suburb.guide

VIC · Cardinia Council

Pakenham Upper, 3810

Est. population · Jun 2025

1,219

Growth (1 yr)

+0.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+1.2%

Median age

44

Median income

$2,593/wk

Employment rate

68.6%

Languages at home

5.9%non-English

Most common: Spanish, Australian Indigenous languages, Hindi

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

53.1/100
Average

Top 32% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 70% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • National parks
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
What Pakenham Upper is known for: Green suburb, National parks, Excellent transport, High desirability

Suburb profile

Set among the hills of Cardinia Council, Pakenham Upper is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.

Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.

Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.

The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities compared with similar regional towns, though community and employment, plus growth momentum remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Pakenham Upper snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

1,219

+0.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

5.0%

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

#27

among Country & regional · Established

Safety

29th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

61st

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

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
53.1/100 — Average
State standing
Top 32% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
1782nd in Australia
State rank
401st in VIC
Peer rank
#27 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#82 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

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

Population

Estimated resident population

1,219(June 2025)

+0.7% annual · +1.2% over 5 years · 61th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+1.2%
Change in 1 year
+9
Change in 5 years
+14
Growth rank in VIC
61th 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 (~1,250), extrapolated at +0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
1,196
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$2,593
Dwelling vacancy
5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
20 of 399
Median monthly mortgage
$2,400
Employment rate
68.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
383 / 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)
40
Against the person
3
Against property
33
Rate per 1,000 residents
32.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 399 residents
State safety percentile
28.9th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-51.8%

Most common offence types

  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary3
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft4
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle4
  • B49 Other Theft11
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception4

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Public transport

13 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 590 Pakenham Rd
  • Clink Rd/Gembrook Rd
  • Gembrook Rd/Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd
  • Henry Blackburn Oval/Pakenham Rd
  • Mount Burnett Rd/Gembrook Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access — 13 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
20/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Sport & outdoors(1)
  • Sports field
Other(3)
  • Nar-Nar-Goon G73 Bushland ReserveNature Reserve
  • Parking
  • Recreation Ground

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

Parks & reserves

5 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Gembrook G67 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Nar-Nar-Goon G73 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Nar-Nar-Goon G74 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • RJ Chambers Flora & Fauna ReserveNature reserve
  • Unnamed P0075 Private Nature ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
9
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
St John of God Langmore Centre (14.6 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)
35
Participants per 1,000 residents
28.7

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).

38 planning-related records

2021· 26 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Buildings and works associated with an outbuilding
    107 BOURKES CREEK ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for an outbuilding
    55 APPLE TREE LANE PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Extension of an outbuilding and associated works
    35 MANN ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for a non-habitable outbuilding (shed)
    35 BAYARD DRIVE PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Extension of a dwelling and associated works
    245 OLD GEMBROOK ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • One tree removal and permit for shipping containers.
    1000 PAKENHAM ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Lapsed
  • Construction of an outbuilding and associated works
    120 SHELTON ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of the land into two (2) lots (boundary realignment)
    21 BOURKES CREEK ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Buildings and works associated with an outbuilding
    10 TOOGOOD COURT PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 2 lot subdivision
    655 GEMBROOK ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Withdrawn
  • Amendment to the location of the outbuilding
    210 GORDON ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Construction of an outbuilding and associated works
    280 GORDON ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of an outbuilding and associated works
    690 GEMBROOK ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810NOD issued by a delegate
  • Development of the land for an outbuilding (shed)
    44 BAYARD DRIVE PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling, vegetation removal and associated works
    1000 PAKENHAM ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Lapsed

  • May 2021

  • Development of the land for a carport
    95 APPLE TREE LANE PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with an outbuilding
    15 TWIN CREEKS ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for a replacement dwelling
    35 BOURKES CREEK ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Development of the land for an outbuilding (shed) and associated works (earthworks)
    210 Gordon RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for an outbuilding (shed)
    535 Gembrook RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Development of the land for an outbuilding (shed)
    229 Bourkes Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling and outbuilding and associated works, and use of the land for a Host Farm.
    215 HARVIE ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Substantial renovation/replacement of existing dwelling. Knock down and rebuild of a house in the same building envelope as existing residence. The new building will be single storey and smaller than existing.
    225 Gordon RoadWithdrawn
  • Substantial renovation/replacement of existing dwelling. Knock down and rebuild of a house in the same building envelope as existing residence. The new building will be single storey and smaller than existing.
    225 Gordon RoadWithdrawn
  • Buildings and works associated with a dwelling (replacement)
    225 Gordon RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with an agricultural building
    270 Huxtable RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 12 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Buildings and works associated with a dwelling extension
    980 Toomuc Valley RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling and outbuilding
    89 Old Gembrook RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Development of the land for a dwelling extension
    215 Old Gembrook RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Development of the land for a dwelling extension and outbuilding (shed)
    845 Pakenham RoadLapsed
  • Boundary re-alignment
    656-695 Gembrook RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of the land for an outbuilding (shed)
    22 Linden RoadNOD issued by a delegate

  • August 2020

  • Development of the land for a dwelling extension (verandah) and an outbuilding and native vegetation removal
    181 MANN ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810In progress

  • July 2020

  • New home
    1000 PAKENHAM ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810In progress
  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling
    710 Pakenham RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Development of the land for a habitable outbuilding, associated works and the removal of native vegetation
    165 Gordon RoadWithdrawn

  • April 2020

  • Construction of a replacement dwelling and associated works
    670 Gembrook RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with an extension to an existing dwelling
    36 Toogood CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

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
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 7.5 km away).

Coalition 70.3%Labor 29.7%

18.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -4.5 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • Pakenham UpperLabor 29.3% · Coalition 70.7% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
  • Nar Nar Goon NorthLabor 29.6% · Coalition 70.4% TPP (2025)4.4 km away
  • Pakenham HeightsLabor 40.1% · Coalition 59.9% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
  • Pakenham NorthLabor 53.2% · Coalition 46.8% TPP (2025)5.9 km away
  • Pakenham EastLabor 52.5% · Coalition 47.5% TPP (2025)6.2 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)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

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

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

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.