VIC · East Gippsland Council
Orbost, VIC, 3888
Current weather
15.1°COvercast
51% humidity · 12.6 km/h wind · 19.2° / 11.2° today · 1 mm rain
Desirability index
#251 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Orbost is a smaller suburban community in the East Gippsland area, home to around 2,264 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 403 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-13%), roughly 178.0 offences per 1,000 residents, 2 school and preschool sites in the area, limited but present public transport access, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 2,264
- Median age
- 53
- Median household income / week
- $785
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 152 of 1,118
- Median monthly mortgage
- $867
- Employment rate
- 38%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 73 / 37 / 22
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)
- 403
- Against the person
- 90
- Against property
- 122
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 178
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 25 residents
- State safety percentile
- 89.9th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -13.1%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage38
- B49 Other Theft24
- C32 Drug Possession14
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order94
- E23 Breach Bail Conditions17
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 937
- Orbost Community CollegeCombined
- St Joseph's SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
1 public transport stops in this suburb
- Nicholson St/Wolseley St
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
14 planning-related records
2021· 8 proposals
August 2021
- Development of an open sided machinery shed190 FOREST ROAD ORBOST 3888In progress
- Lopping and removal of native vegetation2-6 LOCHIEL STREET ORBOST 3888No permit required
July 2021
- Two lot residential subdivision47 EVANS STREET ORBOST 3888Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two lot subdivision72 REED STREET ORBOST 3888Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Buildings and works of an agricultural outbuilding169 COULSONS ROAD ORBOST 3888Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Native vegetation removal16 YOUNGS CREEK ROAD ORBOST 3888Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Two lot subdivision (realignment of existing boundaries)98 Stanley StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Buildings and works for an outbuilding to a section 2 dwelling within road and boundary setbacks174 Duggans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 6 proposals
October 2020
- Buildings and works for two dwellings43 Reed StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works for two dwellings8 Ralston CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works (alterations and additions to a a school)4-8 Raymond StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Develop and use land into 13 Rural Living lots and remove an easement66 Jarrahmond RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Extension to a fire station31-35 Gladstone StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- Building and works (carport and shed)19 McLeod StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020; 2020–2022; 2021 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
Amenities
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Public toilets
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Forest ParkPark
- Koala Court ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 5
- Emergency department
- On site
- Gippsland Healthdoctor
- Gippsland Healthlinksdoctor
- Orbost Pharmacypharmacy
- Orbost Regional Healthyes
- Orbost Regional HealthBoundary Roadhospital
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Orbost Kindergartenkindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 3.4/100
- Cohort rank
- #251 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Orbost Kindergartenchildcarekindergarten
- Gippsland Healthhealthdoctor
- Gippsland Healthlinkshealthdoctor
- Orbost Pharmacyhealthpharmacy
- Orbost Regional Healthhealthyes
- Orbost Regional HealthhealthBoundary Roadhospital
- Forest Parkgovernmentpark
- Koala Court Reservegovernmentpark
- Building and works (carport and shed)planning19 McLeod StreetLodged 27 May 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works (alterations and additions to a a school)planning4-8 Raymond StreetLodged 22 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.