suburb.guide

VIC · South Gippsland Council

Leongatha South, 3953

Est. population · Jun 2025

624

Growth (1 yr)

+0.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+2.3%

Median age

44

Median income

$1,792/wk

Employment rate

68.5%

Languages at home

1.2%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

38.3/100
Below average

805th in VIC

Verified 70% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • National parks
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
What Leongatha South is known for: Green suburb, National parks, Excellent transport, High desirability

Suburb profile

In South Gippsland Council, Leongatha South keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.

Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here.

Reported crime has been falling recently. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.

Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus housing affordability lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Leongatha South snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

624

+0.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

13.1%

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

#79

among Country & regional · Established

Safety

24th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

53rd

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
38.3/100 — Below average
National rank
4074th in Australia
State rank
805th in VIC
Peer rank
#79 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#342 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

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

Population

Estimated resident population

624(June 2025)

+0.5% annual · +2.3% over 5 years · 53th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.5%
5-year growth
+2.3%
Change in 1 year
+3
Change in 5 years
+14
Growth rank in VIC
53th 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 (~650), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
616
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,792
Dwelling vacancy
13.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
31 of 236
Median monthly mortgage
$1,521
Employment rate
68.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
201 / 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)
18
Against the person
1
Against property
12
Rate per 1,000 residents
28.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 616 residents
State safety percentile
23.7th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-47.1%

Most common offence types

  • B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary3
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft4
  • B49 Other Theft4
  • E13 Resist Or Hinder Officer2
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Racecourse Rd/Bass Hwy
  • Zotti and Dowels Rd/Bass Hwy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

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

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Leongatha H3 Bushland ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
222
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
Leongatha Memorial Hospital (9.2 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)
19
Participants per 1,000 residents
30.4

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).

18 planning-related records

2021· 7 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Develop land with a shed
    8485 BASS HIGHWAY LEONGATHA SOUTH 3953Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Develop land with a dwelling
    227 HUDSONS ROAD LEONGATHA SOUTH 3953Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a store (aircraft hangar)
    105 AERODROME ROAD LEONGATHA SOUTH 3953Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Develop land with a building associated with existing golf course
    855 Koonwarra-Inverloch RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for group accommodation buildings, cellar door and business identification signage
    150 HOLGATES ROAD LEONGATHA SOUTH 3953Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Development of an Agricultural Building - amend endorsed plans
    1005 Koonwarra-Inverloch RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    807 Koonwarra-Inverloch RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 11 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Develop land with a domestic outbuilding (outdoor living area)
    213 Racecourse RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    340 Hillgroves RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a store (aircraft hangar)
    105 Aerodrome RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Develop land with a store (air craft hanger)
    105 Aerodrome RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    30 Hillgroves RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    340 Hillgroves RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a replacement dwelling
    8355 Bass HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling
    170 SIMONS LANE LEONGATHA SOUTH 3953Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Construction of a dairy - amend endorsed plans
    265 Racecourse RoadNOD issued by a delegate

  • April 2020

  • Develop land with a dwelling, outbuilding and native vegetation removal
    Koonwarra-Pound Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Develop land with an internally illuminated business identification signage
    2 Hogans RoadPermit 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
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 13.8 km away).

Coalition 65.3%Labor 34.7%

11.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +0.7 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Leongatha SouthLabor 27.9% · Coalition 72.1% TPP (2025)4.0 km away
  • KoonwarraLabor 45.8% · Coalition 54.2% TPP (2025)8.2 km away
  • LeongathaLabor 39.9% · Coalition 60.1% TPP (2025)11.9 km away
  • Leongatha EastLabor 42.6% · Coalition 57.4% TPP (2025)12.5 km away
  • KongwakLabor 41.5% · Coalition 58.5% TPP (2025)12.9 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 South Gippsland Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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