Malmsbury is a rural locality in Victoria, in Macedon Ranges Council. It is set against the Macedon Ranges and close to the Coliban River.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Local school ICSEA scores are among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities. University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, and the suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings, and green cover is an exceptional strength. Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group. Median house prices have risen 13% year on year.
Overall, Malmsbury suits people prioritising school quality and university qualifications over lower housing costs.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Rural locality · compared with rural localities in Victoria (1828)
Strengths
Local school ICSEA scores are among the highest in the peer group
University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Green cover is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group
What stands out
Coliban River
Macedon Ranges
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★★☆
Professionals★★☆☆☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Malmsbury compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$835k
+13% change
Median rent (Census)
$350/wk
2021 Census median weekly rent
Population (ERP)
920
+0.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
11.1%
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
#72
among Country & regional · Mature
Crime rate
46th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
61st
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
11%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
77th
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
52.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 31% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
1580th in Australia
State rank
385th in VIC
Peer rank
#72 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#130 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
95%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
+0.8% annual · +2.8% over 5 years · 61th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.8%
5-year growth
+2.8%
Change in 1 year
+7
Change in 5 years
+25
Growth rank in VIC
61th 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 (~1,000), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
905
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$1,636
Dwelling vacancy
11.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
44 of 396
Median monthly mortgage
$1,324
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$350
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
39.8% / 49.1% / 11.1%
Employment rate
58.8%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
29% / 0% / 56%
Walked or cycled to work
3.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
347 / 0 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
32.1% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 20.7% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified32.1% · 29.2% VIC
Diploma qualified7.6% · 9.8% VIC
Trade / vocational20.7% · 14.2% VIC
Year 12 or below39.7% · 46.8% VIC
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Society and culture17.2%
Education14.9%
Engineering and related technologies13.6%
Health12.9%
Management and commerce11%
Creative arts8.7%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$57,085
64th percentile in VIC · -3% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$63,230
67th percentile in VIC · -3% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
12.0%
44th percentile in VIC · -13% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$101,802
79th percentile in VIC · +61% vs Australia
Residents with business income
19.0%
97th percentile in VIC · +83% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3446 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
749
Taxpayers reporting net rent
91
Median net rent
-$2,224
Taxpayers reporting business income
145
Taxable income vs state median
+7%
Salary / wages vs state median
+8%
Rental investment vs state median
-8%
Super vs state median
+27%
Business income vs state median
+73%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in VIC, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Seasonal & agricultural work
3.7% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 1.6× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.1% across Victoria.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
3.7%
33rd percentile in VIC · +61% vs Australia
Resident workers (2021)
16
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462
Postcode 3446
Occupation mix in this industry
2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.
Managers14
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 3446 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.
Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)
Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for Bendigo (SA4 202), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.
Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415728
Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1213707
Crop Farmers ANZSCO 1212360
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214285
Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 841274
Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 841969
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 841654
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 721133
Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110
Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 841310
Bendigo is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.
Census employed residents counted in G54: 434 · AFF share +76% vs the state.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0
Community & culture
4.8% speak a language other than English at home; 13.4% born overseas
Language at home
809 English only · 41 other
Non-English at home
4.8%
Born overseas
112 (13.4%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
14 (1.5%)
Australian citizens
818
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
4
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
French6 · 33.3%
Spanish5 · 27.8%
Arabic4 · 22.2%
Greek3 · 16.7%
Religion
58.9%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 58.9%, while Christianity accounts for 28.1%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
58.9%
38.8%
Christianity
28.1%
40.9%
Other / not stated
13%
20.3%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
13.4%
20.5%
Anglican
5.7%
6.5%
Uniting Church
3.3%
2.4%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted 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)
45
Against the person
12
Against property
24
Rate per 1,000 residents
48.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 75 residents
State crime-rate percentile
46th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-19.6%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
24
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
26.09
Most common offence types
B21 Criminal Damage11
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle3
Other Crimes Against The Person3
A89 Other Dangerous Or Negligent Acts Endangering People3
B49 Other Theft4
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Malmsbury Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1074 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 69 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Kyneton Secondary CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Langley Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Malmsbury Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Taradale Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
Victorian designated neighbourhood zones — Victorian Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Great for outdoor family life — 3 parks mapped in suburb
Walkability proxy
8/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.31
Community(2)
Malmsbury Primary SchoolSchool
28 Cameron Street
Parkville College Malmsbury CampusSchool
Sport & outdoors(5)
Swimming pool (5)
Other(5)
Malmsbury NurseryGarden Centre
Parking (2)
Saint JohnsPlace of worship
Malmsbury Youth Justice CentrePrison
Prison
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Saint Johns
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
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.
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
27° / 12°
Rainfall
115 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
21° / 8°
Rainfall
133 mm · ~17 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
13° / 4°
Rainfall
180 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
19° / 7°
Rainfall
172 mm · ~22 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
72 planning-related records
2021· 29 proposals
August 2021
Use and development of a dwelling, associated works and lopping of vegetation
35 ROSS STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of the land for a replacement dwelling (Amendment sought to modify exisiting dwelling to a B & B) and provide a carport
391 YOUNGS ROAD MALMSBURY 3446In progress
Development of outdoor shower & pavilion
21 WALSH STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of the land for a dwelling
UNIT 2/7 TUCKER STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a Dwelling, Outbuilding (Shed) and Crossover.
31 CLOWES STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
Development of a Dwelling, Removal of two (2) trees (non-native) and Alteration of Access to a Road Zone, Category 1
126 MOLLISON STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of an extension to an existing dwelling and associated vegetation removal (Amendment sought to modify building)
152 MOLLISON STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of the Land for a Dwelling & Outbuilding (shed)
11 CLOWES STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a dwelling, outbuilding, swimming pool and fence, associated works and vegetation removal (Amendment Sought to alter Endorsed Plans (Double storey Dwelling) and Development of an Outbuilding (shed) & Pool.
115 MOLLISON STREET MALMSBURY 3446NOD issued by a delegate
May 2021
Development of an extension to the existing dwelling and removal of non-native vegetation (8 trees)
3-5 ROSS STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Demolition of Existing Changing Rooms and Toilets.
ELLESMERE PLACE MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Two (2) Lot Subdivision
14-18 WALSH STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a single dwelling, outbuilding (carport) and crossover.
4 BRODIE STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and Development of the land for a dwelling.
37 ROSS STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a single dwelling
20 URQUHART STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
Development of an outbuilding (garage).
154 Mollison StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a single dwelling
11 URQUHART STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a dwelling and outbuilding.
35 URQUHART STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a single dwelling.
12 ROSS STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a Dwelling and Outbuilding (Garage) and Post and Wire Fence
9-25 MOLLISON STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
Development of the land for a dwelling with 1m high front boundary fence, two outbuildings (carport and shed) and removal of vegetation (Amendment sought for changes to trees, deletion of retaining wall and water tank, addition of solar panels, and reduction of deck.)
6 Brodie StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of an outbuilding (shed).
53 URQUHART STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of an outbuilding (shed).
4 ADAMSON STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a dwelling and removal of vegetation.
43 CLOWES STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of multiple outbuildings
55 MITCHELL STREET MALMSBURY 3446NOD issued by a delegate
February 2021
Building and works associated with installation of four (4) shade sails
30 Mollison StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of an outbuilding.
8 FLEMING STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
In accordance with the endorsed plans: Change of Use of an Agricultural Building to a Dwelling with Associated Buildings and Works (Amendment sought to change the use of a farm shed to a dwelling with associated works)
386 YOUNGS ROAD MALMSBURY 3446Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority
2020· 11 proposals
December 2020
Two (2) Lot Subdivision
Daylesford RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Retrospective Use and Development of the Land for a Dwelling
386 Youngs RoadWithdrawn
Re-subdivision of twenty-nine (29) lots into twenty-nine (29) lots in three (3) stages, alter access to a Road Zone Category 1 and removal of native vegetation
BOWEN STREET MALMSBURY 3446NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
Development of an extension to and partial demolition of an existing dwelling and removal of vegetation
31 RALEIGH STREET MALMSBURY 3446Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of an extension to the existing dwelling (deck) and an outbuilding (carport)
31 Patterson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
Development of a dwelling, creation of vehicle crossover and removal of vegetation
31 Clowes StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of a replacement pergola
44 Ross StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Installation of fourteen (14) Solar Panels on roof of an existing dwelling
19B Ross StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Demolition of outbuilding (shed)
8 Ross StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development of a dwelling and associated outbuilding
34 CLOWES STREET MALMSBURY 3446NOD issued by a delegate
October 2020
Development of a business identification sign.
81 Mollison StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Heritage listings as established streetscape
Data sources & freshness
State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping. Flood cover uses inundation overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
Federal electorate
Bendigo
Member of Parliament
Lisa CHESTERS (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
120,088
Turnout (2025)
94.0%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+51.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 19.5 km away).
Coalition 35.7%Labor 64.3%
12.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +64.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
MalmsburyLabor 64.3% · Coalition 35.7% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
TaradaleLabor 73.1% · Coalition 26.9% TPP (2025)6.0 km away
KynetonLabor 65.3% · Coalition 34.7% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
Kyneton EastLabor 60.0% · Coalition 40.0% TPP (2025)9.6 km away
ElphinstoneLabor 53.2% · Coalition 46.8% TPP (2025)10.2 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.
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 (12%)