suburb.guide

VIC · Cardinia Council

Pakenham South, 3810

Est. population · Jun 2025

222

Growth (1 yr)

+5.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+33.7%

Median age

46

Median income

$1,728/wk

Employment rate

59.3%

Languages at home

12%non-English

Most common: Tamil, Vietnamese

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

37.7/100
Below average

822nd in VIC

Verified 62% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • High desirability
What Pakenham South is known for: High desirability

Suburb profile

Pakenham South is a practical smaller community in Cardinia Council, with a familiar suburban feel rather than a self-contained town centre. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with plenty of young families in the mix. Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out.

Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Homes are neither a bargain nor a premium buy against the wider market.

Reported crime has been falling recently. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.

Versus similar metro suburbs, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because growth momentum trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Pakenham South snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

222

+5.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

3.8%

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

#37

among Metro Melbourne · Mature

Safety

38th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

97th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

5/10

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
37.7/100 — Below average
National rank
4183rd in Australia
State rank
822nd in VIC
Peer rank
#37 among Metro Melbourne · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#378 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Data confidence
62%

Data sources & freshness

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

Population

Estimated resident population

222(June 2025)

+5.2% annual · +33.7% over 5 years · 97th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+5.2%
5-year growth
+33.7%
Change in 1 year
+11
Change in 5 years
+56
Growth rank in VIC
97th 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 (~300), extrapolated at +4.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
229
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$1,728
Dwelling vacancy
3.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
3 of 79
Median monthly mortgage
$2,250
Employment rate
59.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
74 / 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)
9
Against the person
1
Against property
8
Rate per 1,000 residents
40.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 229 residents
State safety percentile
37.7th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-66.7%

Most common offence types

  • A211 Fv Serious Assault1
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary3
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft1
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

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
Community(1)
  • Pakenham South Community HallCommunity centre

    815 McDonalds Drain Road West

Other(1)
  • Pakenham South Community HallCamp Site

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)
8
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
Koo Wee Rup Hospital (7.0 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)
9
Participants per 1,000 residents
40.5

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 (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).

13 planning-related records

2021· 4 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Earthworks
    385 FIVE MILE ROAD PAKENHAM SOUTH 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Development of the land for an agricultural shed
    775 MCDONALDS DRAIN ROAD PAKENHAM SOUTH 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Use of the land for a Dependent Person's Unit in the Green Wedge Zone Buildings and works for a Dependent Person's Unit and Outbuilding in the Green Wedge Zone and Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
    365 HALL ROAD PAKENHAM SOUTH 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • corrected permit - Development of a stable, riding arena and associated works
    95 Soldiers RoadWithdrawn
2020· 9 proposals

  • September 2020

  • Development of the land for a shed (associated with agriculture)
    710 Koo Wee Rup RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for a shed associated with Agriculture
    Soldiers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Development of land for one (1) agricultural building
    3055 Ballarto RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Use and development of the land for an Exhibition Centre (Automotive Museum) and ancillary buildings and works (workshop, shed, car parking and earthworks)
    770 McDonalds Drain Road EastNOD issued by a delegate

  • March 2020

  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding (shed)
    75 Hall RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of the land for a place of worship and works associated with the construction of a car park
    90 Soldiers RoadRefusal issued by a delegate
  • Earthworks associated with the filling of the land (to fill internal drains and construct farm access track) and the construction of a dam.
    770 McDonalds Drain Road EastPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Development of the land for a dwelling extension
    275 Five Mile RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of the land for earthworks (importation of fill)
    95 HALL ROAD PAKENHAM SOUTH 3810In progress

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 overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
La Trobe
Member of Parliament
Jason WOOD (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
115,425
Turnout (2025)
93.0%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+6.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 52.1%Labor 47.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 8.8 km away).

Coalition 52.1%Labor 47.9%

Similar Labor lean to the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +4.7 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Pakenham SpringsLabor 51.1% · Coalition 48.9% TPP (2025)6.7 km away
  • BaylesLabor 32.1% · Coalition 67.9% TPP (2025)6.9 km away
  • Koo Wee RupLabor 43.3% · Coalition 56.7% TPP (2025)6.9 km away
  • Pakenham CentralLabor 52.7% · Coalition 47.3% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
  • PakenhamLabor 51.9% · Coalition 48.1% TPP (2025)8.3 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)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
5/10

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 Cardinia Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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