VIC · Bass Coast Council
Surf Beach (Vic.), VIC, 3922
Current weather
14.7°CLight drizzle
70% humidity · 30.3 km/h wind · 16.1° / 11.6° today · 6.3 mm rain
Desirability index
#241 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Surf Beach (Vic.) is a small locality in the Bass Coast area, home to around 670 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 57 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+138%), roughly 85.1 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
- 670
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,414
- Dwelling vacancy
- 56.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 348 of 619
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,433
- Employment rate
- 56.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 23 / 5 / 0
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)
- 57
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 24
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 85.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 35 residents
- State safety percentile
- 70.4th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +137.5%
Most common offence types
- A211 Fv Serious Assault3
- A231 Fv Common Assault7
- B21 Criminal Damage13
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary4
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order11
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- General Store/Phillip Island Rd
- General Store/Phillip Island Rd
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
9 planning-related records
2021· 3 proposals
September 2021
- Development of the land for two dwellings and an outbuilding, and two lot subdivision in the GRZ1 and DDO1190 THE ESPLANADE SURF BEACH 3922NOD issued by a delegate
July 2021
- Subdivision of land into two lots and removal of vegetation145 PHILLIP ISLAND ROAD SURF BEACH 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Subdivide the land into two lots159 Phillip Island RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 6 proposals
November 2020
- Extension to existing dwelling in DDO194a The EsplanadeNOD issued by a delegate
September 2020
- Subdivision of land into 2 Lots29 Seaview CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Boundary realignment of land between two (2) lots in the GRZ1 and DDO12 and 4 Glen StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Development of land for second dwelling in GRZ1159 Phillip Island RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of land for second dwelling on lot21 Highview CrescentNOD issued by the Resp. Authority
January 2020
- Buildings and works in PCRZâ to âBuildings and works for the construction of a rabbit exclusion fence and associated vegetation removalNatural Interest Reserve -- DSE Tenure ID = 2001804, The EsplanadeWithdrawn
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
3 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- The Bottle-OAlcohol
- General Store/Phillip Island RdBus stop
- Post Box
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)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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
- 7.8/100
- Cohort rank
- #241 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
- Boundary realignment of land between two (2) lots in the GRZ1 and DDO1planning2 and 4 Glen StreetLodged 21 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works in PCRZâ to âBuildings and works for the construction of a rabbit exclusion fence and associated vegetation removalplanningNatural Interest Reserve -- DSE Tenure ID = 2001804, The EsplanadeLodged 16 Jan 2020 · Withdrawn
- Development of land for second dwelling in GRZ1planning159 Phillip Island RoadLodged 25 Mar 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of land for second dwelling on lotplanning21 Highview CrescentLodged 13 Mar 2020 · NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
- Development of the land for two dwellings and an outbuilding, and two lot subdivision in the GRZ1 and DDO1planning190 THE ESPLANADE SURF BEACH 3922Lodged 02 Sep 2021 · NOD issued by a delegate
- Extension to existing dwelling in DDO1planning94a The EsplanadeLodged 13 Nov 2020 · NOD issued by a delegate
- Subdivide the land into two lotsplanning159 Phillip Island RoadLodged 17 Feb 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Subdivision of land into 2 Lotsplanning29 Seaview CrescentLodged 03 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Subdivision of land into two lots and removal of vegetationplanning145 PHILLIP ISLAND ROAD SURF BEACH 3922Lodged 28 Jul 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- General Store/Phillip Island Rdtransport
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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