VIC · Bass Coast Council

Newhaven, 3925

Est. population · Jun 2025

585

Growth (1 yr)

+2.1%

Growth (5 yr)

+13.2%

Median age

59

Median income

$1,328/wk

Employment rate

47.4%

University qualified

23%

Work from home

18.5%

Languages at home

4%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

41.3/100
Average

926th in VIC

Verified 92% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Beach
  • Agricultural
  • Green suburb
What Newhaven is known for: Beach, Agricultural, Green suburb

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Newhaven, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Newhaven, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 30 September 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/newhaven

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Suburb profile

Newhaven is a coastal town in Victoria, in Bass Coast Council. The Phillip Island is part of the surrounding geography.

Population growth is an exceptional strength, and green cover is a very strong feature of the suburb, with green cover 61% above the peer median. The main trade-offs are limited school access and thinner park access, with park access 26% below the peer median.

School access is the most material weakness.

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

Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in Victoria (105)

Strengths

  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • Green cover is a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • School access is a relative weakness
  • Park access is a relative weakness

What stands out

  • Newhaven Beach
  • Phillip Island

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Newhaven compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$300/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

585

+2.1% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

29.1%

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

#63

among Coastal & beach · Mature

Crime rate

66th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

88th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

16%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

65th

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
41.3/100 — Average
National rank
4070th in Australia
State rank
926th in VIC
Peer rank
#63 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#103 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
92%

Data sources & freshness

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

Population

Estimated resident population

585(June 2025)

+2.1% annual · +13.2% over 5 years · 88th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.1%
5-year growth
+13.2%
Change in 1 year
+12
Change in 5 years
+68
Growth rank in VIC
88th 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 (~700), extrapolated at +3.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
547
Median age
59
Median household income / week
$1,328
Dwelling vacancy
29.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
88 of 302
Median monthly mortgage
$1,497
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$300
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
58.8% / 25.6% / 15.6%
Employment rate
47.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
18.5% / 0% / 59.2%
Walked or cycled to work
7.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
183 / 12 / 14 (+ 3 other)

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

23% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 18.4% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified23% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified11.3% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational18.4% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below47.3% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

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

  • Engineering and related technologies19.5%
  • Education16.5%
  • Health14%
  • Management and commerce12.5%
  • Society and culture12.5%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services6.6%
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)
$49,740

33rd percentile in VIC · -15% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$54,734

32nd percentile in VIC · -16% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
16.0%

78th percentile in VIC · +16% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$104,366

81st percentile in VIC · +65% vs Australia

Residents with business income
15.0%

85th percentile in VIC · +44% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3925 — 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
2,856
Taxpayers reporting net rent
456
Median net rent
$538
Taxpayers reporting business income
424
Taxable income vs state median
-7%
Salary / wages vs state median
-6%
Rental investment vs state median
+23%
Super vs state median
+30%
Business income vs state median
+36%

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

4.3% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 1.9× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.1% across Victoria.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing
4.3%

36th percentile in VIC · +87% vs Australia

Resident workers (2021)
10
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462

Postcode 3925

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 3925 (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 Latrobe - Gippsland (SA4 205), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.

  • Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12135,481
  • Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415940
  • Crop Farmers ANZSCO 1212417
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214382
  • Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211370
  • Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412228
  • Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419184
  • Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 8413112
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 841624
  • Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110

Latrobe - Gippsland 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: 233 · AFF share +105% 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

4% speak a language other than English at home; 20% born overseas

Language at home
480 English only · 20 other
Non-English at home
4%
Born overseas
99 (20%)
Australian citizens
468

Religion

47.2%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 47.2%, while Christianity accounts for 37.8%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion47.2%38.8%
Christianity37.8%40.9%
Buddhism2%3.1%
Other / not stated13%17.2%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic13.2%20.5%
Anglican11.3%6.5%
Christian (not further defined)3.3%2.5%
Presbyterian and Reformed3.1%1.4%
Uniting Church2.7%2.4%
Baptist2.4%1.3%

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)
45
Against the person
12
Against property
19
Rate per 1,000 residents
76.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 46 residents
State crime-rate percentile
66.4th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+50%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
50
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
85.47

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage5
  • B49 Other Theft4
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order10
  • Other Crimes Against The Person4
  • A231 Fv Common Assault4

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

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
1,041
Median ICSEA percentile
65th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
2
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
  • Newhaven Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1041 · 65th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 154 students · Top SEA quarter 19%View on My School →
School catchments
  • Bass Coast CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Cowes Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Newhaven Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_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

Public transport

9 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Cape Woolamai/Phillip Island Rd
  • Forrest Ave/Phillip Island Rd
  • Forrest Ave/Phillip Island Rd
  • Forrest Ave/Phillip Island Rd
  • General Store/Phillip Island Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

12 mapped amenities

4 beaches · 1 caravan parks

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access — 9 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
14/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.83
Sport & outdoors(6)
  • Beach (4)
  • Phillip Island Bike PathCycling route
  • Nature reserve
Camping & holiday parks(1)
  • BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan ParkCaravan park
Entertainment(1)
  • National Vietnam Veterans MuseumMuseum

    25 Veterans Drive, Newhaven

Transport(1)

1 bus stops

Other(2)
  • Bird Hide
  • Parking (2)

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

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Park or reserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
7.1%
Woodland / forest cover
6%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
6
Parks (OSM)
1
Typical summer maximum
24°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
Wonthaggi Hospital (24.6 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public 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)
14
Participants per 1,000 residents
23.9

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
24° / 13°
Rainfall
155 mm · ~19 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 11°
Rainfall
186 mm · ~23 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
203 mm · ~25 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 9°
Rainfall
207 mm · ~26 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).

20 planning-related records

2021· 5 proposals
  • August 2021

  • Development of land for a replacement dwelling in the ESO1
    5 RENNISON ROAD NEWHAVEN 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2021

  • Development of the land for signage in the FZ and HO128
    910 PHILLIP ISLAND ROAD NEWHAVEN 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • March 2021

  • Use and development of the land for a Museum and Restaurant (Café), the removal of native vegetation, the construction and display of business identification signage, and the creation of access to a Transport Zone 2 road
    24 CHURCHILL ROAD NEWHAVEN 3925NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Development of land for dependent persons dwelling in BMO1
    32 Cleeland StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2021

  • Subdivide the land into two lots
    Phillip Island Road - lodged as 58 Veterans DriveWithdrawn
2020· 15 proposals
  • October 2020

  • Use and development of land for a dwelling in FZ and SLO2 and removal of native vegetation
    VETERANS DRIVE NEWHAVEN 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • September 2020

  • Building and works for existing dwelling in DDO1
    21 Forrest AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of one tree in VPO2
    29 School AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2020

  • Development of land for a fence in HO122
    54-61 FORREST AVENUE NEWHAVEN 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Extension to an existing dwelling in the BMO1
    16 Anderson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of land for a place of assembly (wedding centre) & accommodation in the FZ
    64 CHURCHILL ROAD NEWHAVEN 3925Withdrawn
  • June 2020

  • Development of land for Dwelling in BMO
    27 Anderson StreetWithdrawn
  • Development of land for dwelling in BMO1 - Amendment to plans only
    27 Anderson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2020

  • Extension to existing dwelling in ESO1 and SLO2
    85 Veterans DriveWithdrawn
  • Development of land for a gate and fence in SLO2
    The Cape Kitchen, 1215 Phillip Island RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • use of land to sell and consume Liquor
    3/8-10 Forrest AvenueNOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • April 2020

  • An alteration or extension to an existing building in FZ - Amendment
    25 VETERANS DRIVE NEWHAVEN 3925Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • March 2020

  • Development of the land for a dwelling in a BMO1
    26 Cleeland StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2020

  • An alteration or extension to an existing building in FZ - Amendment - An alteration or extension to an existing building in FZ
    25 Veterans DriveLapsed
  • January 2020

  • Use and development of land for Camping and Caravan Park, Creation of Road Access and removal of vegetation
    1285 PHILLIP ISLAND ROAD NEWHAVEN 3925Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority

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
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 19.0 km away).

Coalition 43.3%Labor 56.7%

10.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +3.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • NewhavenLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
  • San RemoLabor 40.4% · Coalition 59.6% TPP (2025)3.4 km away
  • RhyllLabor 55.4% · Coalition 44.6% TPP (2025)6.1 km away
  • CowesLabor 56.5% · Coalition 43.5% TPP (2025)10.8 km away
  • BassLabor 45.9% · Coalition 54.1% TPP (2025)12.0 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)
6/10
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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

This suburb ranks highly for

More in Bass Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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