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

3.4/100

#251 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

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 ProfileAustralian 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

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
937
  • Orbost Community CollegeCombined
  • St Joseph's SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

1 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Nicholson St/Wolseley St

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).

14 planning-related records

2021· 8 proposals
  • August 2021

  • Development of an open sided machinery shed
    190 FOREST ROAD ORBOST 3888In progress
  • Lopping and removal of native vegetation
    2-6 LOCHIEL STREET ORBOST 3888No permit required
  • July 2021

  • Two lot residential subdivision
    47 EVANS STREET ORBOST 3888Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision
    72 REED STREET ORBOST 3888Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2021

  • Buildings and works of an agricultural outbuilding
    169 COULSONS ROAD ORBOST 3888Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2021

  • Native vegetation removal
    16 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 setbacks
    174 Duggans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 6 proposals
  • October 2020

  • Buildings and works for two dwellings
    43 Reed StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for two dwellings
    8 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 easement
    66 Jarrahmond RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2020

  • Extension to a fire station
    31-35 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 amenitiesOpenStreetMap 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

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

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

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Orbost Kindergartenkindergarten

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · 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 overlaysState 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 featuresOpenStreetMap 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 indexSuburb 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

Similar suburbs

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