VIC · Moorabool Council

Navigators, 3352

Est. population · Jun 2025

282

Growth (1 yr)

+0.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+5.2%

Median age

44

Median income

$1,812/wk

Employment rate

61.6%

University qualified

18.1%

Work from home

14.6%

Languages at home

1.9%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

57.9/100
Good

Top 14% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 85% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Agricultural
  • Rural living
What Navigators is known for: Green suburb, Agricultural, Rural living

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Suburb Guide, “Navigators, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 29 September 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/navigators

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Suburb profile

Navigators is a rural locality in Victoria, in Moorabool Council. It is close to Mount Buninyong and Mount Warrenheip.

Local amenities are a relative strength, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities. Everyday destinations are relatively walkable. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, and university qualifications are a relative strength, with university qualifications 34% above the peer median, and green cover is an exceptional strength. Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated, with recorded road crashes 114% above the peer median.

Overall, Navigators suits people prioritising local amenities and socio-economic advantage.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Rural locality · compared with rural localities in Victoria (1828)

Strengths

  • Local amenities are a relative strength
  • Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
  • Everyday destinations are relatively walkable
  • University qualifications are a relative strength
  • Green cover is stronger than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated

What stands out

  • Mount Buninyong
  • Mount Warrenheip

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Navigators compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$350/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

282

+0.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

8.0%

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

#4

among Country & regional · Emerging

Crime rate

50th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

60th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

7%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

9/10

national SEIFA decile

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
57.9/100 — Good
State standing
Top 14% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
725th in Australia
State rank
173rd in VIC
Peer rank
#4 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#34 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

282(June 2025)

+0.7% annual · +5.2% over 5 years · 60th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+5.2%
Change in 1 year
+2
Change in 5 years
+14
Growth rank in VIC
60th 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
276
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,812
Dwelling vacancy
8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
8 of 100
Median monthly mortgage
$1,788
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$350
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
50.5% / 42.9% / 6.6%
Employment rate
61.6%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
14.6% / 0% / 60.6%
Walked or cycled to work
2.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
89 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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

Qualifications

18.1% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 21.9% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified18.1% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified14.9% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational21.9% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below45.1% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Health16.4%
  • Management and commerce15.7%
  • Agriculture and environment12.7%
  • Society and culture11.2%
  • Education9.7%
  • Architecture and building8.2%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

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

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$57,054

64th percentile in VIC · -3% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$61,842

63rd percentile in VIC · -5% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
13.0%

57th percentile in VIC · -6% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$90,200

64th percentile in VIC · +42% vs Australia

Residents with business income
11.0%

50th percentile in VIC · +6% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3352 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
12,063
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,531
Median net rent
-$1,534
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,354
Taxable income vs state median
+7%
Salary / wages vs state median
+6%
Rental investment vs state median
0%
Super vs state median
+12%
Business income vs state median
0%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in VIC, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Seasonal & agricultural work

8.8% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 3.8× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.1% across Victoria.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing
8.8%

45th percentile in VIC · +283% vs Australia

Resident workers (2021)
12
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462

Postcode 3352

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 3352 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.

Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)

Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for Ballarat (SA4 201), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.

  • Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12131,219
  • Crop Farmers ANZSCO 1212702
  • Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415620
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214540
  • Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 841276
  • Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 841972
  • Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 721161
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 841652
  • Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 841325
  • Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110

Ballarat is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.

Census employed residents counted in G54: 137 · AFF share +319% vs the state.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb

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

  • WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
  • Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0

Community & culture

1.9% speak a language other than English at home; 9.1% born overseas

Language at home
255 English only · 5 other
Non-English at home
1.9%
Born overseas
24 (9.1%)
Australian citizens
249

Religion

47.5%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 47.5%, while 43.5% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion43.5%38.8%
Christianity47.5%40.9%
Other / not stated9.1%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic25.7%20.5%
Anglican7.2%6.5%
Presbyterian and Reformed4.3%1.4%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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
1
Against property
9
Rate per 1,000 residents
53.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 276 residents
State crime-rate percentile
50.1th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+150%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
28
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
99.29

Most common offence types

  • A89 Other Dangerous Or Negligent Acts Endangering People1
  • B11 Cause Damage By Fire2
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
  • B49 Other Theft2
  • D12 Prohibited And Controlled Weapons Offences2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

School list
School catchments
  • Buninyong Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Lal Lal Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Mount Clear CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Mount Clear Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Warrenheip Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Woodmans Hill Secondary CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

  • Victorian designated neighbourhood zones — Victorian Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Navigators Rd
  • Navigators Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

12 mapped amenities

1 playgrounds · 1 sports centres

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Decent local green space — 0 parks 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
0
Community(1)
  • Navigators Community CentreCommunity centre
Sport & outdoors(10)
  • Grass Tree TrailCycling route
  • Yarrowee River TrailCycling route
  • Playground
  • Public toilets
  • Gerald Mullane ReserveSports centre
  • Sports field
  • Boundary RoadWalking trail
  • Boundary WalkWalking trail
  • Grass Tree TrailWalking trail
  • Olympic AvenueWalking trail
Other(1)
  • Track

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
6.5%
Woodland / forest cover
6.5%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
9
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
26°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Ballarat Base Hospital (9.8 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
8
Participants per 1,000 residents
28.4

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
26° / 12°
Rainfall
128 mm · ~16 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
21° / 10°
Rainfall
124 mm · ~16 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
149 mm · ~19 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 8°
Rainfall
182 mm · ~23 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 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).

13 planning-related records

2021· 3 proposals
  • August 2021

  • Development of a Zinc Shed Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling
    45 DONNELLYS ROAD NAVIGATORS 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of Native Vegetation (2 Trees) from Road Reserve
    179 BUTLERS ROAD NAVIGATORS 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • March 2021

  • Use of the Land for Landscape Garden Supplies
    410 Navigators RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 10 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Development of Additions Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling and Removal of Vegetation
    349 Yankee Flat RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a Shed using Reflective Materials Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling and Removal of Native Vegetation
    188 Boundary RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of Additions Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling
    169 NAVIGATOR-DUNNSTOWN ROAD NAVIGATORS 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • October 2020

  • Development and Use of a Dwelling and Ancillary Outbuilding (Shed) associated with the Use of land for agriculture.
    LOT 5A TED LYONS ROAD NAVIGATORS 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • September 2020

  • Development of an Agricultural Shed
    123 Butlers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • August 2020

  • Development and Use of a Farm Shed
    CA32 Navigator-Dunnstown RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development and Use of the Land for Domestic Animal Husbandry (18 dogs)
    174 Ditchfield RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2020

  • Development of Additions Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling with Reflective Materials
    180 Navigator-Dunnstown RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • April 2020

  • Development of a Shed Ancillary to an Existing Dwelling
    Ted Lyons RoadNOD issued by a delegate
  • March 2020

  • Development and Use of a Dwelling and Resubdivision of Three (3) Lots into Two (2) Lots
    10 Donnellys Road EastPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping. Flood cover uses inundation overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Ballarat
Member of Parliament
Catherine KING (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,238
Turnout (2025)
93.3%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-2.3 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 39.3%Labor 60.7%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 7.8 km away).

Coalition 37.2%Labor 62.8%

2.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -2.5 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • WarrenheipLabor 52.7% · Coalition 47.3% TPP (2025)4.0 km away
  • Mount ClearLabor 67.0% · Coalition 33.0% TPP (2025)5.4 km away
  • BuninyongLabor 62.8% · Coalition 37.2% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
  • CanadianLabor 68.8% · Coalition 31.2% TPP (2025)6.5 km away
  • Brown HillLabor 64.0% · Coalition 36.0% TPP (2025)6.9 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)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

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.