suburb.guide

VIC · Moyne Council

Illowa, 3282

Current weather

9.4°CMainly clear

78% humidity · 31.2 km/h wind · 13° / 7.8° today · 2.5 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

44.2/100
Average

Top 41% of Victoria's suburbs

70% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Coastal
  • High desirability
  • Green suburb
What Illowa is known for: Coastal, High desirability, Green suburb

Suburb profile

Life in Illowa revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. The coast is the anchor, with regional towns nearby for markets, dining and weekend exploring. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.

The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.

Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.

The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and parks and green space against similar coastal suburbs, even with housing affordability and safety holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
304
Median age
47
Median household income / week
$2,083
Dwelling vacancy
4.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
5 of 113
Median monthly mortgage
$1,975
Employment rate
60.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
14 / 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 · 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)
4
Against the person
1
Against property
3
Rate per 1,000 residents
13.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 304 residents
State safety percentile
6.4th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-55.6%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault1
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
  • B49 Other Theft1

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

3 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Fitzgibbons Lane/Princes Hwy
  • Princes Hwy/Lakeview Rd
  • Southern Cross Rd/Princes Hwy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

1 active roadworks / incidents

  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 31/03/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 6 to 10 min.PRINCES HIGHWAY, FARNHAM ROAD30 Mar 2026 – 30 Aug 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported

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· 10 proposals

  • July 2021

  • Re-subdivsion of four (4) existing lots into two (2)
    35 Willis LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Seven lot re-subdivision and creation of access to a Road Zone Category 1
    11 CURRANS LANE ILLOWA 3282NOD issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
    LYNCHS ROAD ILLOWA 3282Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Use and development for workers accommodation associated with rural industry and agriculture
    483 PRINCES HIGHWAY ILLOWA 3282Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Use and development of a dwelling and outbuilding
    38 QUARRY ROAD ILLOWA 3282NOD issued by a delegate
  • Re-subdivision of land
    77 Conns LaneWithdrawn
  • Two lot re-subdivision (house excision)
    11 Currans LaneWithdrawn
  • Two lot re-subdivision (house excision)
    77 Conns LaneWithdrawn
  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    30B Quarry RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding and verandah
    65 Douglas LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 15 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct a replacement dwelling
    434 Illowa RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct an agricultural building
    Illowa RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    17 Fitzgibbons LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    629 Princes HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a display home centre
    Lynchs RoadLapsed

  • September 2020

  • Buildings and works to extend a habitable outbuilding
    7 Douglas LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of the land for primary produce sales, the construction and display of business identification signage and the alteration of access to a Road Zone Category 1
    626 Princes HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct a car port
    259 Illowa RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Two lot subdivision (house excision) and variation of the access to the RDZ1
    277 Illowa RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works to construct an agricultural building
    835 Tower Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    5 Fitzgibbons LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Use and development of a dwelling and creation of an access to a Road Zone Category 1
    Southern Cross RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Re subdivision of the land into 6 lots
    Illowa RoadLapsed
  • Use and development of the land for domestic animal boarding (cattery) and the display of business identification signage
    31 Douglas LaneNOD issued by the Resp. Authority

  • January 2020

  • Construct an outbuilding
    5 Lanes LanePermit 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

2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bus stop (2)

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

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Warrnambool - Port Fairy Coastal ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

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

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

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)
1
Parks (OSM)
1

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
44.2/100 — Average
State standing
Top 41% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
2736th in Australia
State rank
518th in VIC
Peer rank
#25 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#61 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Bus stopamenitiesbus_stop
  • Bus stopamenitiesbus_stop
  • A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime1
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime2
  • B49 Other Theftcrime1
  • Warrnambool - Port Fairy Coastal Reservegovernmentpark
  • Building and works to construct an agricultural buildingplanning835 Tower Hill RoadLodged 20 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct a car portplanning259 Illowa RoadLodged 10 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct a dwellingplanningLYNCHS ROAD ILLOWA 3282Lodged 09 Jul 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct a replacement dwellingplanning434 Illowa RoadLodged 03 Dec 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

More in Moyne Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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