suburb.guide

VIC · Bass Coast Council

Newhaven, 3925

Current weather

10.9°COvercast

91% humidity · 30.4 km/h wind · 12.3° / 10.2° today · 25.6 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

25.3/100
Below average

1127th in VIC

78% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Coastal
  • Transport
  • Established
  • Residential
  • Amenities
What Newhaven is known for: Coastal, Transport, Established, Residential, Amenities

Suburb profile

Life in Newhaven revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. The coast is the anchor, with regional towns nearby for markets, dining and weekend exploring. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.

Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally. Housing is well-priced for what you get: space, location and everyday convenience.

A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability the main drags compared with similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

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
Employment rate
47.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
14 / 12 / 14

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)
46
Against the person
13
Against property
20
Rate per 1,000 residents
84.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 42 residents
State safety percentile
69.5th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+142.1%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault4
  • B21 Criminal Damage6
  • B49 Other Theft5
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order9
  • Other Crimes Against The Person5

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,041
  • Newhaven Primary SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

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 (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

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

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

2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bird Hide
  • Cape Woolamai/Phillip Island RdBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

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

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Park or reserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
5
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

  • OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability Index

Desirability score
25.3/100 — Below average
National rank
5979th in Australia
State rank
1127th in VIC
Peer rank
#69 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#115 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime4
  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime6
  • B49 Other Theftcrime5
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime9
  • Other Crimes Against The Personcrime5
  • Park or reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • An alteration or extension to an existing building in FZ - Amendmentplanning25 VETERANS DRIVE NEWHAVEN 3925Lodged 20 Apr 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • An alteration or extension to an existing building in FZ - Amendment - An alteration or extension to an existing building in FZplanning25 Veterans DriveLodged 26 Feb 2020 · Lapsed
  • Building and works for existing dwelling in DDO1planning21 Forrest AvenueLodged 28 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for Dwelling in BMOplanning27 Anderson StreetLodged 26 Jun 2020 · Withdrawn

Data sources & freshness

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.