suburb.guide

VIC · Mildura Council

Merbein, VIC, 3505

Current weather

13°CClear sky

85% humidity · 22.7 km/h wind · 15.3° / 11.4° today · 7.6 mm rain

Desirability index

17.4/100

#434 among Country & regional suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Merbein is a smaller suburban community in the Mildura area, home to around 2,770 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 283 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+43%), roughly 102.2 offences per 1,000 residents, 2 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many Public Transport Victoria stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population
2,770
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,147
Dwelling vacancy
9.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
114 of 1,166
Median monthly mortgage
$1,025
Employment rate
49.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
113 / 62 / 26

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)
283
Against the person
72
Against property
119
Rate per 1,000 residents
102.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 38 residents
State safety percentile
76.5th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+42.9%

Most common offence types

  • A211 Fv Serious Assault18
  • B21 Criminal Damage31
  • B49 Other Theft21
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order56
  • Other Crimes Against The Person17

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
975
  • Merbein P-10 CollegeCombined
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

24 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Foster St/Commercial St
  • Game St/Reilly St
  • Mead St/Commercial St
  • Merbein P-10 College/Commercial St
  • River Ave/Reilly St

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

25 planning-related records

2021· 12 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Section 71 Amendment Multi lot staged residential subdivision
    67 RIVER AVENUE MERBEIN 3505Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Other
    Channel RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Other
    Channel RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Application to Amend Use and development of the land for rural industry (warehouse), reduction in car parking requirements, waiver of bicycle facilities and alteration of access to a Road in a Road Zone, Category 1
    Channel RoadWithdrawn
  • Section 71 Amendment Subdivision of the land into two (2) lots
    139 Fifth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Section 71 Amendment Two lot subdivision (boundary re-alignment)
    23 Fourth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Section 71 Amendment Two Lot Subdivision (dwelling excision)
    158 Second StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Application to Amend 2 Lot Re-subdivision
    139 Cowanna AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Section 71 Amendment Create access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1
    33 Third StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Application to Amend 2 Lot Re-subdivision
    139 Cowanna AvenueWithdrawn
  • Application to Amend 3 lot subdivision
    32 Box StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Application to Amend Use and development of the land for residential buildings and 3 lot subdivision
    32 Box StreetWithdrawn
2020· 13 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Create access to a Road Zone Category 1 Create access to a Road Zone Category 1
    31 Third StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision land (1-9 lots) 2 Lot Subdivision (dwelling excision)
    207 Fifth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Create access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1 Create access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1
    33 Third StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Dwelling Use and development of a dwelling
    Second StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Section 71 Amendment Two lot subdivision (dwelling excision)
    118 Sixth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Application to Amend Development for Alterations and Extensions to Hotel and Restricted Gaming Room and Signage
    108 Commercial StreetWithdrawn
  • Application to Amend Multi lot staged residential subdivision
    95 Chaffey StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • 2 Lot Subdivision Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    469 Wentworth RoadWithdrawn

  • June 2020

  • Rural Industry (Packing Shed) Use and development of the land for rural industry (warehouse), reduction in car parking requirements, waiver of bicycle facilities and alteration of access to a Road in a Road Zone, Category 1
    Channel RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Section 71 Amendment Six Lot Staged Subdivision
    47 Main AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Section 71 amendment Two lot subdivision (dwelling excision)
    118 Sixth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Alterations to School Facilities Buildings and works associated with existing primary school and Internally Illuminated Sign
    18 Box StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Develop Child care centre, display signage and alter access Use and development of the land for a child care centre, development and display of business identification signage and alteration of access to a road in a road zone, category 1
    3-15 Third StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

  • PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020; 2020–2022; 2021 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

20 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bendigo BankATM
  • Bakery Old Fashioned BreadsBakery

    Commercial Street, Merbein

  • Merbein Post OfficeBus stop
  • Merbein TerminusBus stop
  • Our Lady of The Sacred Heart Primary SchoolBus stop
  • healthSAVE Keens PharmacyChemist

    81 Commercial Street

  • GT 2 GOFast food

    83 Commercial Street, Merbein

  • Rustey's TakeawayFast food

    Commercial Street, Merbein

  • Tasty TakeawaysFood

    71 Commercial Street, Merbein

  • Fresh Fruit & VegHealth Food

    Commercial Street, Merbein

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

6 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Apex Civic ParkPark
  • Bildstien ParkPark
  • Chaffey ParkPark
  • Kenny ParkPark
  • Merbein Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • O’Bryan Street PlaygroundPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
1/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • MILDARA BLASS DISTILLERYNH1099

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Merbein KindergartenO'Bryan Streetkindergarten

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
6
Parks (OSM)
6

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
17.4/100
Cohort rank
#434 among Country & regional suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Merbein KindergartenchildcareO'Bryan Streetkindergarten
  • MILDARA BLASS DISTILLERYheritageNH1099
  • Apex Civic Parkgovernmentpark
  • Bildstien Parkgovernmentpark
  • Chaffey Parkgovernmentpark
  • Kenny Parkgovernmentpark
  • Merbein Bushland Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • O’Bryan Street Playgroundgovernmentpark
  • 2 Lot Subdivision Two (2) Lot Subdivisionplanning469 Wentworth RoadLodged 20 Jul 2020 · Withdrawn
  • Alterations to School Facilities Buildings and works associated with existing primary school and Internally Illuminated Signplanning18 Box StreetLodged 21 Jan 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
  • Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
  • PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

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