suburb.guide

VIC · Macedon Ranges Council

Hesket, 3442

Est. population · Jun 2025

190

Growth (1 yr)

+0.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+8.6%

Median age

53

Median income

$3,083/wk

Employment rate

51.6%

Languages at home

2.6%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Green suburb
  • Education hub
What Hesket is known for: Green suburb, Education hub

Suburb profile

Hesket is a welcoming smaller community in Macedon Ranges Council, with a settled community character. 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.

Open space is thinner than in many comparable suburbs, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.

Reported crime has been falling recently. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.

At a glance

Hesket snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

190

+0.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

25.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Safety

1st

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

54th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

81st

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

Population

Estimated resident population

190(June 2025)

+0.5% annual · +8.6% over 5 years · 54th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.5%
5-year growth
+8.6%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
+15
Growth rank in VIC
54th 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 (~200), extrapolated at +1.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
178
Median age
53
Median household income / week
$3,083
Dwelling vacancy
25%
Unoccupied private dwellings
19 of 76
Median monthly mortgage
$3,000
Employment rate
51.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
62 / 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
5.3
State safety percentile
1.4th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-91.7%

Most common offence types

  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft1

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
1,087
Median ICSEA percentile
81th
School list
  • Hesket Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1087 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 76 students · Top SEA quarter 38% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Community(1)
  • Hesket Primary SchoolSchool

    800 Romsey Road

Sport & outdoors(1)
  • Sports field

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
4
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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Kyneton District Health Service (17.9 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)
7
Participants per 1,000 residents
36.8

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

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° / 13°
Rainfall
126 mm · ~16 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
21° / 9°
Rainfall
148 mm · ~18 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 4°
Rainfall
218 mm · ~27 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 8°
Rainfall
188 mm · ~24 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).

11 planning-related records

2021· 2 proposals

  • April 2021

  • Development of a verandah and pergola to replace existing carport.
    83 COLLERYS LANE HESKET 3442Lapsed

  • March 2021

  • Development of an Outbuilding (Shed).
    39 Days TrackPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 9 proposals

  • December 2020

  • In accordance with the endorsed plans: Use and Development of the Land for a dwelling and associated outbuilding (garage) and removal of Native Vegetation and alteration of access to a road in a Transport Zone 2
    9 MCKENZIES LANE HESKET 3442Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Development of An Agricultural Building (Hay shed)
    966 Romsey RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an extension and renovation to existing dwelling and relocation of existing outbuilding (shed).
    101 Hesket Boundary RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Development of an Outbuilding (Shed) and removal of non-native vegetation (two trees)
    31 Hesket Boundary RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an extension and renovation to an existing dwelling.
    859 Romsey RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Development of an extension to an existing dwelling.
    350 Mumfords RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Use and development of a Dependent Person's Unit and associated works
    859 Romsey RoadWithdrawn

  • March 2020

  • Buildings and works associated with the construction of a dam and agricultural shed (pumphouse)
    83 Collerys LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Use of land for Agriculture (Horse Husbandry) and for the Construction of a Farm Shed
    9 McKenzies LanePermit 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
McEwen
Member of Parliament
Rob MITCHELL (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
117,921
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+0.9 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 45.2%Labor 54.8%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 12.3 km away).

Coalition 40.4%Labor 59.6%

4.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +3.1 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • NewhamLabor 53.1% · Coalition 46.9% TPP (2025)5.9 km away
  • Mount MacedonLabor 61.3% · Coalition 38.7% TPP (2025)6.9 km away
  • Woodend EastLabor 73.1% · Coalition 26.9% TPP (2025)8.8 km away
  • MacedonLabor 65.6% · Coalition 34.4% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
  • WoodendLabor 64.4% · Coalition 35.6% TPP (2025)9.8 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)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

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 Macedon Ranges Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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