suburb.guide

VIC · South Gippsland Council

Fish Creek, 3959

Est. population · Jun 2025

879

Growth (1 yr)

+0.6%

Growth (5 yr)

+3.7%

Median age

51

Median income

$1,281/wk

Employment rate

55.7%

Languages at home

4.2%non-English

Most common: German, Italian

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

30.9/100
Below average

1047th in VIC

Verified 78% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • National parks
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Fish Creek is known for: Green suburb, National parks, Excellent transport, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Fish Creek offers a slower smaller community life in South Gippsland Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.

Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.

Crime reports are up on the previous period. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.

Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because local dining and lifestyle amenities trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Fish Creek snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

879

+0.6% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

25.8%

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

#274

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

37th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

55th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

57th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

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
30.9/100 — Below average
National rank
5423rd in Australia
State rank
1047th in VIC
Peer rank
#274 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#546 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

879(June 2025)

+0.6% annual · +3.7% over 5 years · 55th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.6%
5-year growth
+3.7%
Change in 1 year
+5
Change in 5 years
+31
Growth rank in VIC
55th 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 (~950), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
858
Median age
51
Median household income / week
$1,281
Dwelling vacancy
25.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
115 of 445
Median monthly mortgage
$1,400
Employment rate
55.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
331 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
35
Against the person
10
Against property
20
Rate per 1,000 residents
39.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 86 residents
State safety percentile
36.6th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+94.4%

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault3
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft5
  • B49 Other Theft4
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order5
  • Other Crimes Against The Person3

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
1,024
Median ICSEA percentile
57th
School list
  • Fish Creek and District Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1024 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 114 students · Top SEA quarter 23%View on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Roo Fuel/Meeniyan - Promontory Rd
  • Roo Fuel/Meeniyan - Promontory Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

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

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Doomburrin B.RNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
41
Parks (OSM)
3

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
South Gippsland Hospital (13.8 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)
21
Participants per 1,000 residents
23.9

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
23° / 13°
Rainfall
143 mm · ~18 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
19° / 11°
Rainfall
223 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 7°
Rainfall
308 mm · ~38 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
17° / 9°
Rainfall
248 mm · ~31 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).

20 planning-related records

2021· 12 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Use and development of land with a dwelling and outbuilding and creation of access to a Transport Road Zone 2
    933 WARATAH ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land with a dwelling and group accommodation building
    360 SOLDIERS ROAD FISH CREEK 3959NOD issued by a delegate

  • August 2021

  • Building and works associated with agriculture
    2615 MEENIYAN-PROMONTORY ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works associated with existing dwelling
    269 SAVAGES ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an out building
    2200 MEENIYAN-PROMONTORY ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    2325 MEENIYAN-PROMONTORY ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Four (4) subdivision
    520 FISH CREEK-WALKERVILLE ROAD FISH CREEK 3959In progress

  • July 2021

  • Develop land with an extension to the existing dwelling (verandah)
    305 SAVAGES ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Realignment of Common Boundary between two lots
    165 MACKINS ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    15 GLENANN ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development associated with Agricultural (Shed)
    1855 Meeniyan-Promontory RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • 2 Lot subdivision, and use and development of a third dwelling & outbuilding (shed)
    895 WARATAH ROAD FISH CREEK 3959Lapsed
2020· 8 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Develop land with an (NBN) antenna
    13 Falls RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Use and develop land with a dwelling associated works and removal of native vegetation - amend endorsed plans
    60 Samman RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for a dwelling and native vegetation removal
    21 Mathers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    15 Glenann RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Develop land with a domestic outbuilding
    269 Savages RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Use and development of land for a dwelling, a winery, liquor licence and business identification signage
    570 Soldiers RoadRefusal issued by a delegate

  • March 2020

  • Develop land with alterations and extension to an existing dwelling
    355 Savages RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Development of land for a non-domestic disabled access ramp
    13 Falls 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
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
Monash
Member of Parliament
Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,463
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.2 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 22.7 km away).

Coalition 47.9%Labor 52.1%

6.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Fish CreekLabor 53.9% · Coalition 46.1% TPP (2025)3.8 km away
  • FosterLabor 50.9% · Coalition 49.1% TPP (2025)14.1 km away
  • MeeniyanLabor 37.5% · Coalition 62.5% TPP (2025)17.1 km away
  • Tarwin LowerLabor 56.5% · Coalition 43.5% TPP (2025)17.9 km away
  • Port FranklinLabor 43.4% · Coalition 56.6% TPP (2025)18.5 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)
7/10
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

More in South Gippsland Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.