VIC · Golden Plains Council

Newtown, 3351

Est. population · Jun 2025

199

Growth (1 yr)

+1.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+3.6%

Median age

45

Median income

$1,025/wk

Employment rate

49.7%

Languages at home

3.5%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

    What Newtown is known for:

    Suburb profile

    In Golden Plains Council, Newtown keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Distance from the metro area around Melbourne is part of the appeal, with regional hubs closer to hand than the city. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street.

    With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice. Open space is thinner than in many comparable suburbs, 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.

    Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.

    At a glance

    Newtown snapshot

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

    Median house price

    No data available

    Median rent

    No data available

    Population (ERP)

    199

    +1.0% annual growth

    Dwelling vacancy

    6.5%

    Census unoccupied dwellings

    How it compares

    Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

    Pop. growth

    69th

    percentile in VIC

    Advantage (IRSAD)

    3/10

    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

    Population

    Estimated resident population

    199(June 2025)

    +1.0% annual · +3.6% over 5 years · 69th percentile in VIC

    Growth figures & methodology
    Annual growth
    +1.0%
    5-year growth
    +3.6%
    Change in 1 year
    +2
    Change in 5 years
    +7
    Growth rank in VIC
    69th 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 (~200), extrapolated at +1.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

    2021 Census figures

    2021 Census

    Population
    189
    Median age
    45
    Median household income / week
    $1,025
    Dwelling vacancy
    6.5%
    Unoccupied private dwellings
    5 of 77
    Median monthly mortgage
    $1,300
    Employment rate
    49.7%
    Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
    69 / 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.

    Family & Lifestyle

    Amenities

    2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

    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
    Other(2)
    • Bench
    • Parking

    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

    Health access

    Nearest hospital
    Queen Elizabeth Centre (22.4 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)
    6
    Participants per 1,000 residents
    30.2

    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

    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 (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).

    3 planning-related records

    2021· 1 proposal
    • June 2021

    • The use and development of the land for the purposes of a dwelling pursuant to the provisions of the RLZ (Clauses 35.03-2 & 35.03-4), & BMO (Clause 44.06-2) and the removal of roadside native vegetation pursuant to Clause 52.17 of the planning scheme
      23 GLENS ROAD NEWTOWN (BALLARAT) 3351Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
    2020· 2 proposals
    • April 2020

    • The development of the land for a shed
      310 SCARSDALE-PITFIELD ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
    • January 2020

    • The development of the land for two sheds
      169 SCARSDALE-PITFIELD 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
    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 19.0 km away).

    Coalition 43.3%Labor 56.7%

    4.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

    Estimated swing since 2022: -1.8 pp toward Coalition

    Nearest polling places

    • SmythesdaleLabor 57.3% · Coalition 42.7% TPP (2025)6.7 km away
    • LintonLabor 58.7% · Coalition 41.3% TPP (2025)8.4 km away
    • Cape ClearLabor 52.4% · Coalition 47.6% TPP (2025)11.1 km away
    • Ross CreekLabor 53.5% · Coalition 46.5% TPP (2025)11.6 km away
    • HaddonLabor 53.1% · Coalition 46.9% TPP (2025)13.7 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)
    3/10
    IRSD decile (2021)
    4/10

    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 Golden Plains Council

    Other suburbs in the same local government area.

    Comparable suburbs

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