VIC · Bass Coast Council

South Dudley, 3995

Est. population · Jun 2025

450

Growth (1 yr)

+2.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.2%

Median age

42

Median income

$993/wk

Employment rate

51.1%

University qualified

11.9%

Work from home

12.3%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$450,000

Languages at home

5.6%non-English

Most common: Bengali, Nepali

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

34.9/100
Below average

1162nd in VIC

Verified 94% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Rural living
What South Dudley is known for: Rural living

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South Dudley, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “South Dudley, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/south-dudley

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Suburb profile

South Dudley is a rural locality in Victoria, in Bass Coast Council.

Local amenities are a relative strength, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities. Everyday destinations are relatively walkable. Open-space access is better than in most comparable places. Housing is a little more affordable than typical for similar places, with median house prices 21% below the peer median. Population growth is an exceptional strength. Socio-economic advantage is well below comparable places.

Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising local amenities and walkability over socio-economic advantage.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Rural locality · compared with rural localities in Victoria (1828)

Strengths

  • Local amenities are a relative strength
  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • Everyday destinations are relatively walkable
  • Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
  • Housing is a little more affordable than typical for similar places

Weaknesses

  • Socio-economic advantage is well below comparable places

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How South Dudley compares

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

Median house price

$450k

-1.6% change

Median rent (Census)

$290/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

450

+2.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

13.4%

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

#119

among Country & regional · Emerging

Crime rate

74th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

88th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

24%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

1/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

45th

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
34.9/100 — Below average
National rank
5625th in Australia
State rank
1162nd in VIC
Peer rank
#119 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#667 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
94%

Data sources & freshness

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

Housing

Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$450,000
Median price change
-1.6%

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

450(June 2025)

+2.0% annual · +14.2% over 5 years · 88th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.0%
5-year growth
+14.2%
Change in 1 year
+9
Change in 5 years
+56
Growth rank in VIC
88th 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 (~500), extrapolated at +2.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
421
Median age
42
Median household income / week
$993
Dwelling vacancy
13.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
29 of 216
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$290
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
39.8% / 35.8% / 24.4%
Employment rate
51.1%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
12.3% / 0% / 67.6%
Walked or cycled to work
6.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
181 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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

Qualifications

11.9% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 25.8% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified11.9% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified7.4% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational25.8% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below55% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Society and culture23.6%
  • Management and commerce17.4%
  • Health11.8%
  • Engineering and related technologies9.9%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services9.3%
  • Architecture and building7.5%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

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

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$46,125

18th percentile in VIC · -21% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$51,346

16th percentile in VIC · -21% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
10.0%

22nd percentile in VIC · -27% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$72,014

39th percentile in VIC · +14% vs Australia

Residents with business income
13.0%

67th percentile in VIC · +25% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3995 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
6,844
Taxpayers reporting net rent
708
Median net rent
$74
Taxpayers reporting business income
860
Taxable income vs state median
-14%
Salary / wages vs state median
-12%
Rental investment vs state median
-23%
Super vs state median
-10%
Business income vs state median
+18%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in VIC, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

5.6% speak a language other than English at home; 12.6% born overseas

Language at home
371 English only · 22 other
Non-English at home
5.6%
Born overseas
50 (12.6%)
Australian citizens
381
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
2

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Bengali4 · 57.1%
  • Nepali3 · 42.9%

Religion

55.8%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 55.8%, while Christianity accounts for 34.2%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion55.8%38.8%
Christianity34.2%40.9%
Other / not stated10%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic14.3%20.5%
Anglican9%6.5%
Uniting Church2.9%2.4%
Baptist2.4%1.3%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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)
43
Against the person
13
Against property
20
Rate per 1,000 residents
95.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 32 residents
State crime-rate percentile
74.3th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+48.3%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
10
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
22.22

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault3
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary4
  • B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary5
  • B49 Other Theft4
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order7

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
996
Median ICSEA percentile
45th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
2
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
  • Wonthaggi Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 996 · 45th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 371 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Bass Coast CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Wonthaggi North Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Wonthaggi Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Epsom St/Dudley St
  • Milner St/Epsom St

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

14 mapped amenities

1 places of worship · 1 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
Walkability proxy
3/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.38
Everyday services(1)
  • Dowsons ShellPetrol station

    309 White Road

Community(1)
  • Community centre
Sport & outdoors(5)
  • Bass Coast Rail TrailCycling route
  • Yallock-Bulluk Marine and Coastal ParkNature reserve
  • South Dudley ReservePark

    38-40 Carl Street

  • Playground
  • Public toilets
Transport(2)

2 bus stops

Other(5)
  • Bass Coast Light EnginesGroundskeeping

    317 White Road

  • Wonthaggi Pony ClubHorse Riding
  • Rail TrailParking
  • Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's WitnessesPlace of worship

    331-333 White Road

  • Easy Self StorageStorage Rental

    127-131 South Dudley 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. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

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

Sporting clubs

1 named sporting club in this suburb

  • Wonthaggi Pony Club

    Equestrian

Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap sporting clubs — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Geofabrik australia-latest.osm.pbf

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • South Dudley ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0.1%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
1
Parks (OSM)
1
Typical summer maximum
25°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Places of worship

1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

    331-333 White Road

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Wonthaggi Medical Centre (1.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
14
Participants per 1,000 residents
31.1

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

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
25° / 12°
Rainfall
197 mm · ~25 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 9°
Rainfall
228 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 5°
Rainfall
261 mm · ~33 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 7°
Rainfall
304 mm · ~38 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

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).

10 planning-related records

2021· 3 proposals
  • September 2021

  • Buildings and works in a ESO
    36 EPSOM STREET SOUTH DUDLEY 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • August 2021

  • Development of the land for a Store (self storage units and caravan and boat storage) in stages, in the C2Z and ESO
    127-131 SOUTH DUDLEY ROAD SOUTH DUDLEY 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for food and drinks premise C2Z and alter access to a road in RDZ1
    323 WHITE ROAD SOUTH DUDLEY 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 7 proposals
  • October 2020

  • Development of land for a warehouse and associated car park in C2Z and ESO4, and alteration of existing access way to Road Zone Category 1
    325 White RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • August 2020

  • Subdivision of land into two (2) lots in GRZ1, BMO and ESO4
    58 Station StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Extension to existing dwelling in ESO4
    36 Carl StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • May 2020

  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding (shed) in association with existing dwelling in BMO, ESO4 and HO78.
    46-48 Station StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Extension to existing outbuilding in ESO4 and HO
    46-48 Station StreetWithdrawn
  • March 2020

  • Development of the land for a Warehouse in C2Z and ESO4 and alter access to a road in a road zone category 1.
    327 White RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into (2) two lots and development of land for a second dwelling
    47 Alexander RoadNOD issued by a delegate

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping. Flood cover uses inundation overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Monash
Member of Parliament
Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,463
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.2 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 15.4 km away).

Coalition 43.8%Labor 56.2%

10.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -0.4 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • WonthaggiLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • Wonthaggi NorthLabor 53.8% · Coalition 46.2% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
  • DalystonLabor 54.6% · Coalition 45.4% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
  • Cape PatersonLabor 65.5% · Coalition 34.5% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
  • KilcundaLabor 53.9% · Coalition 46.1% TPP (2025)10.0 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)
2/10

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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Bass Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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