VIC · Baw Baw Council

Narracan, 3824

Est. population · Jun 2025

270

Growth (1 yr)

+0.8%

Growth (5 yr)

+5.5%

Median age

48

Median income

$1,362/wk

Employment rate

55.5%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

24.6/100
Below average

1186th in VIC

Verified 70% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Narracan is known for: National parks, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Narracan offers a slower smaller community life in Baw Baw Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.

Open space is thinner than in many regional towns, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Housing sits in the middle of the local market: neither cheap nor premium.

Crime reports are up on the previous period. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.

Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Narracan snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

270

+0.8% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

18.4%

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

#358

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

52nd

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

61st

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

5/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

31st

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
24.6/100 — Below average
National rank
6333rd in Australia
State rank
1186th in VIC
Peer rank
#358 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#666 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

270(June 2025)

+0.8% annual · +5.5% over 5 years · 61th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.8%
5-year growth
+5.5%
Change in 1 year
+2
Change in 5 years
+14
Growth rank in VIC
61th 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 (~300), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
262
Median age
48
Median household income / week
$1,362
Dwelling vacancy
18.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
21 of 114
Median monthly mortgage
$1,975
Employment rate
55.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
98 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
15
Against the person
3
Against property
9
Rate per 1,000 residents
55.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 87 residents
State safety percentile
52.1th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+15.4%

Most common offence types

  • A232 Non-Fv Common Assault2
  • B21 Criminal Damage2
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle5
  • B49 Other Theft2
  • E22 Breach Intervention Order2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
965
Median ICSEA percentile
31th
School list
  • Narracan Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 965 · 31th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 20 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 places of worship

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Community(1)
  • Narracan Primary SchoolSchool

    32 School Road

Other(1)
  • Place of worship

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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Narracan Falls Streamside ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
2
Parks (OSM)
0

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

Places of worship

1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • Place of worship

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Maryvale Private Hospital (17.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
9
Participants per 1,000 residents
33.3

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

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
25° / 12°
Rainfall
197 mm · ~25 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 9°
Rainfall
228 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 5°
Rainfall
261 mm · ~33 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 7°
Rainfall
304 mm · ~38 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

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

9 planning-related records

2021· 3 proposals
  • August 2021

  • Use and development of an agricultural outbuilding (shed)
    1107 MCDONALDS TRACK NARRACAN 3824No permit required
  • May 2021

  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding
    1195 COALVILLE ROAD NARRACAN 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2021

  • Re-subdivision of 2 lots
    MORWELL-THORPDALE ROAD NARRACAN 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 6 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Development and use of land for a wind energy facility and associated buildings and works (including one permanent anemometer) and removal of native vegetation.
    TEN MILE CREEK ROAD NARRACAN 3824In progress
  • Building and works to construct a replacement dwelling
    374 Weirs RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • November 2020

  • Use and development of a dwelling an agricultural outbuilding (shed)
    138 WEIRS ROAD NARRACAN 3824Withdrawn
  • July 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding ancillary to an existing dwelling.
    1113 Coalville RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2020

  • Use and development of a dwelling
    1235 Coalville RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2020

  • Buildings and works to extend an agricultural building
    536 Narracan Connection RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Monash
Member of Parliament
Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,463
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.2 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 11.6 km away).

Coalition 68.5%Labor 31.5%

14.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -3.7 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • NarracanLabor 28.2% · Coalition 71.8% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
  • ThorpdaleLabor 37.0% · Coalition 63.0% TPP (2025)5.0 km away
  • TrafalgarLabor 49.5% · Coalition 50.5% TPP (2025)8.9 km away
  • Moe CentralLabor 61.7% · Coalition 38.3% TPP (2025)9.2 km away
  • Moe WestLabor 52.9% · Coalition 47.1% TPP (2025)10.4 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

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

More in Baw Baw Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.