suburb.guide

VIC · Ballarat Council

Sebastopol, 3356

Est. population · Jun 2025

10,156

Growth (1 yr)

+0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

-2.4%

Median age

39

Median income

$1,013/wk

Employment rate

47.9%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$513,000

Languages at home

5.7%non-English

Most common: Punjabi, Hindi, Filipino

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

63.3/100
Good

Top 19% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 100% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
  • National parks
  • Education hub
What Sebastopol is known for: Green suburb, Excellent transport, High desirability, National parks, Education hub

Suburb profile

Sebastopol sits in Ballarat Council as a regional established suburb that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix.

The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Most routine trips are on foot, while buses cover longer journeys across the metro area.

Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.

Growth momentum push the suburb to a good desirability read, even as community and employment, plus safety look more ordinary among similar regional towns.

At a glance

Sebastopol snapshot

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

Median house price

$513k

+22% change

Median rent

$430/wk

Population (ERP)

10,156

+0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

7.4%

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

#18

among Country & regional · Established

Safety

85th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

44th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

1/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

24th

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
63.3/100 — Good
State standing
Top 19% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
708th in Australia
State rank
234th in VIC
Peer rank
#18 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#29 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
100%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Sep 2025)
$430
Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$513,000
Median price change
+22.1%

Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

10,156(June 2025)

+0.0% annual · -2.4% over 5 years · 44th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.0%
5-year growth
-2.4%
Change in 1 year
+3
Change in 5 years
-247
Growth rank in VIC
44th 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 (~10,300), extrapolated at +0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
10,194
Median age
39
Median household income / week
$1,013
Dwelling vacancy
7.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
350 of 4,750
Median monthly mortgage
$1,133
Employment rate
47.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
3,204 / 1,187 / 7

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 increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
1,522
Against the person
302
Against property
750
Rate per 1,000 residents
149.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 34 residents
State safety percentile
85.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+6.4%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage172
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft67
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle125
  • B49 Other Theft138
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order245

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
5
Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
947
Median ICSEA percentile
24th
School list
  • St James' SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1034 · 61th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 166 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
  • Sebastopol Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 901 · 11th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 98 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
  • Ballarat Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1058 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 33% · 406 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
  • Phoenix P-12 Community CollegeCombined · Government · ICSEA 947 · 24th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 1,473 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
  • Magpie Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 923 · 16th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 103 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Sebastopol KindergartenAlbert Streetkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

41 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bala St/Albert St
  • Bridge St/Albert St
  • CFA/Albert St
  • Hertford St/Albert St
  • Vickers St/Albert St

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

132 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 pubs · 2 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 2 fast food · 1 bakeries · 1 libraries · 4 places of worship · 15 playgrounds

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Highly walkable for everyday errands
  • Great for outdoor family life — 22 parks mapped in suburb, 15 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport — 41 public transport stops
  • Strong local sport and recreation — 19 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
78/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.39
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.16
Food & drink(4)
  • Golden Nugget BakeryBakery

    84 Albert Street

  • Monte'sFast food
  • Rio BravoFast food
  • XonaPub
Shopping(3)
  • Coles SebastopolSupermarket

    212 Albert Street, Sebastopol

  • International Grocery StoreSupermarket
Community(7)
  • Sebastopol KindergartenKindergarten

    115 Albert Street

  • Sebastopol LibraryLibrary
  • Ballarat Christian CollegeSchool

    111A Yarrowee Street

  • Phoenix P-12 Community College DOTS CampusSchool

    180 Grant Street

  • Phoenix P-12 Community College Sebastopol CampusSchool

    53-71 Hertford Street

  • Sebastapol Primary SchoolSchool

    135-155 Yarrowee Street

  • St James' Parish SchoolSchool

    260 Albert Street

Health & services(2)
  • Ballarat Community HealthClinic

    260 Vickers Street

  • Chemist Warehouse SebastopolPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(33)
  • Dog park
  • M R Power Recreation ReservePark
  • Park (9)
  • Saint Georges ReservePark
  • Teague Court ReservePark
  • Victoria Street ReservePark
  • Victory ParkPark
  • Karen Overington PlaygroundPlayground
  • Keane Street PlaygroundPlayground
  • Playground (12)
  • Vickers Tait ReservePlayground
  • Tennis BallaratSports centre
  • BMX ReserveSports field
  • Sports field
Transport(20)

20 bus stops

Other(26)
  • Commonwealth BankBank
  • Bench (11)
  • Drinking water (5)
  • ChargefoxEV charging
  • Sebastopol Fire StationFire station

    180 Albert Street, Sebastopol

  • Motel (3)
  • Disabled ParkingParking
  • Parking (15)
  • Petrol station
  • U-Go Self ServePetrol station
  • Ballarat West Presbyterian ChurchPlace of worship
  • Carmel Welsh Presbyterian ChurchPlace of worship
  • Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's WitnessesPlace of worship

    149-153 Grant Street, Sebastopol

  • Place of worship
  • Public ToiletsPublic toilets
  • WorldMark South Pacific ClubResort

    Grant Street

  • Rosebank Retirement VillageRetirement Village

    19A Charlotte Street

  • Vinnies SebastopolSecond Hand

    Unit 2 112-114 Albert Street

  • Netball ShelterShelter
  • Shelter (7)
  • Tennis ShelterShelter
  • Sebastopol Senior Citizens CentreSocial Facility

    250 Vickers Street

  • TelstraTelephone
  • Graham Collins Running Track: CFATrack
  • Marshall Track: CFATrack
  • Track (3)

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 insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

7 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Kowree Crescent ReservePark
  • M R Power Recreation ReservePark
  • Redan Wetlands/Yuilles WetlandsPark
  • Saint Georges ReservePark
  • Teague Court ReservePark
  • Victoria Street ReservePark
  • Victory ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
22
Parks (OSM)
22

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

Places of worship

4 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • Ballarat West Presbyterian Church
  • Carmel Welsh Presbyterian Church
  • Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

    149-153 Grant Street, Sebastopol

  • Place of worship

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
3
Nearest hospital
Queen Elizabeth Centre (4.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • Ballarat Community HealthVickers StreetClinic
  • Chemist Warehouse SebastopolPharmacy
  • Sabastapol Coin LaundryPharmacy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
516
Participants per 1,000 residents
50.8

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
26° / 12°
Rainfall
128 mm · ~16 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
21° / 10°
Rainfall
124 mm · ~16 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
149 mm · ~19 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 8°
Rainfall
182 mm · ~23 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).

69 planning-related records

2021· 28 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Development of six dwellings, six lot subdivision, removal of Easement E1 from lot 4 and 5 on LP26228 and a waiver in visitor parking requirement
    14-16 MORGAN STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a building and fence for the use and development of a Medical Centre and display of signage
    113 ALBERT STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings, two lot subdivision, variation to an existing carriageway easement and creation of common property
    46 WARREEN STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two (2) dwellings and a two (2) lot subdivision
    29 KENT STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Variation of restrictive covenant AG394767K by removing the word 'single' before the word 'dwelling'
    10 WESTCLIFFE CRESCENT SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings
    131 EDWARDS STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of five dwellings and five lot subdivision
    63 GRANT STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of four dwellings and four lot subdivision
    134 SPENCER STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a supermarket, sale of liquor display of business identification signage and alteration to access in a Road Zone Category 1 - Changes to Align the opening hours of Liquorland
    216-220 ALBERT STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Development of a second dwelling, two lot subdivision and creation of access to a Road Zone, Category 1
    27 BRIDGE STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of two warehouses and associated works
    8 TUPPEN DRIVE SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of three (3) community care accommodation dwellings on a lot
    8 ROWLANDS STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two medical centres and shop (pharmacy), dispensation of car parking requirements and Alteration of access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1
    37 ALBERT STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three lot subdivision
    61 BEVERIN STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three lot subdivision
    38 BEVERIN STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Development of four dwellings and five lot subdivision adjacent to a Road Zone, Category 1
    11 HERTFORD STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Five lot subdivision
    334 ALBERT STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Development of two dwellings
    63 Yarrowee StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Variation of drainage easement on Plan of Subdivision CP108570 and creation of easements
    216-220 ALBERT STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged multi-lot subdivision
    CA 5 MILES STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alterations to existing supermarket, including a reduction in carparking and display of signage
    42-54 Albert StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Demolition of outbuildings
    363 Albert StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three lot subdivision
    66 Yarrowee StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of three dwellings, three lot subdivision, creation of access to a Road Zone and creation of an easement
    237 Albert StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Five lot subdivision
    2 ALEXANDRA STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alterations and extension to an existing dwelling
    8 Yarrowee StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Development of two additional dwellings and a three lot subdivision
    45 Victoria StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision, development of two dwellings and associated works
    3 Rowlands StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 12 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Three lot subdivision
    65 ALBERT STREET SEBASTOPOL 3356Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Demolition and development of a domestic outbuilding
    3 Bridge StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Addition to existing warehouse (showroom)
    89-93 Hertford StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three lot subdivision
    28 Morgan StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three lot subdivision
    3 Nelson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision
    16 Victoria StreetWithdrawn

  • October 2020

  • Development of a dwelling
    2/20 Edwards StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Display of business identification signage
    95 Rubicon StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Two lot subdivision and development of a second dwelling
    17C Kent StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    1/20 Edwards StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings
    17 Hinkler AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two additional dwellings on a lot
    38 Beverin StreetPermit 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 overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Ballarat
Member of Parliament
Catherine KING (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,238
Turnout (2025)
93.3%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-2.3 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 39.3%Labor 60.7%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.1 km away).

Coalition 31.4%Labor 68.5%

7.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -0.4 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • SebastopolLabor 69.5% · Coalition 30.5% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
  • MagpieLabor 62.0% · Coalition 38.0% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
  • Sebastopol NorthLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • DelacombeLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
  • RedanLabor 70.9% · Coalition 29.1% TPP (2025)2.7 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)
1/10
IRSD decile (2021)
1/10

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

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Ballarat Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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