VIC · Colac Otway Council
Marengo, 3233
Current weather
9.2°CClear sky
76% humidity · 28.5 km/h wind · 12.1° / 7.5° today · 4.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Marengo revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Set on the coast at a distance from the capital, it trades city proximity for a slower, beach-led rhythm. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.
This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability relative to similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 272
- Median age
- 59
- Median household income / week
- $1,292
- Dwelling vacancy
- 56.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 156 of 276
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 50.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 4 / 7 / 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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2026)
- 8
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 29.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 272 residents
- State safety percentile
- 23.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +300%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage1
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary1
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
- B49 Other Theft1
- Other Crimes Against The Person1
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) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Harrison St/Marengo Crst
- Harrison St/Marengo Crst
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
4 planning-related records
2021· 2 proposals
March 2021
- Building and Works Comprising Construction of Outbuilding17 OCEAN PARK DRIVE MARENGO 3233Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Subdivision of the Land into Two (2) Lots20 TELFORD STREET MARENGO 3233Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 2 proposals
September 2020
- Buildings and Works Comprising Construction of Replacement Dwelling8 MITCHELL COURT MARENGO 3233Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Building and Works Comprising Extension and Alterations to Building30 ROBERTS ROAD MARENGO 3233Permit 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) · Period: 2020–2022 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
Amenities
4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Harrison St/Marengo CresBus stop
- Swimming pool (3)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Heathfield Estate ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- 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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 18.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6645th in Australia
- State rank
- 1232nd in VIC
- Peer rank
- #79 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #127 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Harrison St/Marengo Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- B21 Criminal Damagecrime1
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime1
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime1
- B49 Other Theftcrime1
- Other Crimes Against The Personcrime1
- Heathfield Estate Reservegovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
More in Colac Otway Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.