suburb.guide

VIC · Bass Coast Council

Smiths Beach, VIC, 3922

Current weather

14.9°CLight drizzle

70% humidity · 30.3 km/h wind · 16.3° / 11.7° today · 6.3 mm rain

Desirability index

84.8/100

#38 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Smiths Beach is a small locality in the Bass Coast area, home to around 315 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 9 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-36%), roughly 28.6 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and some planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.

Population

Population
315
Median age
51
Median household income / week
$1,181
Dwelling vacancy
75.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
411 of 546
Median monthly mortgage
$1,600
Employment rate
57.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
7 / 0 / 3

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (2026)
9
Against the person
4
Against property
5
Rate per 1,000 residents
28.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 79 residents
State safety percentile
22.1th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-35.7%

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault2
  • A232 Non-Fv Common Assault1
  • A83 Throw Or Discharge Object Endangering People1
  • B21 Criminal Damage2
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary1

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Dolphin Dr/Back Beach Rd
  • Dolphin Dr/Back Beach Rd

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

7 planning-related records

2021· 6 proposals

  • May 2021

  • Use and development of land for a dwelling in the FZ, and buildings and works in SLO2 and ESO1
    87 BACK BEACH ROAD SMITHS BEACH 3922Refusal issued by a delegate
  • The use of the land for a licensed premises (Liquor) for an existing food and drink premise in the Mixed Use Zone with flood lit advertising signage
    219-221 SMITHS BEACH ROAD SMITHS BEACH 3922NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Subdivision of land into two lots in the GRZ1
    115 BACK BEACH ROAD SMITHS BEACH 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Creation of accessway to Road Zone Category 1 (RZ1)
    171 BACK BEACH ROAD SMITHS BEACH 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for a dwelling in excess of 7 metres in DDO1
    19 MARLIN STREET SMITHS BEACH 3922NOD issued by a delegate

  • February 2021

  • Display promotional signage in the GRZ
    233 Smiths Beach RoadLapsed
2020· 1 proposal

  • January 2020

  • Development of land for a second dwelling
    31 Marlin StreetWithdrawn

Data sources & freshness

  • PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020; 2020–2022; 2021 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bicycle Parking
  • Dolphin Dr/Back Beach RdBus stop
  • Cafe
  • YCW Beach car parkParking
  • Post Box
  • Public toilets
  • Telephone
  • Water Point

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

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

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Desirability index

Desirability score
84.8/100
Cohort rank
#38 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Creation of accessway to Road Zone Category 1 (RZ1)planning171 BACK BEACH ROAD SMITHS BEACH 3922Lodged 29 Apr 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for a dwelling in excess of 7 metres in DDO1planning19 MARLIN STREET SMITHS BEACH 3922Lodged 21 Apr 2021 · NOD issued by a delegate
  • Development of land for a second dwellingplanning31 Marlin StreetLodged 02 Jan 2020 · Withdrawn
  • Display promotional signage in the GRZplanning233 Smiths Beach RoadLodged 26 Feb 2021 · Lapsed
  • Subdivision of land into two lots in the GRZ1planning115 BACK BEACH ROAD SMITHS BEACH 3922Lodged 13 May 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • The use of the land for a licensed premises (Liquor) for an existing food and drink premise in the Mixed Use Zone with flood lit advertising signageplanning219-221 SMITHS BEACH ROAD SMITHS BEACH 3922Lodged 14 May 2021 · NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Use and development of land for a dwelling in the FZ, and buildings and works in SLO2 and ESO1planning87 BACK BEACH ROAD SMITHS BEACH 3922Lodged 28 May 2021 · Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Dolphin Dr/Back Beach Rdtransport
  • Dolphin Dr/Back Beach Rdtransport
  • A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime2

Data sources & freshness

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