VIC · Indigo Council

Sandy Creek, 3695

Est. population · Jun 2025

209

Growth (1 yr)

+1.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+8.8%

Median age

49

Median income

$1,489/wk

Employment rate

65%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

35.3/100
Below average

893rd in VIC

Verified 70% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Sandy Creek is known for: Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Sandy Creek offers a slower smaller community life in Indigo Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.

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. Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average.

Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.

The overall desirability read is below average, pulled by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum compared with similar regional towns, though community and employment remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Sandy Creek snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

209

+1.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

6.8%

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

#192

among Country & regional · Mature

Safety

35th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

68th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

8/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

40th

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
35.3/100 — Below average
National rank
4626th in Australia
State rank
893rd in VIC
Peer rank
#192 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#416 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

209(June 2025)

+1.0% annual · +8.8% over 5 years · 68th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.0%
5-year growth
+8.8%
Change in 1 year
+2
Change in 5 years
+17
Growth rank in VIC
68th 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 (~250), extrapolated at +1.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
200
Median age
49
Median household income / week
$1,489
Dwelling vacancy
6.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
5 of 74
Median monthly mortgage
$1,517
Employment rate
65%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
72 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025)
8
Against the person
0
Against property
1
Rate per 1,000 residents
38.3
State safety percentile
35.1th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-38.3%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage1
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order7

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
984
Median ICSEA percentile
40th
School list
  • Upper Sandy Creek Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 984 · 40th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 20 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

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
Community(1)
  • Upper Sandy Creek Primary SchoolSchool

    1037 Sandy Creek Road

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
Tallangatta Health Service (17.5 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)
6
Participants per 1,000 residents
28.7

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
29° / 15°
Rainfall
153 mm · ~19 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
22° / 9°
Rainfall
178 mm · ~22 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 4°
Rainfall
254 mm · ~32 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
20° / 8°
Rainfall
206 mm · ~26 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· 4 proposals
  • July 2021

  • Section 71 Amendment - Clerical error
    O'NEILL LANE SANDY CREEK 3695Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • March 2021

  • Single Dwelling
    Sandy Creek RoadNo permit required
  • February 2021

  • Relocatable Dwelling
    37 GRIFFITHS LANE SANDY CREEK 3695Withdrawn
  • January 2021

  • Dwelling
    O'Neill LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 4 proposals
  • August 2020

  • Certification - Consolidation of Lots
    Sandy Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2020

  • Dwelling
    922 Sandy Creek RoadNOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • May 2020

  • Certification of a Plan - Consolidation
    922 Sandy Creek RoadNo permit required
  • Certification of a Plan - Consolidation
    922 Sandy Creek RoadNo permit required

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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 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 26.6 km away).

Coalition 63.7%Labor 36.3%

7.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -1.5 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • TangambalangaLabor 34.3% · Coalition 65.7% TPP (2025)14.9 km away
  • DederangLabor 31.5% · Coalition 68.5% TPP (2025)15.9 km away
  • EskdaleLabor 31.0% · Coalition 69.0% TPP (2025)16.2 km away
  • TallangattaLabor 36.8% · Coalition 63.2% TPP (2025)16.8 km away
  • BarandudaLabor 47.6% · Coalition 52.4% TPP (2025)25.6 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.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
8/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

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 Indigo Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.