Queenscliff is a coastal town in Victoria, characterised by heritage listings. It is close to the Swan Bay and the Bellarine Peninsula.
Local school ICSEA scores are among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns. University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, with university qualifications 74% above the peer median, and the suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings, and population growth is an exceptional strength. The clearer weaknesses are higher housing costs and weaker employment, with median house prices 13% above the peer median.
Overall, Queenscliff suits people prioritising school quality and university qualifications over lower housing costs.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in Victoria (105)
Strengths
Local school ICSEA scores are among the highest in the peer group
University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings
Population growth is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Housing costs a little more than in comparable places
Employment rates sit below those of comparable places
What stands out
Queenscliff - Pier Beach
Heritage listings
Swan Bay
Bellarine Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★★★
Professionals★★★☆☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★★★★☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Queenscliff compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$955k
-44% change
Median rent (Census)
$369/wk
2021 Census median weekly rent
Population (ERP)
1,648
+3.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
40.0%
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
#7
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Crime rate
11th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
95th
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
14%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
84th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
63.8/100 — Good
State standing
Top 4% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
243rd in Australia
State rank
45th in VIC
Peer rank
#7 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#10 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
95%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
+3.3% annual · +18.1% over 5 years · 95th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+3.3%
5-year growth
+18.1%
Change in 1 year
+52
Change in 5 years
+253
Growth rank in VIC
95th 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 (~1,900), extrapolated at +2.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
1,516
Median age
62
Median household income / week
$1,473
Dwelling vacancy
40%
Unoccupied private dwellings
444 of 1,109
Median monthly mortgage
$2,232
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$369
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
63% / 22.7% / 14.3%
Employment rate
46.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
32.4% / 0.9% / 44.8%
Walked or cycled to work
6.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
603 / 32 / 17 (+ 10 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
37.1% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 12% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified37.1% · 29.2% VIC
Diploma qualified12.1% · 9.8% VIC
Trade / vocational12% · 14.2% VIC
Year 12 or below38.8% · 46.8% VIC
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Education17.6%
Management and commerce16.2%
Society and culture16%
Health15.1%
Engineering and related technologies11.3%
Architecture and building6.8%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Community & culture
4.1% speak a language other than English at home; 13.2% born overseas
Language at home
1,393 English only · 60 other
Non-English at home
4.1%
Born overseas
187 (13.2%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
5 (0.3%)
Australian citizens
1,401
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
3
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Greek4 · 40%
Italian3 · 30%
Russian3 · 30%
Religion
49.6%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 49.6%, while 42.1% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
42.1%
38.8%
Christianity
49.6%
40.9%
Other / not stated
8.3%
20.3%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
22.3%
20.5%
Anglican
13.6%
6.5%
Uniting Church
7.1%
2.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.8%
1.4%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted 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)
28
Against the person
5
Against property
14
Rate per 1,000 residents
17
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 303 residents
State crime-rate percentile
11.1th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-65.9%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
10
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
6.07
Most common offence types
B21 Criminal Damage4
B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
B41 Motor Vehicle Theft2
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
Other Crimes Against The Person2
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
St Aloysius' SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1081 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 112 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Queenscliff Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1120 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 165 students · Top SEA quarter 47% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Bellarine Secondary CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Point Lonsdale Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Queenscliff Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
Victorian designated neighbourhood zones — Victorian Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Reasonably walkable — many shops and services reachable on foot or by bus
Great for outdoor family life — 7 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 16 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
53/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.66
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
1.32
Parks per 1,000 residents
4.62
Food & drink(2)
Ocean View KioskCafe
140 Hesse Street
Rip View BistroRestaurant
Shopping(1)
Queenscliff General StoreSupermarket
Everyday services(3)
Evie NetworksEV charging
Laundry (2)
Community(2)
Queenscliff Primary SchoolSchool
20 Stevens Street
St Aloysius' Primary SchoolSchool
34 Stevens Street
Sport & outdoors(13)
Queenscliff - Pier BeachBeach
Boat ramp
Bellarine Peninsula Rail TrailCycling route
Bellarine Rail TrailCycling route
Queenscliff Natural Features ReserveNature reserve
Park
Playground
Pt Lonsdale Surf ClubPublic toilets
Public toilets
Queenscliff Cricket NetsSports field
Queenscliff Netball CourtsSports field
Queenscliff Recreation ReserveSports field
Sports field
Camping & holiday parks(5)
Victoria Park CampgroundCampground
Beacon Resort Caravan ParkCaravan park
Queenscliff Recreational Reserve Caravan ParkCaravan park
134 Hesse Street
The Springs Queenscliff Caravan ParkCaravan park
Dump point
Entertainment(3)
Viewpoint (3)
Transport(8)
5 bus stops · 3 train stations
Other(7)
Marine and Freshwater Discovery CentreAttraction
Bench (3)
SprocktBicycle
Clothes Dryer
Queenscliffe Fire StationFire station
23-25 Stokes Street, Queenscliff
Fish Cleaning
Parking (5)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Health access
Nearest hospital
Rosebud Hospital (23.6 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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.
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° / 13°
Rainfall
155 mm · ~19 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
20° / 11°
Rainfall
186 mm · ~23 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
203 mm · ~25 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
18° / 9°
Rainfall
207 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
74 planning-related records
2021· 40 proposals
September 2021
Alterations and extensions to an existing dwelling
11 SWANSTON STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
External painting of a dwelling in a Heritage Overlay area
12 MERCER STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a dwelling and variation to the setback requirements of Design and Development Overlay - Schedule 3
8 BELLARINE HIGHWAY QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a two storey dwelling and removal of native vegetation
101 KING STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225NOD issued by a delegate
Alterations to an existing dwelling
48 STOKES STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and extensions to an existing dwelling and construction of a front fence
28 SWANSTON STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of trees on a site individually listed in a Heritage Overlay
20 MERCER STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
Demolition and construction of a front fence on a site individually listed in a Heritage Overlay
20 MERCER STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and extensions to an existing dwelling and outbuilding and variation to the site coverage requirements of Design and Development Overlay - Schedule 1
40 STOKES STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and external painting to an existing dwelling in a Heritage Overlay area
8 BEACH STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Demolition of outbuildings
14 WHARF STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Part demolition, alterations and extensions to an existing dwelling
17 STOKES STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
Construction of an outbuilding
14 WHARF STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Demolition of a dwelling, outbuilding and fences in a Heritage Overlay, construction of a dwelling and fences and variation to the site coverage requirements of Design and Development Overlay - Schedule 6
5 BEACH STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Withdrawn
Demolition of an outbuilding and construction of an outbuilding
28 GELLIBRAND STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
Alterations and extensions (two storey) to an existing dwelling and variation to the site coverage requirements of Design and Development Overlay - Schedule 3
UNIT 1/3 EDGEWATER CLOSE QUEENSCLIFF 3225NOD issued by a delegate
Part demolition, alterations and extensions to an existing two storey dwelling and outbuilding and variation to the site coverage requirements of Design and Development Overlay - Schedule 1
111 HESSE STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations to existing dwelling and construction of a carport
10 BETHUNE STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and extensions to an existing dwelling
8 SWANSTON STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Construction of an outbuilding
Unit 3/1 Queen StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations to an existing dwelling individually listed in a Heritage Overlay
27 Hesse StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
External painting of a building in a Heritage Overlay area and display business identification signage
13 Hesse StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Part demolition, alterations and extensions to an existing two storey dwelling in a Heritage Overlay area
1 MERCER STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of native vegetation (between foreshore and Barwon Water storage tank)
41 GELLIBRAND STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a dwelling
69 LEARMONTH STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Display business identification signage
Unit Shop 2/45 Hesse StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
Alterations to an existing dwelling individually listed in a Heritage Overlay
26 to 28 Stokes StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a two storey dwelling and variation to the site coverage and setback requirements of Design and Development Overlay - Schedule 5
1 RAYLEIGH AVENUE QUEENSCLIFF 3225NOD issued by a delegate
Demolition and replacement of exterior walls (library) on a site individually listed in the Heritage Overlay
49-55 Hesse StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
Display business identification signage
Unit Shop 6/42 Hesse StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of native vegetation in the road reserve
Roddick Grove (road reserve)Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an outbuilding (garage) and front fence and alterations to an existing dwelling
12 Waterview ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Residential
30 Flinders StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
Construction of a verandah
16B King StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations to an existing outbuilding
44 King StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
Extensions to an existing dwelling
Unit 1/11 Queen StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Trimming of trees in a Heritage Overlay where tree controls apply
49-55 Hesse StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
External painting of a dwelling in a Heritage overlay area
30 Gellibrand StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works associated with the relocation of a structure (coaches box)
134 HESSE STREET QUEENSCLIFF 3225Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a two storey dwelling and removal of native vegetation
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Heritage listings as established streetscape
Data sources & freshness
State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping. Flood cover uses inundation overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
Federal electorate
Corangamite
Member of Parliament
Libby COKER (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
114,123
Turnout (2025)
94.7%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+0.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 42.0%Labor 58.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 12.4 km away).
Coalition 36.7%Labor 63.3%
5.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Point LonsdaleLabor 63.2% · Coalition 36.8% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
QueenscliffLabor 64.0% · Coalition 36.0% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
Ocean Grove SouthLabor 66.4% · Coalition 33.6% TPP (2025)7.5 km away
Ocean GroveLabor 69.6% · Coalition 30.4% TPP (2025)8.6 km away
Ocean Grove WestLabor 62.9% · Coalition 37.1% TPP (2025)10.6 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.
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 (12%)