Median house price
$263k
+17% change
VIC · Northern Grampians Council
St Arnaud, 3478
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,201
Growth (1 yr)
+0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.9%
Median age
52
Median income
$920/wk
Employment rate
45.8%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$262,500
Languages at home
2.7%non-English
Most common: Greek, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Education hub
- Heritage area
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
St Arnaud sits in Northern Grampians Council as a regional smaller community that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses serve the suburb. Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads around average on desirability, chiefly because community and employment trail behind.
At a glance
St Arnaud snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
2,201
+0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.3%
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
#116
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
89th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
49th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
35th
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
- 40.5/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3667th in Australia
- State rank
- 736th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #116 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #287 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $262,500
- Median price change
- +16.7%
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
2,201(June 2025)
+0.3% annual · -0.9% over 5 years · 49th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.3%
- 5-year growth
- -0.9%
- Change in 1 year
- +7
- Change in 5 years
- -21
- Growth rank in VIC
- 49th 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 (~2,150), extrapolated at -0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,318
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $920
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 160 of 1,203
- Median monthly mortgage
- $867
- Employment rate
- 45.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 980 / 49 / 3 (+ 6 other)
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)
- 383
- Against the person
- 60
- Against property
- 172
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 174
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 39 residents
- State safety percentile
- 88.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +28.5%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage40
- B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary31
- B49 Other Theft24
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order34
- E23 Breach Bail Conditions27
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 975
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 35th
School list
- St Patrick's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1011 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 102 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- St Arnaud Secondary CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 975 · 35th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 168 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- St Arnaud Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 958 · 28th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 110 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.2 km awayView 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
Public transport
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Dundas St/Market St
- Dundas St/Market St
- Dundas St/Market St
- Mobil Roadhouse/Sunraysia Hwy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
52 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 bars · 1 supermarkets · 1 bakeries · 1 places of worship · 4 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 2 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 13 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
- Strong local sport and recreation — 8 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 37/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.43
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.29
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 5.61
Food & drink(3)
- Parkview BakeryBakery
- Farmers Arms HotelBar
- Mulligans Music - St ArnaudCafe
51 Napier Street
Shopping(2)
- NewsExpressConvenience store
- IGASupermarket
Community(3)
- St Arnaud Primary SchoolSchool
2 Charlton Road
- St Arnaud Secondary CollegeSchool
8-24 Smith Street
- St Patrick's Primary SchoolSchool
1 Wattle Street
Health & services(1)
- East Wimmera Health Service St Arnaud CampusHospital
Sport & outdoors(19)
- Chas McKenny TrackPark
- King George ParkPark
- Lord Nelson ParkPark
- Park (4)
- Pioneer ParkPark
- Silvermines Road ParkPark
- Walter Ellis Memorial ParkPark
- Picnic area
- Apex Park PlaygroundPlayground
- Bi-Centennial Park PlaygroundPlayground
- Market Square Park PlaygroundPlayground
- Playground
- St. Arnaud Swimming PoolSports centre
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (2)
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(14)
- St Arnaud Caravan ParkCaravan Site
- Evie NetworksEV charging
- St.Arnaud CFAFire station
- Kings Avenue MotelMotel
17 Kings Avenue
- Saint Arnaud Regional ParkNature Reserve
- Parking (10)
- BP Esmore'sPetrol station
- Picnic Table
- Masonic HallPlace of worship
- St Arnaud Police StationPolice
3 Jennings Street
- Public toilets
- St. Arnaud Skate ParkRecreation Ground
- St Arnaud Tyre ServiceTyres
- St Arnaud Tyre ServiceTyres
2 Silvermines 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 insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
11 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bell RockPark
- Bicentennial ParkPark
- Chas McKenny TrackPark
- King George ParkPark
- Lord Nelson ParkPark
- Pioneer ParkPark
- Saint Arnaud Regional ParkNature reserve
- Silvermines Road ParkPark
- St Arnaud Bush ParkNature reserve
- Walter Ellis Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 30
- Parks (OSM)
- 13
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Masonic Hall
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- East Wimmera Health Service St Arnaud Campus (0.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- East Wimmera Health Service St Arnaud CampusHospital
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)
- 78
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.4
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
- 27° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 102 mm · ~13 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 138 mm · ~17 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 197 mm · ~25 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 169 mm · ~21 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).
7 planning-related records
2021· 4 proposals
July 2021
- Amendment to Use and Development of a Dwelling and associated works.CHARLTON ROAD ST ARNAUD 3478Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Development of Dwelling in the Bushfire Management Overlay and associated works.51 ALMA STREET ST ARNAUD 3478Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Development being building and works in association with existing Magistrates Court6 NAPIER STREET ST ARNAUD 3478Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Use and Development of a Dwelling and outbuilding (shed) and associated worksCHARLTON ROAD ST ARNAUD 3478Withdrawn
2020· 3 proposals
November 2020
- Development of a Dwelling in the Bushfire Management Overlay and associated works37-39 Butcher StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Amendment to the Development of a Dwelling in the Bushfire Management Overlay and associated works32 Inglewood RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Development being Buildings and works (re-erection of a dwelling), Create access to a Road Zone, Category 1 and associated works.28 Inglewood RoadPermit 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
3 heritage places
- CROWN LAND OFFICENH1530
- ST ARNAUD RAILWAY STATIONNH1594
- ST ARNAUD RAILWAY STATIONNH1594
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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 overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Mallee
- Member of Parliament
- Anne WEBSTER (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,604
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -0.1 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 69.0%Labor 31.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 51.2 km away).
Coalition 70.4%Labor 29.6%
1.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.9 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- St ArnaudLabor 29.6% · Coalition 70.4% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- BealibaLabor 39.7% · Coalition 60.3% TPP (2025)33.6 km away
- DonaldLabor 26.8% · Coalition 73.2% TPP (2025)36.2 km away
- WedderburnLabor 35.8% · Coalition 64.2% TPP (2025)40.1 km away
- CharltonLabor 29.8% · Coalition 70.2% TPP (2025)40.3 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)
- 2/10
- 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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Northern Grampians Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.