Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Mount Alexander Council
Muckleford, 3451
Est. population · Jun 2025
449
Growth (1 yr)
+1.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.7%
Median age
46
Median income
$1,848/wk
Employment rate
58.7%
Languages at home
1%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Muckleford is a quieter smaller community in Mount Alexander Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Desirability lands around average here: softer local dining and lifestyle amenities weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with safety, plus schools and education holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Muckleford snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
449
+1.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
10.5%
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
#90
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
24th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
73rd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
86th
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
- 42.7/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3303rd in Australia
- State rank
- 659th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #90 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #232 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 74%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
449(June 2025)
+1.1% annual · +7.7% over 5 years · 73th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.1%
- 5-year growth
- +7.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +5
- Change in 5 years
- +32
- Growth rank in VIC
- 73th 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 (~500), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 426
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,848
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 18 of 172
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 58.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 158 / 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 · 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 13
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 11
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 29
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 426 residents
- State safety percentile
- 23.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -7.1%
Most common offence types
- A211 Fv Serious Assault1
- B19 Other Fire Related Offences1
- B21 Criminal Damage1
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary4
- B49 Other Theft3
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,105
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 86th
School list
- Castlemaine Steiner School & KindergartenCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1105 · 86th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 135 students · Top SEA quarter 44%View 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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Muckelford-Walmer Rd/Castlemaine-Maldon Rd
- Muckelford-Walmer Rd/Castlemaine-Maldon Rd
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
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 playgrounds · 4 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 3/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.35
Community(1)
- Muckleford Community CentreCommunity centre
Sport & outdoors(6)
- Playground
- Muckleford Cricket ClubSports field
- Swimming pool (4)
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(2)
- Drinking water
- Muckleford I135 Bushland ReserveNature Reserve
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Muckleford I135 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Walmer Recreation SitePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 10
- 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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Castlemaine Health (5.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
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)
- 14
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 31.2
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
- 27° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 115 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 133 mm · ~17 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 180 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 172 mm · ~22 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Heritage
1 heritage place
- MALDON ROAD TOLL BAR HOUSENH1403
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
- Bendigo
- Member of Parliament
- Lisa CHESTERS (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 120,088
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +51.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.6 km away).
Coalition 23.5%Labor 76.5%
25.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +76.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Castlemaine SouthLabor 84.0% · Coalition 16.0% TPP (2025)5.4 km away
- CastlemaineLabor 78.0% · Coalition 22.0% TPP (2025)6.1 km away
- Campbells CreekLabor 66.4% · Coalition 33.6% TPP (2025)6.3 km away
- Castlemaine NorthLabor 84.8% · Coalition 15.2% TPP (2025)7.0 km away
- NewsteadLabor 68.9% · Coalition 31.1% TPP (2025)9.8 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)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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 Mount Alexander Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.