VIC · Cardinia Council

Pakenham Upper, VIC, 3810

Current weather

12.7°CDense drizzle

76% humidity · 15.3 km/h wind · 15.8° / 9.8° today · 3.4 mm rain

Desirability index

47.4/100

#254 among Metro Melbourne suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Pakenham Upper is a small locality in the Cardinia area, home to around 1,196 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 40 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-52%), roughly 33.4 offences per 1,000 residents, 13 public transport stops within the suburb, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

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)
24 / 0 / 0

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)
40
Against the person
3
Against property
33
Rate per 1,000 residents
33.4
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 399 residents
State safety percentile
28.5th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-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

Data sources & freshness

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

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).

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

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

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

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

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

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)
9
Parks (OSM)
0

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
47.4/100
Cohort rank
#254 among Metro Melbourne suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Gembrook G67 Bushland Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • Nar-Nar-Goon G73 Bushland Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • Nar-Nar-Goon G74 Bushland Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • RJ Chambers Flora & Fauna Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • Unnamed P0075 Private Nature Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • 2 lot subdivisionplanning655 GEMBROOK ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Lodged 09 Jul 2021 · Withdrawn
  • Amendment to the location of the outbuildingplanning210 GORDON ROAD PAKENHAM UPPER 3810Lodged 02 Jul 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Boundary re-alignmentplanning656-695 Gembrook RoadLodged 24 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with a dwelling (replacement)planning225 Gordon RoadLodged 11 Jan 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works associated with a dwelling extensionplanning980 Toomuc Valley RoadLodged 23 Nov 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.