suburb.guide

VIC · Alpine Council

Ovens, 3738

Est. population · Jun 2025

199

Growth (1 yr)

+0.5%

Growth (5 yr)

-2.0%

Median age

49

Median income

$1,406/wk

Employment rate

63.4%

Languages at home

7.2%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Green suburb
What Ovens is known for: Green suburb

Suburb profile

Ovens is a quieter smaller community in Alpine Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice.

Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Housing sits in the middle of the local market: neither cheap nor premium.

Reported crime has been falling recently. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.

At a glance

Ovens snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

199

+0.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

6.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Safety

10th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

53rd

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

4/10

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)

+0.5% annual · -2.0% over 5 years · 53th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.5%
5-year growth
-2.0%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
-4
Growth rank in VIC
53th 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 +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
197
Median age
49
Median household income / week
$1,406
Dwelling vacancy
6%
Unoccupied private dwellings
5 of 84
Median monthly mortgage
$1,454
Employment rate
63.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
82 / 0 / 0

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 · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs 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

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs 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)
3
Against the person
1
Against property
1
Rate per 1,000 residents
15.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 197 residents
State safety percentile
9.9th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-49.9%

Most common offence types

  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order1
  • Other Crimes Against The Person1

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Amenities

1 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(1)
  • Victorian Alpine NurseryGarden Centre

    5338 Great Alpine Road, Ovens

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 insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Myrtleford Memorial Hospital (7.5 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)
5
Participants per 1,000 residents
25.1

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
20° / 9°
Rainfall
232 mm · ~29 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
14° / 5°
Rainfall
299 mm · ~37 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
5° / -1°
Rainfall
420 mm · ~52 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
12° / 3°
Rainfall
345 mm · ~43 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

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).

7 planning-related records

2021· 2 proposals

  • June 2021

  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of a Shed
    27 SELZERS LA OVENS 3738Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Re subdivision of 4 lots in to two lots SPEAR REF: S170966M
    20 MUMMERY LANE OVENS 3738Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 5 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Buildings and Works for an extension to an existing Rural Industry
    5061 GREAT ALPINE RD OVENS 3738In progress
  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of a Dwelling ALISON
    5051 Great Alpine RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Use and Buildings and Works for a Service Station, Construction of and display of internally illuminated sign.
    5023 GREAT ALPINE ROAD OVENS 3738Refusal issued by a delegate

  • May 2020

  • ONE NEW DWELLING
    5105 GREAT ALPINE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Buildings and Works (2 Water Tanks), and Works (the Placement of Fill)
    Lot 2 GREAT ALPINE RDLapsed

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

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 · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Indi
Member of Parliament
Helen HAINES (Independent)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
120,774
Turnout (2025)
92.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.4 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 56.7%Labor 43.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 25.2 km away).

Coalition 55.9%Labor 44.1%

0.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.5 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • MyrtlefordLabor 45.0% · Coalition 55.0% TPP (2025)7.7 km away
  • MudgegongaLabor 33.5% · Coalition 66.5% TPP (2025)13.1 km away
  • GapstedLabor 34.6% · Coalition 65.4% TPP (2025)14.5 km away
  • PorepunkahLabor 52.6% · Coalition 47.4% TPP (2025)15.4 km away
  • WhoroulyLabor 26.3% · Coalition 73.7% TPP (2025)20.8 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)
4/10
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 Alpine Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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