VIC · Moorabool Council
Merrimu, 3340
Current weather
9.3°CPartly cloudy
81% humidity · 26.9 km/h wind · 11.1° / 8.5° today · 11.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
- Café precinct
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Merrimu offers a slower smaller community life in Moorabool, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area.
Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in transport and access and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 397
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $2,441
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 13 of 129
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 63.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 7 / 0 / 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)
- 20
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 50.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 66 residents
- State safety percentile
- 47.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +53.8%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- A81 Dangerous Driving3
- A83 Throw Or Discharge Object Endangering People2
- B21 Criminal Damage2
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
- B49 Other Theft4
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
Roadworks & transport
8 active roadworks / incidents
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE-WESTERN IN RAMP ON05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, WESTERN IN-BACCHUS MARSH RAMP OF05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN IN-BACCHUS MARSH RAMP OF, WESTERN FREEWAY05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, WESTERN IN-BACCHUS MARSH RAMP OF05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN IN-BACCHUS MARSH RAMP OF, WESTERN FREEWAY05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 06/05/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE-WESTERN IN RAMP ON05 May 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Other DTP Works (not Tram, Train or Bus Replacements) activities occurring between 20/05/2026 and 30/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Weekends 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, WESTERN IN-BACCHUS MARSH RAMP OF19 May 2026 – 29 Aug 2026
- Other DTP Works (not Tram, Train or Bus Replacements) activities occurring between 20/05/2026 and 30/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Weekends 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WESTERN FREEWAY, BACCHUS MARSH-GISBORNE-WESTERN IN RAMP ON19 May 2026 – 29 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).
11 planning-related records
2021· 6 proposals
August 2021
- Development of Two (2) Sheds Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling17 LINDSAY AVENUE MERRIMU 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Development and Use of a 2nd Dwelling26 LERDERDERG PARK ROAD MERRIMU 3340In progress
May 2021
- Use and Development of a Dependent Persons Unit Associated with an Existing Dwelling57 DODEMAIDE CIRCUIT MERRIMU 3340Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Development of a Dependant Persons Unit (DPU) in Association with an Existing Dwelling181 Flanagans DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision152 Bences RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Development of Additions Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling24 Tucker CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 5 proposals
December 2020
- Development of a Replacement Dwelling and Ancillary Outbuilding84 Lawson RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Development of a Caretaker's Dwelling in Association with an Existing VineyardLawson RoadWithdrawn
August 2020
- Development and Use of a DwellingLot 144 Flanagans DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision152 Bences RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Use of land for landscape gardening supplies and materials recycling (road base, concrete, asphalt and aggregate)GISBORNE ROAD MERRIMU 3340Permit 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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
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
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- FORMER LEAHYS RESIDENCENH0907
- HOPETOUN CATHOLIC CEMETERYNH2059
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 42.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 44% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2885th in Australia
- State rank
- 550th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #95 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #181 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 52%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- A81 Dangerous Drivingcrime3
- A83 Throw Or Discharge Object Endangering Peoplecrime2
- B21 Criminal Damagecrime2
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime2
- B49 Other Theftcrime4
- FORMER LEAHYS RESIDENCEheritageNH0907
- HOPETOUN CATHOLIC CEMETERYheritageNH2059
- Development and Use of a 2nd Dwellingplanning26 LERDERDERG PARK ROAD MERRIMU 3340Lodged 16 Jun 2021 · In progress
- Development and Use of a DwellingplanningLot 144 Flanagans DriveLodged 21 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of Additions Ancillary to an Existing Dwellingplanning24 Tucker CourtLodged 21 Jan 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
- 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
More in Moorabool Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.