suburb.guide

VIC · Whittlesea Council

Mernda, VIC, 3754

Current weather

11.2°CModerate rain showers

90% humidity · 33.3 km/h wind · 14.4° / 10.6° today · 10.5 mm rain

Desirability index

63.9/100

#173 among Metro Melbourne suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Mernda is a mid-sized suburb in the Whittlesea area, home to around 23,369 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,530 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+9%), roughly 65.5 offences per 1,000 residents, 5 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many Public Transport Victoria stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, 2 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
23,369
Median age
33
Median household income / week
$2,011
Dwelling vacancy
4.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
351 of 7,880
Median monthly mortgage
$1,937
Employment rate
66.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
597 / 688 / 110

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)
1,530
Against the person
275
Against property
789
Rate per 1,000 residents
65.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 85 residents
State safety percentile
58.5th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+9.4%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage122
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle180
  • B43 Steal From A Retail Store103
  • B49 Other Theft111
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order245

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
5
Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
1,057
  • Mernda Central P-12 CollegeCombined
  • Mernda Hills Christian CollegeCombined
  • Mernda Park Primary SchoolPrimary
  • Mernda Primary SchoolPrimary
  • St Joseph's SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

95 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bike and Ride
  • Mernda Rail Replacement Bus Stop
  • Mernda Railway Station
  • Mernda Station
  • Mernda Station

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

2 active roadworks / incidents

  • Utility Works activities occurring between 16/05/2026 and 16/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 6 to 10 min.BRIDGE INN ROAD, ALLIANCE AVENUE15 May 2026 – 15 Aug 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 16/05/2026 and 16/08/2026 during the following times: Weekends 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 6 to 10 min.BRIDGE INN ROAD, ALLIANCE AVENUE15 May 2026 – 15 Aug 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported

Planning & development

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

36 planning-related records

2021· 3 proposals

  • April 2021

  • Building and works to a dwelling associated with a retirement village. Building and works to a dwelling associated with a retirement village.
    89 Galloway DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Removal of native vegetation within a Vegetation Protection Overlay. Removal of native vegetation within a Vegetation Protection Overlay.
    21 Goulburn StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • VicSmart
    10 Eaglehawk DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 33 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Construction of a verandah Construction of a verandah
    5 Scuffam StreetNo permit required
  • Lopping of native vegetation (River Red Gum) Lopping of native vegetation (River Red Gum)
    12 Hickling RoadLapsed
  • Removal of vegetation Removal of vegetation
    30 Regent StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Residential Multi Lot Subdivision
    30B Ducal ParkwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision - Realignment of boundary Re-subdivision of land (boundary realignment)
    307 Bridge Inn RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Reduction of car parking associated with an existing place of assembly Reduction of car parking associated with an existing place of assembly
    70 Mernda Village DriveWithdrawn
  • Removal of native vegetation within a Vegetation Protection Overlay. Removal of native vegetation within a Vegetation Protection Overlay.
    73 Pearson RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Buildings and works comprising an extension to an existing dwelling Buildings and works comprising an extension to an existing dwelling
    13 Kage GroveNo permit required

  • September 2020

  • Multi Unit (5 or more dwellings) Construction of seven dwellings and a reduction of visitor car parking requirements
    10C Ducal ParkwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land Subdivision of land
    86 Grafton StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Subdivision of land
    625 Bridge Inn RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Any other applications (eg. Signage) Construction and display of major promotional signage
    280 Bridge Inn RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a dwelling Construction of a dwelling
    13 Strider StreetNo permit required

  • June 2020

  • Construction of a dwelling on a lot less than 300sqm. Construction of a dwelling on a lot less than 300sqm.
    17 Amy WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land
    110 Galloway DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a dwelling on a lot <300m2 Construction of a dwelling on a lot <300m2
    6 Asplin CircuitPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Amendment Amendment
    1410A Plenty RoadPermit issued by the RA
  • S72 Amendment - Amend Conditions 4, 5 and 6
    1410A Plenty RoadPermit issued by the RA
  • Fastlane (see website for information)
    35 Brandybuck LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Fastlane Lot less than 300 Fastlane Lot less than 300
    8 Asplin CircuitPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Fastlane Lot less than 300sqm Fastlane Lot less than 300sqm
    4 Asplin CircuitPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Subdivision of land
    46 Regent StreetLapsed
  • Construction of a dwelling in a lot less than 300m2 Construction of a dwelling in a lot less than 300m2
    30 Pythagoras StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • VicSmart Removal of vegetation
    9 Umbria RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land
    36 Eldorado LoopPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Single dwelling incl. associated works Construction of a dwelling on a lot less than 300m2
    13 Amy WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged Use and Development of a Medical Centre, Food and Drink Premise Staged Use and Development of a Medical Centre, Food and Drink Premises, Construction of Twelve Dwellings and Removal of Native Vegetation
    44 Breadalbane AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development Buildings and works to 'make safe' a building within a Heritage Overlay
    1410A Plenty RoadPermit issued by the RA

  • January 2020

  • Subdivision of buildings Subdivision of buildings
    10A Redwater DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land
    2B Gosling StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land
    27 Heals RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Single dwelling incl. associated works Construction of a veranda
    29 Newington ParadeNo permit required
  • Subdivision buildings
    40 Schotters RoadPermit 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

114 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • BWSAlcohol
  • LiquorlandAlcohol
  • WestpacATM
  • Bakers DelightBakery
  • Bbq
  • Rainbow NailsBeauty salon
  • Bench (48)
  • Bicycle Parking (5)
  • Breadalbane Reserve/Breadalbane AvenueBus stop
  • Bridge Inn Road/Breadalbane AvenueBus stop

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

94 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Apricot ParkPark
  • Arum ParkPark
  • Arum Redgum ReservePark
  • Arum WalkwayPark
  • Avoca ParkPark
  • Avoca Red GumPark
  • Barkly Red Gum Reserve ParkPark
  • Basilica ParkPark
  • Beechwood Red Gum ReservePark
  • Beechwood WalkwayPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
14
Emergency department
On site
  • Bridge Inn Medicalclinic
  • Chemist Warehousepharmacy
  • Chemist Warehousepharmacy
  • Direct Chemist Outletpharmacy
  • Hospitalhospital
  • Mernda Community HospitalFlourmill Drivehospital
  • Mernda Junction Medicalclinic
  • Mernda Smilesdentist
  • Mernda Village Medical Centreclinic
  • Passion Dentaldentist

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

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

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • FASHODA HOMESTEADNH2312

Data sources & freshness

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

Childcare

3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Early Learning Centre MerndaBent Streetkindergarten
  • Kiddy Palace Childcare CentreSchotters Roadkindergarten
  • One Early EducationMango Crescentchildcare

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)
184
Parks (OSM)
175

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
63.9/100
Cohort rank
#173 among Metro Melbourne suburbs

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Early Learning Centre MerndachildcareBent Streetkindergarten
  • Kiddy Palace Childcare CentrechildcareSchotters Roadkindergarten
  • One Early EducationchildcareMango Crescentchildcare
  • FASHODA HOMESTEADheritageNH2312
  • Bridge Inn Medicalhealthclinic
  • Chemist Warehousehealthpharmacy
  • Chemist Warehousehealthpharmacy
  • Direct Chemist Outlethealthpharmacy
  • Hospitalhealthhospital
  • Mernda Community HospitalhealthFlourmill Drivehospital

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
  • Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site

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