Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Glenelg Council
Portland West, 3305
Est. population · Jun 2025
591
Growth (1 yr)
0.0%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.8%
Median age
49
Median income
$1,931/wk
Employment rate
61.5%
Languages at home
2.8%non-English
Most common: Japanese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Portland West revolves around the coast at a genuine remove from Melbourne. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing.
Open space is thinner than in many coastal suburbs, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Property prices are middling for the area: fair relative to what is nearby.
Reported crime has been falling recently. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Portland West snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
591
0.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.3%
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
#64
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
36th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
32nd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
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
- 31.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5259th in Australia
- State rank
- 1006th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #64 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #109 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 62%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
591(June 2025)
0.0% annual · -0.8% over 5 years · 32th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- 0.0%
- 5-year growth
- -0.8%
- Change in 1 year
- 0
- Change in 5 years
- -5
- Growth rank in VIC
- 32th 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 (~600), extrapolated at -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 619
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,931
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 23 of 248
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,363
- Employment rate
- 61.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 227 / 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)
- 23
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 10
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 38.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 103 residents
- State safety percentile
- 35.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -20.7%
Most common offence types
- A211 Fv Serious Assault4
- A231 Fv Common Assault2
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft3
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order3
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Portland H46 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Portland H47 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Trewalla H48 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- 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
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Portland District Hospital (6.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 16
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 27.1
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 24° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 112 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 164 mm · ~20 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 251 mm · ~31 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 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· 5 proposals
July 2021
- Use and development of dwelling and outbuildings195 BRIDGEWATER ROAD PORTLAND WEST 3305NOD issued by a delegate
June 2021
- Use and Development of the Land for a Dwelling Ancillary to Horticulture and Poultry Keeping, Development of Group Accommodation, and Development of Associated Infrastructure and WorksCAPE NELSON ROAD PORTLAND WEST 3305NOD issued by a delegate
February 2021
- Building and Works to Construct a Replacement Shed135 Heath RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Three Lot re-subdivision and removal of specified easements115 Heath RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Building and Works to Construct a Shed310 Malings RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 2 proposals
October 2020
- AMENDMENT: Building and Works to Construct a Single Dwelling64 Knights And Parkers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- Use and Development for a Dwelling38 Peddie AvenueWithdrawn
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
Heritage
2 heritage places
- BLAIR MONANH1897
- CAPE NELSON LIGHTSTATIONNH1773
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Wannon
- Member of Parliament
- Dan TEHAN (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,788
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 60.9%Labor 39.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 55.7 km away).
Coalition 51.7%Labor 48.3%
9.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +48.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Portland SouthLabor 54.0% · Coalition 46.0% TPP (2025)4.9 km away
- Portland CentralLabor 45.2% · Coalition 54.8% TPP (2025)6.5 km away
- Portland NorthLabor 46.3% · Coalition 53.7% TPP (2025)7.1 km away
- BolwarraLabor 37.1% · Coalition 62.9% TPP (2025)12.4 km away
- NarrawongLabor 40.3% · Coalition 59.7% TPP (2025)20.2 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Glenelg Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.