eppalock Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Longlea State ForestNature reserve
  • Lyell State ForestNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
6
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
Anne Caudle Campus (19.6 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)
30
Participants per 1,000 residents
34.4

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° / 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).

23 planning-related records

2021· 11 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Use and development of land for a dwelling on each lot (Amended plans for design changes)
    LOT 1 AXEDALE-KIMBOLTON ROAD EPPALOCK 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Use and Development of a Dwelling and Outbuilding
    58 CLANCY ROAD EPPALOCK 3551Withdrawn
  • Use and Development of a Dwelling and Outbuilding and Removal of Native Vegetation
    5 CLANCY ROAD EPPALOCK 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling and removal of native vegetation
    LOT 23 CLANCY ROAD EPPALOCK 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a shed
    LOT 3 SQUATTERS COURT EPPALOCK 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Use and Development of Land for a Dwelling and Removal of Native Vegetation
    CA 6A1 ANSEN ROAD EPPALOCK 3551Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Extension to a dwelling
    136 Native Gully CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Construction of a dwelling and outbuilding (Amend roof and wall materials)
    30 Kookaburra CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling and an outbuilding
    CA 6 Axedale-Kimbolton RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Construction of a dwelling and shed
    1038 Patons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for a dwelling and approval for earthworks associated with a 2 megalitre dam and house pad
    Lot 2 Shanahans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 12 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Construction of a dwelling
    48 Briggs RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a dwelling and outbuilding (Amendment to plans)
    30 Kookaburra CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of land for horse husbandry and construction of horse stables
    58 Hilltop DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of storage shed
    68 Fitzgibbon RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Extension to an existing shed
    1869 Strathfieldsaye RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Extension to existing outbuilding
    112 Native Gully CrescentNo permit required
  • Use and development of a second dwelling, including removal of native vegetation
    101 Carneys RoadRefusal issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Construction of a dwelling and outbuilding
    30 Kookaburra CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Construction of carport
    240 Shanahans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for the construction of a dam
    87 Gledhill LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Construction of a dwelling
    198 Enright RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Construction of an outbuilding
    84 Shanahans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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 17.8 km away).

Coalition 52.8%Labor 47.2%

4.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +47.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Axe CreekLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)7.3 km away
  • AxedaleLabor 37.6% · Coalition 62.4% TPP (2025)8.0 km away
  • StrathfieldsayeLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)11.7 km away
  • JunortounLabor 44.6% · Coalition 55.4% TPP (2025)14.5 km away
  • MandurangLabor 46.6% · Coalition 53.4% TPP (2025)15.1 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)
6/10
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

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.