Median house price
$390k
+32% change
VIC · Wellington Council
Golden Beach, 3851
Est. population · Jun 2025
216
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.3%
Median age
60
Median income
$714/wk
Employment rate
30.3%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$390,000
Languages at home
5.2%non-English
Most common: Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- National parks
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Golden Beach is a regional smaller community in Wellington Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Melbourne. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because community and employment lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Golden Beach snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$450/wk
Population (ERP)
216
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
60.1%
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
#392
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
83rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
52nd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
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
- 20.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6680th in Australia
- State rank
- 1237th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #392 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #711 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $450
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $390,000
- Median price change
- +32.2%
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) · 4th Quarter 2025; Sep 2025 (council median) · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
216(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +4.3% over 5 years · 52th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- +4.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- +9
- Growth rank in VIC
- 52th 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 (~250), extrapolated at +1.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 356
- Median age
- 60
- Median household income / week
- $714
- Dwelling vacancy
- 60.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 277 of 461
- Median monthly mortgage
- $858
- Employment rate
- 30.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 156 / 23 / 0 (+ 4 other)
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)
- 29
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 16
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 134.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 40 residents
- State safety percentile
- 83th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -14.7%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage5
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary3
- B43 Steal From A Retail Store4
- B49 Other Theft3
- Other Crimes Against The Person3
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
Public transport
1 public transport stops in this suburb
- Golden Beach Community Hall/Longford-Golden Beach Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
26 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb
- Walkability proxy
- 2/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 5.62
Other(6)
- Camp Pitch (21)
- Campground C4Camp Site
- Campground C5Camp Site
- Campground C6Camp Site
- Campground C7Camp Site
- Public toilets
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
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
- Veronica Maybury ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- Community Rehabilitation Centre (28.0 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)
- 6
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 27.8
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
- 25° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 149 mm · ~19 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 153 mm · ~19 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 15° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 133 mm · ~17 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 177 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).
10 planning-related records
2021· 7 proposals
September 2021
- Buildings & works associated with construction of a dwelling. Buildings & works associated with construction of a dwelling.79 RAINBOW ROAD GOLDEN BEACH 3851Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings & works associated with construction of a dwelling. Buildings & works associated with construction of a dwelling.43 SUNGLOW CRESCENT GOLDEN BEACH 3851Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works associated with construction of a dwelling. Buildings and works associated with construction of a dwelling.32 PACIFIC COURT GOLDEN BEACH 3851Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- Buildings and works for the development of an outbuilding. Buildings and works for the development of an outbuilding.48-50 Astro AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings & works associated with construction of a fence. Buildings and works associated with construction of a fence and outbuilding.28 Rainbow RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Buildings and works for a solid fence. Buildings and works for a solid fence.106 SEA BREEZE AVENUE GOLDEN BEACH 3851Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Buildings & works associated with construction of a dwelling. Buildings & works associated with construction of a dwelling.57 Fairway AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 3 proposals
August 2020
- Removal of native vegetation. Removal of native vegetation.13 Pampas WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Buildings and works associated with construction of a dwelling. Buildings and works associated with construction of a dwelling.13 Pacific CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Amend setbacks to proposed dwelling. Amend setbacks to proposed dwelling.19 Meridan 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
- Gippsland
- Member of Parliament
- Darren CHESTER (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 118,075
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 69.4%Labor 30.6%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 30.6 km away).
Coalition 69.6%Labor 30.4%
0.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -3.9 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Golden BeachLabor 30.8% · Coalition 69.2% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
- SeasprayLabor 28.9% · Coalition 71.0% TPP (2025)22.3 km away
- LongfordLabor 19.1% · Coalition 80.8% TPP (2025)25.5 km away
- CobainsLabor 17.3% · Coalition 82.7% TPP (2025)26.7 km away
- Sale EastLabor 34.4% · Coalition 65.6% TPP (2025)27.7 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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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 Wellington Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.