VIC · Nillumbik Council
Kangaroo Ground, 3097
Current weather
9.9°CLight drizzle
93% humidity · 29.1 km/h wind · 11° / 8.5° today · 7.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Nillumbik, Kangaroo Ground is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Regional calm with capital access on standby: close enough for outings, distant enough to feel unhurried. Fresh country air and elevated outlooks are part of the appeal up here among the hills.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in community and employment and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,208
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $2,909
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 28 of 364
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,337
- Employment rate
- 63.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 12 / 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)
- 60
- Against the person
- 10
- Against property
- 34
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 49.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 121 residents
- State safety percentile
- 46.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +71.4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage5
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary4
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft9
- B49 Other Theft7
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order13
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) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,085
- Kangaroo Ground Primary SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- 355 Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Rd
- Bellbird Lane/Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Rd
- Eltham-Yarra Glen Rd/Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Rd
- Kangaroo Ground PS/Graham Rd
- Wyuna Rd/Eltham-Yarra Glen Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
35 planning-related records
2021· 10 proposals
September 2021
- Buildings and works to construct a dwelling, outbuilding (garage) and convert existing dwelling into a studio330 WEDGE TAIL COURT KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
- Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding45 ALFRED PLACE KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- Buildings and works associated with the construction of alterations and additions to a dwelling, earthworks, rainwater tanks and a tennis court570 ELTHAM-YARRA GLEN ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Buildings and works to extend the existing dwelling and associated retaining wall and earthworks1 Heckers Hill WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Removal of one tree545 ELTHAM-YARRA GLEN ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097No permit required
- Buildings and works to alter and extend an existing building60-80 GRAHAM ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Erection of a pergola50 KANGAROO GROUND-ST ANDREWS ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding225 KANGAROO GROUND-WATTLE GLEN ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Amendment - Buildings and works to construct additions and alterations to an existing dwelling, and hazard pruning of an existing tree140 FLAT ROCK ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a shed225 KANGAROO GROUND-WATTLE GLEN ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Lapsed
2020· 25 proposals
November 2020
- Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding45 Alfred PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a carport15 Hillview CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding30 Menzies RoadWithdrawn
- Buildings and works to extend the existing shed182-184 Eltham-Yarra Glen RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to alter and extend the existing shed60 Bellbird LaneWithdrawn
- Buildings and works to construct a horse arena195 KANGAROO GROUND-ST ANDREWS ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a menage400 HECKERS HILL WAY KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Amendment - Buildings and works to alter and extend an existing restaurant, deck (walkway), retaining walls, fence (bin enclosure) and carparking, and use the land to sell and consume liquor150 Eltham-Yarra Glen RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a pergola , creation of disabled compliant air lock for entry door and enclose under existing roof to create tourist information area150 Eltham-Yarra Glen RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Amendment - Buildings and works to construct a dwelling205 Watery Gully RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a dwelling, retaining walls and associated earthworks220 WYUNA ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Lop one tree35 Eltham-Yarra Glen RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a pergola1 Wedge Tail CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Use of the land for a Poultry Farm and alteration of access to a Road Zone, Category 110 HENLEY ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development for a dwelling, associated earthworks and vegetation removal315 KANGAROO GROUND-WATTLE GLEN ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Lapsed
July 2020
- Use and development of the land for a dwelling, outbuilding (garage) and associated vegetation removal (Flat Rock Road reserve)35 FLAT ROCK ROAD KANGAROO GROUND 3097Refusal issued by a delegate
- Buildings and works to construct a shed239 Henley RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Buildings and works to construct a shed, extend a shed and construct a retaining wall1 Wedge Tail CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct a shed305 Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- Buildings and works to construct a shed60 Bourchiers RoadWithdrawn
- Buildings and works to construct a pergola , creation of disabled compliant air lock for entry door and enclose under existing roof to create tourist information area150 Eltham-Yarra Glen RoadLapsed
- Removal of Native Vegetation105 Graham RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works to construct additions and alterations to an existing dwelling140 Flat Rock RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Removal of 3 trees385 Eltham-Yarra Glen RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Earthworks for construction of a car parking area and accessway230 Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews 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) · 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
6 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (2)
- Picnic Table
- MassarosRestaurant
360 Eltham - Yarra Glen Road
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Kangaroo Ground War Memorial ParkPark
- Nillumbik G143 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Pigeon Bank ReservePark
- Pretty Hill ReserveNature reserve
- Yirrip ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- 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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Kangaroo Ground Preschoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 15
- 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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 43.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 45% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2950th in Australia
- State rank
- 561st in VIC
- Peer rank
- #98 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #184 among Country & regional 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
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Massarosamenities360 Eltham - Yarra Glen Roadrestaurant
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- B21 Criminal Damagecrime5
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime4
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theftcrime9
- B49 Other Theftcrime7
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
More in Nillumbik Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.