suburb.guide

VIC · Bass Coast Council

North Wonthaggi, 3995

Est. population · Jun 2025

3,713

Growth (1 yr)

+2.1%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.2%

Median age

42

Median income

$1,162/wk

Employment rate

50.9%

University qualified

10.9%

Work from home

7.6%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$595,000

Languages at home

6.5%non-English

Most common: Malayalam, Italian, Nepali

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

38.1/100
Below average

1045th in VIC

Verified 90% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Rural living
What North Wonthaggi is known for: Green suburb, Rural living

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North Wonthaggi, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “North Wonthaggi, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/north-wonthaggi

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Suburb profile

North Wonthaggi is a rural locality in Victoria, in Bass Coast Council.

Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Open-space access is better than in most comparable places, well above typical levels for rural localities. Population growth is an exceptional strength, and recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places, with recorded road crashes 85% below the peer median. The main trade-offs are lower socio-economic advantage and more mapped flood cover.

North Wonthaggi is a better fit for people who value daily services and open space more than 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

  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
  • Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
  • Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Socio-economic advantage is well below comparable places
  • Mapped flood cover is a relative weakness

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How North Wonthaggi compares

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

Median house price

$595k

+2.6% change

Median rent (Census)

$300/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

3,713

+2.1% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

7.5%

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

#101

among Country & regional · Emerging

Crime rate

46th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

89th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

21%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

2/10

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
38.1/100 — Below average
National rank
4875th in Australia
State rank
1045th in VIC
Peer rank
#101 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#585 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
90%

Data sources & freshness

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

Housing

Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$595,000
Median price change
+2.6%

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

3,713(June 2025)

+2.1% annual · +14.2% over 5 years · 89th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.1%
5-year growth
+14.2%
Change in 1 year
+77
Change in 5 years
+462
Growth rank in VIC
89th 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 (~4,250), extrapolated at +2.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
3,475
Median age
42
Median household income / week
$1,162
Dwelling vacancy
7.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
110 of 1,471
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$300
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
46.1% / 33.2% / 20.7%
Employment rate
50.9%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
7.6% / 0.3% / 74.9%
Walked or cycled to work
3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,340 / 10 / 4

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

10.9% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 24% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified10.9% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified7.6% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational24% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below57.4% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

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

  • Engineering and related technologies18%
  • Society and culture15.2%
  • Health14.1%
  • Management and commerce14%
  • Architecture and building11.7%
  • Education9.7%
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)
$46,125

18th percentile in VIC · -21% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$51,346

16th percentile in VIC · -21% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
10.0%

22nd percentile in VIC · -27% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$72,014

39th percentile in VIC · +14% vs Australia

Residents with business income
13.0%

67th percentile in VIC · +25% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3995 — 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
6,844
Taxpayers reporting net rent
708
Median net rent
$74
Taxpayers reporting business income
860
Taxable income vs state median
-14%
Salary / wages vs state median
-12%
Rental investment vs state median
-23%
Super vs state median
-10%
Business income vs state median
+18%

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

Community & culture

6.5% speak a language other than English at home; 14.4% born overseas

Language at home
3,094 English only · 214 other
Non-English at home
6.5%
Born overseas
473 (14.4%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
60 (1.7%)
Australian citizens
3,123
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
8

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Malayalam14 · 26.4%
  • Italian8 · 15.1%
  • Nepali8 · 15.1%
  • Tamil6 · 11.3%
  • Thai6 · 11.3%
  • French5 · 9.4%
  • Greek3 · 5.7%
  • Mandarin3 · 5.7%

Religion

48.5%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 48.5%, while Christianity accounts for 40.9%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion48.5%38.8%
Christianity40.9%40.9%
Other / not stated10.6%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic18.6%20.5%
Anglican11.2%6.5%
Uniting Church2.8%2.4%
Christian (not further defined)2%2.5%

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 decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
182
Against the person
60
Against property
67
Rate per 1,000 residents
49
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 58 residents
State crime-rate percentile
46.1th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-34.1%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
26
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
7

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault18
  • C32 Drug Possession11
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order30
  • B21 Criminal Damage20
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle15

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
  • Bass Coast CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Powlett River Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Wonthaggi North 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

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

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Wonthaggi Kindergartens IncorporatedWhite Roadkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Childcare centres per 1,000 residents

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

8 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Parkes St/Kingston Rd
  • South Dudley Rd/Bass Hwy
  • South Dudley Rd/Bass Hwy
  • Wentworth Rd/Longstaff St
  • Wentworth Rd/Storey St

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

11 mapped amenities

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Decent local green space — 5 parks in suburb
  • Reasonable bus and transport access — 8 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
12/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.44
Sport & outdoors(6)
  • Bass Coast Rail TrailCycling route
  • MBNCycling route
  • Park

    33-37 Gordon Street

  • Park (2)
  • Sports field
Transport(4)

4 bus stops

Other(1)
  • 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. 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

  • Jacobs ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
1.6%
Woodland / forest cover
1.2%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
80
Parks (OSM)
5
Typical summer maximum
25°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 Medical Centre (2.9 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)
118
Participants per 1,000 residents
31.8

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 (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).

29 planning-related records

2021· 11 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Subdivision realignment of boundary between two lots in GRZ1
    37 & 41 NELSON STREET NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Subdivision of land into two lots
    5 KINGSTON ROAD NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into two lots in GRZ1
    9 KINGSTON ROAD NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into two lots in LDRZ
    30-36 REGENCY DRIVE NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of land for 4 dwellings in the GRZ1
    23 IVOR STREET NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995NOD issued by a delegate
  • Application to End S173 Agreement Dealing Numbers AJ534369V, AG914418T & AJ197239K
    NORTH WONTHAGGI VIC 3995 NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995NOD issued by a delegate
  • Two Lot Subdivision in the LDRZ
    42 WALLACE STREET NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Buildings and works associated with the existing primary school - Amendment
    St Josephs Primary School, 94 Korumburra RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Storage shed in association with existing funeral parlour and a place of assembly in the FZ and ESO4
    3085 Loch-Wonthaggi RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • The subdivision of the land, create access to a Road Zone Category 1 and removal of native vegetation
    BOTANIC DRIVE NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995In progress

  • February 2021

  • Subdivide an existing building
    17 Henry Street EastPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 18 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Subdivision of land into 2 lots in the GRZ1
    40 Griffiths StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Subdivision of land into 28 lots and removal of easement E-1 in PS302494N
    173 Wentworth RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alteration to existing dependant persons unit to convert into a second dwelling on a lot in the GRZ1
    3 Henry Street EastPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Remove a restriction from title (building envelope)
    8 Lyndhurst StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into Two lots
    7 Parkes StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Development of land for second dwelling in GRZ1
    14 Griffiths StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two lots in GRZ1
    21 Oates RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into 4 lots and removal of native vegetation
    FULLER ROAD NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • use and development of land for a `restricted retail premises¿, removal of native vegetation, alteration of access to a Road Zone, Category 1, construct and display business identification signage and a reduction in the car parking requirement
    334-336 & 340 WHITE ROAD NORTH WONTHAGGI 3995Permit issued by the RA
  • Use of land for Medical centre, Waiver of car parking requirement, Display a business Identification signage
    218 White RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for Rooming house in an ESO4, and alterations of an access to a Road Zone Category 1
    310 White RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into 8 lots and creation of common property in LDRZ
    23-27 & 29 Regency DriveWithdrawn

  • April 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two lots generally
    16 Kirrak StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into two Lots
    236 White RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two lots
    18 Storey StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Multi Lot Staged Subdivision and Removal of Native Vegetation - Amendment to native vegetation conditions
    Heslop RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of the land into two lots
    38 Griffiths StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two lots
    13 Kirrak StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
19.9% of 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 15.1 km away).

Coalition 44.9%Labor 55.1%

9.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -0.1 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • Wonthaggi NorthLabor 53.8% · Coalition 46.2% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
  • WonthaggiLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
  • DalystonLabor 54.6% · Coalition 45.4% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
  • Cape PatersonLabor 65.5% · Coalition 34.5% TPP (2025)10.5 km away
  • KilcundaLabor 53.9% · Coalition 46.1% TPP (2025)10.7 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)
2/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

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

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.