Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Golden Plains Council
Shelford, 3329
Est. population · Jun 2025
315
Growth (1 yr)
+2.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+15.0%
Median age
39
Median income
$1,778/wk
Employment rate
68.1%
Languages at home
4.2%non-English
Most common: Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Education hub
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Golden Plains Council, Shelford keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Homes are neither a bargain nor a premium buy against the wider market.
Crime reports are up on the previous period. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Shelford snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
315
+2.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.8%
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
#100
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
20th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
93rd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
53rd
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
- 34.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4789th in Australia
- State rank
- 921st in VIC
- Peer rank
- #100 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #442 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
315(June 2025)
+2.6% annual · +15.0% over 5 years · 93th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.6%
- 5-year growth
- +15.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +8
- Change in 5 years
- +41
- Growth rank in VIC
- 93th 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 (~350), extrapolated at +2.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 263
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,778
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 15 of 109
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,330
- Employment rate
- 68.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 88 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 8
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 25.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 263 residents
- State safety percentile
- 20.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +33.3%
Most common offence types
- A211 Fv Serious Assault1
- B21 Criminal Damage2
- B311 Residential Aggravated Burglary1
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft1
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception1
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,013
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 53th
School list
- Shelford Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1013 · 53th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 13 students · Top SEA quarter 12%View on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Warrambine Flora ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 348
- 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
- Winchelsea Hospital (31.0 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)
- 12
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 38.1
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
- 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).
8 planning-related records
2021· 3 proposals
September 2021
- The development of the land for the purposes of a shed pursuant to the provisions of the FZ (Clause 35.07-4)154 ROKEWOOD-SHELFORD ROAD SHELFORD 3329Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
- Construction of a building (dwelling) under clause 43.02-2 (DDO)20 ARCHIBALD DRIVE SHELFORD 3329Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Construction of a building (agricultural shed) under clause 42.01-2 (ESO2)1372 Rokewood-Shelford RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 5 proposals
December 2020
- The use and development of the land for the purposes of Materials recycling and associated buildings and works pursuant to the provisions of the FZ (Clauses 35.07-1 & 35.07-4 of the planning scheme)1115 SHELFORD-MT MERCER ROAD SHELFORD 3329NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
November 2020
- Construction of a building (dwelling) under clause 43.02-2 in accordance with endorsed plans18 Archibald DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Use and development of the land for the purposes of a Broiler farm and associated buildings and works pursuant to the provisions of the FZ (Clauses 35.07-1 & 35.07-4)1115 SHELFORD-MT MERCER ROAD SHELFORD 3329In progress
September 2020
- The use and development of the land for the purposes of a dwelling pursuant to the provisions of the FZ (Clauses 35.07-1 & 35.07-4) and create access to a road in a Transport Zone 2 (TRZ2) under Clause 52.29 of the planning schemeCA 8 ROKEWOOD-SHELFORD ROAD SHELFORD 3329In progress
February 2020
- The development of the land for a shed15 BEATON LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
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
- BRIDGE OVER LEIGH RIVERNH1452
- FORMER LEIGH SHIRE HALLNH2274
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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 32.9 km away).
Coalition 48.5%Labor 51.5%
9.1 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.9 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- TeesdaleLabor 54.6% · Coalition 45.4% TPP (2025)13.6 km away
- RokewoodLabor 33.3% · Coalition 66.7% TPP (2025)18.2 km away
- MeredithLabor 53.7% · Coalition 46.3% TPP (2025)18.6 km away
- LethbridgeLabor 54.8% · Coalition 45.2% TPP (2025)19.0 km away
- DereelLabor 58.2% · Coalition 41.8% TPP (2025)21.3 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Golden Plains Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.