suburb.guide

VIC · Ballarat Council

Lucas, 3350

Est. population · Jun 2025

3,704

Growth (1 yr)

+3.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+34.3%

Median age

32

Median income

$1,956/wk

Employment rate

68.5%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$645,000

Languages at home

21%non-English

Most common: Malayalam, Punjabi, Mandarin

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

59.4/100
Good

Top 24% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 100% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
  • National parks
What Lucas is known for: Green suburb, High desirability, Excellent transport, Education hub, National parks

Suburb profile

Lucas is a regional mid-sized suburb in Ballarat Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Melbourne. Young professionals and new households shape much of the local mix, with plenty of young families in the mix. There are enough cafés and casual dining options to keep weekends interesting without the inner-city crush.

Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, and buses help with longer trips. Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here.

Reported crime has been rising recently. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.

Against similar regional towns, housing affordability, plus community and employment stand out and the overall desirability rating is good, with growth momentum less decisive.

At a glance

Lucas snapshot

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

Median house price

$645k

+0.7% change

Median rent

$430/wk

Population (ERP)

3,704

+3.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

4.5%

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

#7

among Country & regional · Growth area

Safety

61st

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

96th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

65th

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
59.4/100 — Good
State standing
Top 24% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
1086th in Australia
State rank
296th in VIC
Peer rank
#7 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#45 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
100%

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)
$645,000
Median price change
+0.7%

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

Population

Estimated resident population

3,704(June 2025)

+3.7% annual · +34.3% over 5 years · 96th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+3.7%
5-year growth
+34.3%
Change in 1 year
+132
Change in 5 years
+946
Growth rank in VIC
96th 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 (~5,100), extrapolated at +6.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
2,994
Median age
32
Median household income / week
$1,956
Dwelling vacancy
4.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
50 of 1,106
Median monthly mortgage
$1,700
Employment rate
68.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,028 / 24 / 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)
253
Against the person
33
Against property
158
Rate per 1,000 residents
68.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 91 residents
State safety percentile
61.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+58.1%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage12
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft22
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle41
  • B49 Other Theft54
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order44

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
1,042
Median ICSEA percentile
65th
School list
  • Siena Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1055 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 336 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
  • Lucas Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1029 · 60th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 527 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Journey Early Learning LucasHarris Drivekindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

7 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Daly Dr/Eleanor Dr
  • Eleanor Dr/Messenger Pde
  • Lucas PS/O'Shannassy Pde
  • Paterson St/Eleanor Dr
  • Shortridge Dr/Messenger Pde

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

124 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 restaurants · 1 cafes · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 3 fast food · 1 bakeries · 6 playgrounds · 2 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
  • Great for outdoor family life — 11 parks mapped in suburb, 6 playgrounds nearby
  • Strong local sport and recreation — 9 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
63/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.33
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.67
Food & drink(6)
  • Bakers DelightBakery

    Unit Shop 2 6 Coltman Plaza

  • Lucas Town CaféCafe

    Unit Shop 6 Coltman Plaza

  • KFC LucasFast food
  • Lucas Fish & ChipsFast food

    Unit Shop 7 Coltman Plaza

  • McDonald's LucasFast food

    1 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • Tokyo CuisineRestaurant

    Unit 5A Coltman Plaza

Shopping(5)
  • Lenard'sButcher

    Unit Shop 4 Coltman Plaza

  • EG AustraliaConvenience store
  • Wilsons Fruit and VegetablesGreengrocer

    Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • WoolworthsSupermarket

    6 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

Community(4)
  • Lucas Community HubCommunity centre

    17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • Journey Early Learning LucasKindergarten

    25 Harris Drive

  • Lucas Primary SchoolSchool

    46 O'Shannassy Parade

  • Siena Catholic Primary SchoolSchool

    150 Eleanor Drive

Health & services(5)
  • Ballarat Community HealthClinic

    12 Lilburne Street, Lucas

  • TristarClinic

    6 Coltman Plaza

  • Ballarat Family DentalDentist

    3-11 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • UFSPharmacy

    Unit Shop 1 6 Coltman Plaza

  • Lucas Veterinary ClinicVeterinary

    9 Merz Street

Sport & outdoors(20)
  • Park (11)
  • Lucas Platnium Park PlaygroundPlayground
  • Lucas Rise ParkPlayground
  • Playground (3)
  • Sanctuary Park PlaygroundPlayground
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (2)
Transport(5)

5 bus stops

Other(24)
  • BWSAlcohol

    Unit Shop 10 Coltman Plaza

  • Bank of MelbourneATM
  • Bendigo BankATM
  • Glitter Nails & BeautyBeauty salon

    6 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • Bench (13)
  • Bicycle Parking (7)
  • Drinking water
  • Tesla SuperchargerEV charging
  • StemsFlorist

    Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • Coltman Plaza Lucas Shopping CentreMall

    6 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • Sam Yin's Traditional Chinese MassageMassage

    Unit Shop 9 Coltman Plaza

  • EyeQ OptometristsOptician

    Unit Shop 3 6 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • Australia Post Parcel LockerParcel Locker
  • Parking (11)
  • EG AustraliaPetrol station

    23 Lilburne Street, Lucas

  • Australia PostPost Box
  • Lucas Post OfficePost office

    Unit 5 18 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • Public toilets
  • Recycling (8)
  • Shelter (9)
  • Ingenia Lifestyle Parkside LucasSocial Facility
  • Lucas Lifestyle EstateSocial Facility
  • Trolley Bay (6)
  • Waste Basket (9)

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)
11
Parks (OSM)
11

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

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
4
Nearest hospital
Ballarat Day Procedure Centre (5.0 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • Ballarat Community HealthLilburne StreetClinic
  • Ballarat Family DentalColtman PlazaDentist
  • TristarColtman PlazaClinic
  • UFSColtman PlazaPharmacy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
124
Participants per 1,000 residents
33.5

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
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).

29 planning-related records

2021· 10 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Development of a Residential Village and Business Identification Signage
    21 HARRIS DRIVE LUCAS 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of the land for an education centre Stage 4 associated works
    150 ELEANOR DRIVE LUCAS 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Use and development of a medical centre, childcare centre, indoor recreation facility (swim school), restricted recreation facility (gym), food and drink premises (cafe) and shop (pharmacy), reduction in car parking, staged eight lot subdivision and display of business identification signage
    LOT Z3 DYSON DRIVE LUCAS 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Carry out works to existing supermarket
    6 COLTMAN PLAZA LUCAS 3350In progress
  • Development of land for a business hub, comprising a number of individual office tenancies, retail space and reduction in the car parking requirements
    18 LILBURNE STREET LUCAS 3350Withdrawn

  • March 2021

  • 6 lot subdivision and creation of a carriageway easement
    180 Eleanor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Two Lot Subdivision (resubdivision)
    Lot 1 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Development of Community Care Accommodation
    9 Moore WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of community care accommodation
    3 Brownfield DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a medical centre, childcare centre, food and drink premises shop staged seven lot subdivision and display of business identification signage
    Lot Z3 Dyson DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 19 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Development of an office building and reduction in carparking requirements
    25 Lilburne StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Use and development of a land for childcare centre
    25 Harris DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of the land for a medical centre (dental practice) and display of business identification signage
    1 Merz StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Two Lot Subdivision (resubdivision)
    Lot 1 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Use and development of a Residential Village
    65 Eleanor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a Community Care Accomodation
    5 Beaston WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a Community Care Accomodation (retrospective)
    2 Cornell CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a Residential Village
    Lot P3 Cuthberts RoadWithdrawn
  • Staged multi lot subdivision, removal of native vegetation and creation/removal of carriageway easements
    317 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Use and development of a medical centre food and drink premises shop staged three lot subdivision and display of business identificaiton signage
    Lot Z3 Dyson DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged multi lot subdivision and creation/removal of carriageway easements
    23 Remembrance DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Use and development of land for a display village, development of car park, installation of promotional signage and reduction of car parking requirements
    Lot P3 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding
    410 Ballarat - Carngham RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • 6 lot subdivision
    180 Eleanor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a residential village
    65 Eleanor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Staged multi lot subdivision and creation/removal of carriageway easements
    23 Remembrance DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Multi lot subdivision, removal of native vegetation and creation/removal of carriageway easements
    317 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged five lot subdivision
    317 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Use of a restricted recreation facility (Surf Gym)
    180 Eleanor DrivePermit 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
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 5.7 km away).

Coalition 37.5%Labor 62.5%

1.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -2.7 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • LucasLabor 62.3% · Coalition 37.7% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
  • Alfredton WestLabor 62.4% · Coalition 37.6% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
  • AlfredtonLabor 58.9% · Coalition 41.1% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
  • Wendouree WestLabor 72.7% · Coalition 27.3% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
  • WendoureeLabor 60.4% · Coalition 39.6% TPP (2025)5.2 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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

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.