suburb.guide

VIC · Bass Coast Council

Kilcunda, 3995

Est. population · Jun 2025

616

Growth (1 yr)

+2.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.3%

Median age

55

Median income

$1,412/wk

Employment rate

51.9%

Languages at home

5.2%non-English

Most common: Spanish, German

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

28.9/100
Below average

1105th in VIC

Verified 70% confidence

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

Suburb profile

Well away from Melbourne, Kilcunda is a coastal smaller community built around sand, sea and space. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre.

Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many coastal suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here.

Crime reports are up on the previous period. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.

Versus similar coastal suburbs, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because housing affordability trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Kilcunda snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

616

+2.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

35.8%

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

#72

among Coastal & beach · Mature

Safety

40th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

89th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

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
28.9/100 — Below average
National rank
5752nd in Australia
State rank
1105th in VIC
Peer rank
#72 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#119 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

616(June 2025)

+2.2% annual · +14.3% over 5 years · 89th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.2%
5-year growth
+14.3%
Change in 1 year
+13
Change in 5 years
+77
Growth rank in VIC
89th 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 (~700), extrapolated at +2.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
578
Median age
55
Median household income / week
$1,412
Dwelling vacancy
35.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
129 of 360
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
51.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
231 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
26
Against the person
3
Against property
14
Rate per 1,000 residents
42.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 193 residents
State safety percentile
39.7th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+160%

Most common offence types

  • A232 Non-Fv Common Assault2
  • B311 Residential Aggravated Burglary3
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft4
  • B49 Other Theft3
  • C32 Drug Possession5

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Public transport

4 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Peppermint Rd/Bass Hwy
  • Peppermint Rd/Bass Hwy
  • Peppermint Rd/Bass Hwy
  • Peppermint Rd/Bass Hwy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

16 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 3 parks mapped in suburb
Walkability proxy
6/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
5.19
Sport & outdoors(2)
  • Picnic area
  • Sports field
Entertainment(2)
  • Viewpoint (2)
Other(5)
  • Kilcunda Trestle BridgeAttraction
  • Bench (3)
  • Parking (6)
  • Public toilets
  • Shelter

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)
12
Parks (OSM)
3

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
Wonthaggi Hospital (9.9 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public 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)
20
Participants per 1,000 residents
32.5

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
25° / 12°
Rainfall
197 mm · ~25 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 9°
Rainfall
228 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 5°
Rainfall
261 mm · ~33 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 7°
Rainfall
304 mm · ~38 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).

20 planning-related records

2021· 8 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Development of land for a dwelling in the ESO4 and SLO1
    32 MABILIA ROAD KILCUNDA 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Subdivision of land into two lots in the Township Zone
    6 HILL STREET KILCUNDA 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with the construction of a dwelling, shed and ancillary works within the Environmental Significance overlay ¿ schedule 4 and Significant Landscape Overlay ¿ schedule 1
    10 SHANTY LANE KILCUNDA 3995NOD issued by a delegate

  • June 2021

  • Subdivision of land into two lots in TZ
    2 BONWICK COURT KILCUNDA 3995NOD issued by the Resp. Authority

  • May 2021

  • Subdivision of land into two lots in TZ
    5 GRUBER STREET KILCUNDA 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Subdivision of land into 104 lots in the Township Zone, General Residential zone and Design and Development Overlay involving associated roadworks in the Farming Zone and Transport Zone and the removal of native grasses under Clause 52.17 `native vegetation¿
    ADVERSE POSSESSION, 35 MESSMATE ROAD KILCUNDA 3995In progress

  • March 2021

  • Development of land for two dwellings on a lot in GRZ1, ESO4 and SLO1
    3 Warren ParadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into 7 lots
    9 THE CORSOIT KILCUNDA 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 12 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Subdivision of land into 2 lots in TZ
    9 The CorsoitNOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Alter access to a Road Zone Category 1 and remove native vegetation under Clause 52.17
    BASS HIGHWAY KILCUNDA 3995NOD issued by a delegate

  • October 2020

  • Removal of native vegetation
    Bass Coast Shire - Rail Trail Mgt Committee, Bass HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for Garage in RLZ and RO
    41 Hakea RoadWithdrawn

  • August 2020

  • Development of land for an outbuilding (shed) in ESO4 and SLO1
    2-8 Connor PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into 2 lots
    12-14 Peppermint RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Development of the land for a dwelling in the SLO1 and ESO4
    2a Rees StreetNOD issued by a delegate

  • May 2020

  • Construct a dwelling in a Significant Landscape Overlay Schedule 1 (SLO1) - Amendment to plans
    3275 Bass HighwayPermit issued by the RA
  • Development of land for a detached extension to an existing dwelling in the RLZ
    1 Bellevue CourtWithdrawn

  • March 2020

  • Subdivision of land into four (4) lots, conduct works and remove vegetation
    3382-3384 Bass HighwayNOD issued by the Resp. Authority

  • February 2020

  • Subdivision of land into 3 lots and 1 common property in TZ
    3 Blackburn RoadNOD issued by a delegate

  • January 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two lots
    14 Messmate RoadNOD issued by a delegate

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
Monash
Member of Parliament
Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,463
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.2 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 16.0 km away).

Coalition 46.0%Labor 54.0%

8.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -1.4 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • KilcundaLabor 53.9% · Coalition 46.1% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
  • DalystonLabor 54.6% · Coalition 45.4% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
  • BassLabor 45.9% · Coalition 54.1% TPP (2025)8.8 km away
  • WonthaggiLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)8.9 km away
  • Wonthaggi NorthLabor 53.8% · Coalition 46.2% TPP (2025)9.3 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)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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 Bass Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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