Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Hepburn Council
Fern Hill, 3458
Est. population · Jun 2025
127
Growth (1 yr)
+0.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.0%
Median age
49
Median income
$2,062/wk
Employment rate
53.8%
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Suburb profile
Fern Hill is a residential smaller community in Hepburn Council with a familiar suburban feel. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Local amenities are on the light side, so many everyday needs are met by travelling to a neighbouring suburb or town.
Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Reported crime has been falling recently. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
At a glance
Fern Hill snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
127
+0.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
19.6%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
3rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
62nd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
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
Population
Estimated resident population
127(June 2025)
+0.8% annual · +5.0% over 5 years · 62th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.8%
- 5-year growth
- +5.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- +6
- Growth rank in VIC
- 62th 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 (~150), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 125
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $2,062
- Dwelling vacancy
- 19.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 9 of 46
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,252
- Employment rate
- 53.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 39 / 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)
- 1
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 7.9
- State safety percentile
- 3.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -50%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage1
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
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
- Trentham Aged Care Hostel (7.6 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)
- 4
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 31.5
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).
3 planning-related records
2021· 2 proposals
July 2021
- Use of land for a Storm Debris Recovery Facility (temporary facility)1041 ASHBOURNE ROAD FERN HILL 3458Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Use and development of the land for a dwelling and three (3) 25,000L Water TanksMandala RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 1 proposal
October 2020
- Development of the Land for a Replacement Dwelling and Removal of Vegetation (21 Non-Native Trees)420 CHANTERS LANE FERN HILL 3458Permit 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
- Ballarat
- Member of Parliament
- Catherine KING (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 116,238
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.3%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 39.3%Labor 60.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 37.8 km away).
Coalition 31.4%Labor 68.6%
7.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -0.1 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- TrenthamLabor 70.0% · Coalition 30.1% TPP (2025)7.5 km away
- DrummondLabor 70.7% · Coalition 29.3% TPP (2025)16.3 km away
- GlenlyonLabor 67.3% · Coalition 32.7% TPP (2025)16.7 km away
- DaylesfordLabor 69.0% · Coalition 31.0% TPP (2025)23.8 km away
- Hepburn SpringsLabor 71.0% · Coalition 29.0% TPP (2025)25.3 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)
- 10/10
- 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
More in Hepburn Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.