VIC · Benalla Council

Samaria, 3673

Est. population · Jun 2025

55

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+1.9%

Median age

54

Median income

$1,125/wk

Employment rate

57.7%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

    What Samaria is known for:

    Suburb profile

    In Benalla Council, Samaria keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself.

    Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Homes are neither a bargain nor a premium buy against the wider market.

    Local crime has been trending higher of late. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.

    At a glance

    Samaria snapshot

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

    Median house price

    No data available

    Median rent

    No data available

    Population (ERP)

    55

    0.0% annual growth

    Dwelling vacancy

    17.9%

    Census unoccupied dwellings

    How it compares

    Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

    Safety

    64th

    percentile in state (higher = safer)

    Pop. growth

    33rd

    percentile in VIC

    Advantage (IRSAD)

    4/10

    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

    Population

    Estimated resident population

    55(June 2025)

    0.0% annual · +1.9% over 5 years · 33th percentile in VIC

    Growth figures & methodology
    Annual growth
    0.0%
    5-year growth
    +1.9%
    Change in 1 year
    0
    Change in 5 years
    +1
    Growth rank in VIC
    33th 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 (~50), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

    2021 Census figures

    2021 Census

    Population
    57
    Median age
    54
    Median household income / week
    $1,125
    Dwelling vacancy
    17.9%
    Unoccupied private dwellings
    5 of 28
    Median monthly mortgage
    $1,083
    Employment rate
    57.7%
    Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
    29 / 0 / 0

    Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

    Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

    Data sources & freshness

    • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

      The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

    • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

      The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

    Crime & safety

    Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

    Offence counts & rates
    Total offences (2026)
    4
    Against the person
    0
    Against property
    3
    Rate per 1,000 residents
    72.7
    State safety percentile
    64th (lower crime is better)
    Increase (daily rate)
    +300%

    Most common offence types

    • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary1
    • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
    • B49 Other Theft1
    • D35 Improper Movement On Public Or Private Space1

    Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

    Crime rate and year-on-year trend

    Data sources & freshness

    Family & Lifestyle

    Amenities

    1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

    Local character & venue list

    Local character

    • Limited walkable amenities nearby
    Walkability proxy
    0/100
    Cafés per 1,000 residents
    0
    Food & drink per 1,000 residents
    0
    Parks per 1,000 residents
    0
    Other(1)
    • Samaria CFAFire station

      42 Sawyer Road, Samaria

    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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
    • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · 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

    Health access

    Nearest hospital
    Mansfield District Hospital (28.2 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)
    1
    Participants per 1,000 residents
    18.2

    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
    28° / 11°
    Rainfall
    176 mm · ~22 rainy days

    Autumn (Mar–May)

    Usual max / min
    21° / 7°
    Rainfall
    233 mm · ~29 rainy days

    Winter (Jun–Aug)

    Usual max / min
    12° / 2°
    Rainfall
    385 mm · ~48 rainy days

    Spring (Sep–Nov)

    Usual max / min
    19° / 6°
    Rainfall
    295 mm · ~37 rainy days

    Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

    Temperature and humidity comfort

    Data sources & freshness

    • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 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).

    8 planning-related records

    2021· 1 proposal
    • March 2021

    • Construction of short term accomodation and second dwelling
      139 Mt Samaria RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
    2020· 7 proposals
    • December 2020

    • Construction of a pavilion
      21 School House RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
    • October 2020

    • Construction of a farm shed
      199 Sawyer RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
    • September 2020

    • Three lot resubdivison of land
      2900 Samaria RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
    • Dwelling extension, walkway, carport and shed
      2900 Samaria RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
    • Construction of a farm shed
      199 Sawyer RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
    • August 2020

    • Construction of a farm shed
      199 Sawyer RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
    • February 2020

    • Dwelling extension, walkway, carport and shed
      2900 Samaria RoadPermit 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
    No overlay at centroid

    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 overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

    Politics & representation

    Federal electorate
    Indi
    Member of Parliament
    Helen HAINES (Independent)
    Results from
    2025 federal election
    Electorate enrolment (2025)
    120,774
    Turnout (2025)
    92.8%
    Swing since 2022 (2025)
    -1.4 pp toward Coalition

    Two-party preferred (2025)

    Coalition 56.7%Labor 43.3%

    Estimated suburb voting profile

    Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 30.4 km away).

    Coalition 61.5%Labor 38.5%

    4.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

    Estimated swing since 2022: +0.1 pp toward Labor

    Nearest polling places

    • SwanpoolLabor 39.5% · Coalition 60.5% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
    • TatongLabor 33.9% · Coalition 66.1% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
    • TolmieLabor 45.0% · Coalition 55.0% TPP (2025)20.2 km away
    • MansfieldLabor 44.5% · Coalition 55.5% TPP (2025)27.4 km away
    • BenallaLabor 43.2% · Coalition 56.8% TPP (2025)30.2 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)
    4/10
    IRSD decile (2021)
    4/10

    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

    More in Benalla Council

    Other suburbs in the same local government area.