Median house price
$1.02M
+6.3% change
VIC · Greater Geelong Council
Manifold Heights, 3218
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,827
Growth (1 yr)
+1.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.0%
Median age
39
Median income
$1,820/wk
Employment rate
66.4%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$1,020,000
Languages at home
10.2%non-English
Most common: Italian, Macedonian, Punjabi
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Greater Geelong Council, Manifold Heights is a mid-sized suburb with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. There is a dense cluster of schools and early-learning options nearby.
Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Getting around is straightforward, with buses tying neighbouring communities together. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Reported crime has been rising recently. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because parks and green space, plus 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
Manifold Heights snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$490/wk
Population (ERP)
2,827
+1.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.7%
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
#32
among Metro Melbourne · Emerging
Safety
55th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
81st
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
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
- 41.2/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3540th in Australia
- State rank
- 705th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #32 among Metro Melbourne · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #364 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $490
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $1,020,000
- Median price change
- +6.3%
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
2,827(June 2025)
+1.5% annual · +6.0% over 5 years · 81th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.5%
- 5-year growth
- +6.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +42
- Change in 5 years
- +160
- Growth rank in VIC
- 81th 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 (~3,000), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,681
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,820
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 89 of 1,154
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,990
- Employment rate
- 66.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 797 / 147 / 127
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)
- 167
- Against the person
- 13
- Against property
- 96
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 59.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 206 residents
- State safety percentile
- 55.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +63.7%
Most common offence types
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary11
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle13
- B49 Other Theft28
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception11
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order34
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
- 13
- Median school ICSEA (13 schools)
- 1,075
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 77th
School list
- Manifold Heights Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1082 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 469 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
- Holy Spirit Parish SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1068 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 326 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Clonard CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1051 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 940 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Herne Hill Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 267 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Newtown Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1076 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 193 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- St Patrick's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1107 · 86th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 418 students · Top SEA quarter 41% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Ashby Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1059 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 259 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Sacred Heart CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1105 · 86th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 1,450 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- St Joseph's College GeelongSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1075 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 1,742 students · Top SEA quarter 27% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Hamlyn Views SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 998 · 46th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 150 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.5 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Guardian Childcare & Education Manifold Heightskindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
17 public transport stops in this suburb
- Central Ave/Autumn St
- Douglass St/Shannon Ave
- Lascelles Ave/Shannon Ave
- Narmbool St/Shannon Ave
- Roxby St/Shannon Ave
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
136 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 cafes · 1 fast food · 4 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 71 swimming pools · 2 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 17 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 75 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 34/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 1.12
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.49
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.37
Food & drink(4)
- Bean SqueezeCafe
251 Shannon Avenue, Manifold Heights
- Cafe
- House IberiaCafe
- Shannon Ave Fish & ChipsFast food
197A Shannon Avenue
Shopping(3)
- Convenience store
- Pie FaceConvenience store
302 Aberdeen Street, Manifold Heights
- Greengrocer
Community(2)
- Guardian Childcare & Education Manifold HeightsKindergarten
- Manifold Heights Primary SchoolSchool
20-24 Strachan Avenue
Sport & outdoors(76)
- Anytime FitnessGym
103 Shannon Avenue
- George Harvey ReservePark
- Peter Lowe ReservePlayground
- Playground
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (71)
Transport(13)
13 bus stops
Other(24)
- West Geelong ChiropracticAlternative
107 Shannon Avenue
- Bicycle Parking
- Op Shop of Mano BapsCharity
- Miss IndyClothes
16-18 Minerva Road
- John A. Baker Denture ClinicDentures
- Peri's All Out FishingFishing
105 Shannon Avenue
- PictureworksFrame
199 Shannon Avenue
- Graeme Tame Mens HairdresserHairdresser
- Sila SalonHairdresser
201 Shannon Avenue
- The iPhone GuyMobile Phone
197 Shannon Avenue
- Nutrition WarehouseNutrition Supplements
209 Shannon Avenue
- Parking (5)
- Parking Space (9)
- Caltex WoolworthsPetrol station
109 Shannon Avenue
- United GeelongPetrol station
- Geelong MosquePlace of worship
47 Bostock Avenue
- Mano BapsPlace of worship
163 Shannon Avenue, Manifold Heights
- Parish of Holy SpiritPlace of worship
- Place of worship
- Public toilets
- Shelter (3)
- ScopeSocial Facility
- TelstraTelephone
- Tate's Toys and HobbiesToys
135 Shannon Avenue, Manifold Heights
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- George Harvey ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
Places of worship
4 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Geelong Mosque
47 Bostock Avenue
- Mano Baps
163 Shannon Avenue, Manifold Heights
- Parish of Holy Spirit
- Place of worship
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- McKellar Centre (2.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- West Geelong ChiropracticShannon AvenueAlternative
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)
- 107
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 37.8
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).
15 planning-related records
2021· 10 proposals
August 2021
- Partial Demolition and an Extension to a Dwelling in a Heritage Overlay3 GIRTON CRESCENT MANIFOLD HEIGHTS 3218Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial Demolition and the Construction of an Extension to a Dwelling8 GIRTON CRESCENT MANIFOLD HEIGHTS 3218Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- Partial Demolition and Alterations and Additions to a Dwelling in a Heritage Overlay26 GIRTON CRESCENT MANIFOLD HEIGHTS 3218Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings46 LASCELLES AVENUE MANIFOLD HEIGHTS 3218NOD issued by a delegate
- Construction of a Double Storey Dwelling and Three (3) Lot Subdivision3 WIMMERA AVENUE MANIFOLD HEIGHTS 3218Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Display of business identification signage and internally illuminated signage4/127 SHANNON AVENUE MANIFOLD HEIGHTS 3218Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Construction of a Shed in an Heritage Overlay15 Girton CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial Demolition and Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Garage in a Heritage Overlay9 Longview AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Partial Demolition and the Construction of an Extension to a Dwelling8 Girton CrescentNOD issued by a delegate
January 2021
- Demolition of a Fence and Construction of a Fence and External Painting13 Girton CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 5 proposals
August 2020
- Two Lot Subdivision of Existing Dwellings12B Calder StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Partial Demolition, Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling within a Heritage Overlay24 Airey AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings Greater than 7.5m in Height and Two (2) Lot Subdivision6 Central AvenueLapsed
May 2020
- Buildings and Works Associated with Alterations to an Existing Dwelling and Construction of a Second Dwelling, Two (2) Lot Subdivision and Alterations to Vehicle Access to a Road in a Road Zone Category 165 Shannon AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Construction of Three (3) Dwellings and Three (3) Lot Subdivision64 Wimmera AvenueNOD issued by a delegate
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
1 heritage place
- HOLY SPIRIT CHURCHNH1110
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
- Corio
- Member of Parliament
- Richard MARLES (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,756
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 36.8%Labor 63.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.6 km away).
Coalition 29.3%Labor 70.8%
7.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Manifold HeightsLabor 71.4% · Coalition 28.6% TPP (2025)0.2 km away
- Herne HillLabor 70.7% · Coalition 29.3% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- NewtownLabor 62.4% · Coalition 37.6% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- Geelong West UpperLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- Geelong WestLabor 66.6% · Coalition 33.4% TPP (2025)1.2 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)
- 9/10
- 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 Greater Geelong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.