suburb.guide

VIC · Melton Council

Harkness, 3337

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Updated

Desirability score

51.6/100
Average

Top 29% of Victoria's suburbs

85% data confidence

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

Suburb profile

Harkness is a practical established suburb in Melton, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.

A younger crowd gives the area energy, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.

Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in parks and green space and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
12,463
Median age
30
Median household income / week
$1,752
Dwelling vacancy
3.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
154 of 3,921
Median monthly mortgage
$1,700
Employment rate
60.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
389 / 162 / 64

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 · 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)
614
Against the person
170
Against property
255
Rate per 1,000 residents
49.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 73 residents
State safety percentile
46.3th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-11.1%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault37
  • B21 Criminal Damage70
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle52
  • C32 Drug Possession40
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order71

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
999
  • Arnolds Creek Primary SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

33 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Coburns Rd/Scarlet Oak Ave
  • Galilee Bvd/Centenary Ave
  • Nodosa Gr/Scarlet Oak Ave
  • Sugar Berry Rise/Scarlet Oak Ave
  • Woodland Rise/Roslyn Park Dr

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

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).

19 planning-related records

2021· 11 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Six lot subdivision
    40 LADY PENRHYN DRIVE HARKNESS 3337Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Three lot subdivision
    1 GRANHOLM GROVE HARKNESS 3337Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Three lot subdivision
    17 Scarborough CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for three dwellings on one lot
    17 FISHBURN GROVE HARKNESS 3337Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three lot subdivision
    111 Caitlyn DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a shed ancillary to an existing dwelling.
    700-714 Bulmans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Two lot subdivision in accordance with an approved development
    21 Golden Wattle WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for a dwelling on a lot less than 300 square metres.
    19 Oakham DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for a dwelling on a lot less than 300 square metres.
    13 OAKHAM DRIVE HARKNESS 3337Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Development of land for two single storey dwellings on one lot.
    5 Rimfire CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Development of the land for the purpose of Three single storey dwellin gs with associated car parking and landscaping.
    17 Scarborough CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 8 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Earthworks and associated removal of native vegetation.
    783-857 COBURNS ROAD HARKNESS 3337Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Development of Three Double Storey Dwellings.
    1 Granholm GrovePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works comprising an extension to the existing Community Centre and Kindergarten
    19 Claret Ash BoulevardPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Development of the land for the purpose of Two single storey dwellings with associated car parking and landscaping.
    18 Stephanie WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Amendment to multi-lot subdivision and development and creation of res erves
    559-583 COBURNS ROAD HARKNESS 3337Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Construction of two single-storey dwellings
    9 Satchville RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Construction of one single-storey dwelling on a lot less than 300m2 in area
    76 Willandra BoulevardPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Construction of one single storey dwelling on a lot less than 300 squa
    18 Lancers DrivePermit 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) · Period: 2020–2022 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Claret Ash Boulevard / Arnolds Creek BoulevardBus stop
  • Playground (2)
  • Sports field

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

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

Parks & reserves

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Melton Gilgai Woodlands Nature Conservation ReserveNature reserve
  • Navan ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

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

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

5 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • childcarechildcare
  • childcarechildcare
  • childcarechildcare
  • childcarechildcare
  • childcarechildcare

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
26
Parks (OSM)
22

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

Desirability Index

Desirability score
51.6/100 — Average
State standing
Top 29% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
1739th in Australia
State rank
360th in VIC
Peer rank
#132 among Metro Melbourne · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#244 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Claret Ash Boulevard / Arnolds Creek Boulevardamenitiesbus_stop
  • Playgroundamenitiesplayground
  • Playgroundamenitiesplayground
  • Sports fieldamenitiespitch
  • A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime37
  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime70
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime52
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime40
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime71
  • childcarechildcarechildcare

Data sources & freshness

More in Melton Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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