Median house price
$710k
-5.0% change
VIC · Ballarat Council
Lake Gardens, 3355
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,755
Growth (1 yr)
-0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
-3.4%
Median age
51
Median income
$1,534/wk
Employment rate
51.8%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$709,900
Languages at home
13.3%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Sinhalese, Cantonese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- National parks
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Lake Gardens is a regional smaller community in Ballarat Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Melbourne. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Schooling is a clear local strength compared with many peer areas.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses and trains covering longer trips across the wider area. Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here.
Reported crime has been rising recently. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because growth momentum lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Lake Gardens snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$430/wk
Population (ERP)
1,755
-0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.6%
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
#76
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
80th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
3rd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
62nd
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 43.4/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3188th in Australia
- State rank
- 635th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #76 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #213 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $430
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $709,900
- Median price change
- -5%
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025; Sep 2025 (council median) · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
1,755(June 2025)
-0.3% annual · -3.4% over 5 years · 3th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.3%
- 5-year growth
- -3.4%
- Change in 1 year
- -5
- Change in 5 years
- -61
- Growth rank in VIC
- 3th 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 (~1,750), extrapolated at -0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,801
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,534
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 53 of 798
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 51.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 688 / 54 / 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)
- 209
- Against the person
- 16
- Against property
- 147
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 119.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 113 residents
- State safety percentile
- 80.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +47.2%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage18
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft20
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle70
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order18
- E23 Breach Bail Conditions12
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) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 8
- Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
- 1,035.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 62th
School list
- Ballarat Specialist SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 950 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 453 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Ballarat High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1016 · 54th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 1,461 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Loreto CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1073 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 948 students · Top SEA quarter 27% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Wendouree Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 917 · 14th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 116 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Ballarat GrammarCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1120 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 1,989 students · Top SEA quarter 48% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Alfredton Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1009 · 51th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 527 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- St Thomas More SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1087 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 431 students · Top SEA quarter 32% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- St Patrick's CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1055 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 1,267 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
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 · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
7 public transport stops in this suburb
- Aquatic Centre/Gillies St N
- Ballarat HS/Gillies St N
- Lake Gardens Ave/Gillies St N
- Stirling Dr/Gillies St N
- Wendouree Railway Station
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
36 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 9 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 11/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 5
Community(2)
- Ballarat High SchoolSchool
1726 Sturt Street
- Ballarat Specialist SchoolSchool
25 Gilles Street North
Sport & outdoors(14)
- Gym
- Lake Gardens PlaygroundPark
- Park (6)
- St John's WoodPark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
- Wakeling FieldSports field
- Ballarat Aquatic and Leisure CentreSwimming pool
Gillies Street North
Transport(6)
3 bus stops · 3 train stations
Other(8)
- Bench (4)
- Bicycle Parking
- Parking (4)
- Picnic Table
- Australia PostPost Box
- Public toilets
- Storage KingStorage Rental
- Waste Basket
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
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Lake Gardens PlaygroundPark
- St John's WoodPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Ballarat Day Procedure Centre (1.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 45
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 25.6
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 26° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 128 mm · ~16 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 124 mm · ~16 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 149 mm · ~19 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 182 mm · ~23 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).
9 planning-related records
2021· 1 proposal
May 2021
- 12 lot subdivision18 GREGORY STREET WEST LAKE GARDENS 3355Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 8 proposals
September 2020
- Use and development of 12 warehouses and a reduction in car parking18 Gregory Street WestPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use of land for motor repairs and car sales14 Gregory Street WestLapsed
- Use and development of a vehicle store24 Gregory Street WestPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Change of use to vehicle store12 Gregory Street WestWithdrawn
- Development of the land for extensions to a retirement village25 Charles Anderson GrovePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Development of four dwellings and a four lot subdivision15 Limetree WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Development of two dwellings and two lot subdivision8 Cinnamon DriveLapsed
February 2020
- Development of a verandah4 Liliane PlacePermit 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) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
Heritage
2 heritage places
- BALLARAT HIGH SCHOOLNH1797
- BALLARAT HIGH SCHOOLNH1797
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Ballarat
- Member of Parliament
- Catherine KING (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 116,238
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.3%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 39.3%Labor 60.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.5 km away).
Coalition 37.5%Labor 62.5%
1.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.7 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- AlfredtonLabor 58.9% · Coalition 41.1% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- Alfredton WestLabor 62.4% · Coalition 37.6% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- WendoureeLabor 60.4% · Coalition 39.6% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- Lake WendoureeLabor 65.1% · Coalition 34.9% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Wendouree WestLabor 72.7% · Coalition 27.3% TPP (2025)2.2 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- 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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Ballarat Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.