suburb.guide

VIC · Surf Coast Council

Freshwater Creek, VIC, 3217

Current weather

13.2°CDense drizzle

81% humidity · 22.6 km/h wind · 16.5° / 9.4° today · 3.3 mm rain

Desirability index

24.8/100

#196 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Freshwater Creek is a small locality in the Surf Coast area, home to around 454 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 52 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+117%), roughly 114.5 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.

Population

Population
454
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$2,087
Dwelling vacancy
7.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
12 of 164
Median monthly mortgage
$2,145
Employment rate
66%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
11 / 0 / 0

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian 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)
52
Against the person
7
Against property
9
Rate per 1,000 residents
114.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 65 residents
State safety percentile
79.5th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+116.7%

Most common offence types

  • B43 Steal From A Retail Store3
  • B49 Other Theft3
  • C12 Drug Trafficking22
  • C32 Drug Possession7
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order6

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,094
  • Freshwater Creek Steiner SchoolPrimary

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).

25 planning-related records

2021· 8 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Construction of Two Open Sided Structures in Association with the Existing Use of the land as a Caravan Park (Site 87 and Site 95).
    660 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of the Land for a Restaurant, Agriculture (Within Road Zone), Primary Produce Sales and Market; Sale and Consumption of Liquor (Restaurant and Café Licence); the Display of a Business Identification Sign and the Waiving of Loading Bay and Bicycle Parking Requirements - Amended plans for a packing shed, seedling greenhouse, workshop and preparation and chicken shed (retrospective)
    673 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Re-subdivision of the land into two lots
    350 COOMBES ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Use of the land for a poultry farm (low density mobile outdoor egg production)
    1185 BLACKGATE ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Use of the Land for a Place of Assembly (Pet Bakery)
    250 Bogans LaneWithdrawn

  • February 2021

  • Use and Development of land for an Art and Craft Centre
    THE FARMERS PLACE - RESTAURANT, 675 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and works associated with agriculture
    1500 BLACKGATE ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Earthworks that Change the Rate of Flow Across the Property Boundary
    380 Pettavel RoadLapsed
2020· 17 proposals

  • October 2020

  • Construction of a Garage
    785 DICKINS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Native Vegetation Removal (One tree)
    550 DICKINS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a Horse Arena
    1305 BLACKGATE ROADWithdrawn
  • Construct alterations and extensions to the existing dwelling
    1305 BLACKGATE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alteration and Additions to existing Dwelling
    740 ANGLESEA ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Amend Condition 7 to have operating hours of 6.30AM to 9.30PM daily
    670 Anglesea RoadWithdrawn
  • Construction of farming shed
    615 MT DUNEED ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Buildings and Works to an Existing Shed
    1100 ANGLESEA ROADPermit issued by the RA

  • May 2020

  • Construct a Shed
    20 HARDINGS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling, construction of a building associated with the use of the land for agriculture within 100 metres of a waterway and alter access to the Road Zone Category 1
    865 Anglesea RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Works in a Salinity Management Overlay Associated with a Vehicle Cross Over
    380 PETTAVEL ROADRefusal issued by a delegate
  • Use and Development of the subject Land for a Process and Packaging
    380 PETTAVEL ROADWithdrawn

  • March 2020

  • Earthworks that Change the Rate of Flow
    1210 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217In progress
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision (Re-subdivision)
    1465 BLACKGATE ROAD AND 820 PETTAVEL ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Application to reduce minimum lot size
    865 ANGLESEA ROADWithdrawn
  • Construction of a farm shed
    865 ANGLESEA ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Use of the Land for Storage of Caravans, Boats, Trailers and Containers, and Associated Works, and Display of Business Identification Signage
    1200 GHAZEEPORE ROADNOD issued by a delegate

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 amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • ST DAVIDS LUTHERAN CHURCH & CEMETERYNH1903

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

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

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
7
Parks (OSM)
0

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
24.8/100
Cohort rank
#196 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • ST DAVIDS LUTHERAN CHURCH & CEMETERYheritageNH1903
  • Alteration and Additions to existing Dwellingplanning740 ANGLESEA ROADLodged 12 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amend Condition 7 to have operating hours of 6.30AM to 9.30PM dailyplanning670 Anglesea RoadLodged 25 Sep 2020 · Withdrawn
  • Application to reduce minimum lot sizeplanning865 ANGLESEA ROADLodged 16 Mar 2020 · Withdrawn
  • Buildings and Works to an Existing Shedplanning1100 ANGLESEA ROADLodged 04 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with agricultureplanning1500 BLACKGATE ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Lodged 15 Feb 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct a Shedplanning20 HARDINGS ROADLodged 19 May 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct alterations and extensions to the existing dwellingplanning1305 BLACKGATE ROADLodged 15 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of Two Open Sided Structures in Association with the Existing Use of the land as a Caravan Park (Site 87 and Site 95).planning660 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Lodged 19 Aug 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a Garageplanning785 DICKINS ROADLodged 29 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
  • PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.