suburb.guide

VIC · Greater Geelong Council

Portarlington, VIC, 3223

Current weather

14°CThunderstorm

81% humidity · 34.8 km/h wind · 15.4° / 12.3° today · 5.8 mm rain

Desirability index

53.7/100

#120 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Portarlington is a smaller suburban community in the Greater Geelong area, home to around 4,436 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 184 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-20%), roughly 41.5 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many Public Transport Victoria stops, 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
4,436
Median age
62
Median household income / week
$1,064
Dwelling vacancy
37.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
1,131 of 3,048
Median monthly mortgage
$1,657
Employment rate
38%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
159 / 155 / 11

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian 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)
184
Against the person
32
Against property
116
Rate per 1,000 residents
41.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 139 residents
State safety percentile
37.6th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-20.3%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage15
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary16
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle17
  • B49 Other Theft32
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order13

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,010
  • Portarlington Primary SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

36 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Arlington St/The Esplanade
  • Calhoun Rd/The Esplanade
  • Grassy Point Rd/The Esplanade
  • Oxley St/The Esplanade
  • Sunset Bvd/The Esplanade

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).

104 planning-related records

2021· 48 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    PARENT - 4 TRAUM STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 2 Lot Boundary Re-Alignment
    41 RAMBLERS ROAD PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay
    100 WILLIS STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Construction of a Dwelling Exceeding 7.5m in Height
    26 FAIRFAX STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of Land for a Contractors Depot
    17 RAJAH COURT PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a Dwelling
    12 RAMBLERS ROAD PORTARLINGTON 3223In progress
  • Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Replacement Dwelling and Construction of a Shed within a Special Building Overlay
    42-50 HOOD ROAD PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a Dwelling within 2m of a Side Boundary and a Fence
    78 RAMBLERS ROAD PORTARLINGTON 3223Withdrawn

  • July 2021

  • Construction of a Dwelling Exceeding 7.5m in Height
    37-39 WELFARE STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223In progress
  • Construction of a Second Dwelling and Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    67 HEREFORD STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of Three (3) Dwellings and Four (4) Lot Subdivision
    64 STEVENS STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Increase the Redline Area that Liquor is Consumed and Supplied and Increase the Hours of Operation associated with an Existing Hotel.
    76-80 NEWCOMBE STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Withdrawn
  • Use and Development of a Dwelling
    19-39 OXLEY STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223NOD issued by a delegate
  • Construction of a Dwelling on a Lot Less than 300sqm and in a Special Building Overlay
    39 FAIRFAX STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged Multi Lot Subdivision, Creation of Reserves and Alteration of Access to a Road in a Transport Zone 2
    185-235 GEELONG ROAD PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a Second Dwelling and 2 Lot Subdivision
    9 REABY STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct and Display Business Identification Signage, Land Sale Signage more than 10 square metres and Pole Signs
    151-179 Geelong RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of Three (3) Dwellings and a Three (3) Lot Subdivision
    50 SMYTHE STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223NOD issued by a delegate
  • Construction of Two (2) Dwellings and Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    28A Payne StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of 2 Buildings, Use of the Western building as a Warehouse, Use of the Eastern Building for Industry, Two (2) Lot Subdivision and Reduction in Car Parking Requirements
    23 RAJAH COURT PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works Associated with a Raised Deck in a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
    24 ARLINGTON STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two Lot Subdivision
    18 Langdon StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Construction of Three (3) Dwellings and Creation of Access to a Road Zone Category 1
    43 FISHER STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223NOD issued by a delegate
  • Use of Land for Food and Drink Premises (Restaurant & Cafe), Partial Demolition and Buildings and Works associated with Construction of Food and Drink Premises, Thirty-One (31) Dwellings and Reduction of on-site Car Parking
    10-14 HARDING STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223NOD issued by a delegate
  • Construction of a Building Associated with an Existing Place of Worship
    22-30 Waterview ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of Two (2) Dwellings and Two (2) Lot Subdivision and Alteration of Access to a Road Zone Category 1
    79 GEELONG ROAD PORTARLINGTON 3223NOD issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and Works Associated with the Existing Dwelling and Construction of a Second Dwelling
    15 MUELLER STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223NOD issued by a delegate
  • Use of Land for Sales Office
    185-235 Geelong RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of Two (2) Dwellings
    16 MERCER STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Place of Worship
    18 HARDING STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and Works Associated with the Construction of a Dependant Persons Unit
    161-179 Hood RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Creation and Alteration of Access to a Road in a Road Zone Category 1
    185-235 Geelong RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    222-230 OLD ST LEONARDS ROAD PORTARLINGTON 3223Refusal issued by a delegate

  • March 2021

  • Use and Development of a Dwelling
    412-450 TOWER ROAD PORTARLINGTON 3223NOD issued by a delegate
  • Business Identification Signage and External Painting
    62 Newcombe StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 3 Lot Subdivision
    14 Traum StreetNOD issued by a delegate
  • Construction of Eleven (11) Dwellings with Four of these Dwellings more than 7.5 metres above natural ground level (Units 1-4) and Eleven (11) Lot Subdivision
    125 Tower RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct and Display Floodlit Business Identification Signage
    40-42 NEWCOMBE STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a Shed in a Farming Zone
    131-149 Oxley StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of Two (2) Dwellings
    81 DRYSDALE STREET PORTARLINGTON 3223NOD issued by a delegate
2020· 56 proposals

56 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

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 amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

9 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Arlington Rise ReservePark
  • Evandale ReservePark
  • Hawthorn ReservePark
  • Nottingham ReservePark
  • Portarlington (Point Richard) Flora and Fauna ReserveNature reserve
  • SS Nash ReservePark
  • W.G. Little ReservePark
  • Wiffen ParkPark
  • Willey Langdon ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
1
Emergency department
Not in suburb
  • Portarlington PharmacyNewcombe Streetpharmacy

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
4/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

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

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • PORTARLINGTON MILLNH0389

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
15
Parks (OSM)
10

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
53.7/100
Cohort rank
#120 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • PORTARLINGTON MILLheritageNH0389
  • Portarlington PharmacyhealthNewcombe Streetpharmacy
  • Arlington Rise Reservegovernmentpark
  • Evandale Reservegovernmentpark
  • Hawthorn Reservegovernmentpark
  • Nottingham Reservegovernmentpark
  • Portarlington (Point Richard) Flora and Fauna Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • SS Nash Reservegovernmentpark
  • W.G. Little Reservegovernmentpark
  • Wiffen Parkgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

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