Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Mount Alexander Council
Taradale, 3447
Est. population · Jun 2025
552
Growth (1 yr)
+1.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.8%
Median age
52
Median income
$1,468/wk
Employment rate
54.1%
Languages at home
3.4%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Heritage area
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- National parks
Suburb profile
In Mount Alexander Council, Taradale keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Homes are neither a bargain nor a premium buy against the wider market.
Reported crime has been falling recently. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads around average on desirability, chiefly because community and employment trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Taradale snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
552
+1.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.5%
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
#54
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
1st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
72nd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
77th
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
- 46.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 44% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2671st in Australia
- State rank
- 550th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #54 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #159 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 74%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
552(June 2025)
+1.1% annual · +7.8% over 5 years · 72th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.1%
- 5-year growth
- +7.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +6
- Change in 5 years
- +40
- Growth rank in VIC
- 72th 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 (~600), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 524
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,468
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 22 of 231
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,534
- Employment rate
- 54.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 208 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 2
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 3.6
- State safety percentile
- 0.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -92.9%
Most common offence types
- B49 Other Theft1
- C32 Drug Possession1
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
- 1,075
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 77th
School list
- Taradale Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1075 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 74 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 0.1 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
3 public transport stops in this suburb
- Park/High St
- Roderick St/High St
- Taradale Hall/De La Beche St
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
15 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 5/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.82
Community(1)
- Taradale Primary SchoolSchool
98 High Street
Sport & outdoors(6)
- Barkly ParkPark
- Taradale Mineral Springs ReservePark
- Taradale Mineral Springs ReservePicnic area
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
Other(8)
- Bbq
- Taradale Mineral Springs ReserveCamp Site
- Natural Spring WaterDrinking water
- Taradale Fire StationFire station
- Parking
- Taradale Service StationPetrol station
- Public toilets
- Shelter
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Barkly ParkPark
- Taradale Mineral Springs ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- Castlemaine Health (15.7 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)
- 17
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.8
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
- 115 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 133 mm · ~17 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 180 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 172 mm · ~22 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 15/04/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Weekends 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed northbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.CALDER FREEWAY, THOMPSON STREET14 Apr 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
9 heritage places
- COLIBAN WATER SUPPLYNH1021
- COLIBAN WATER SUPPLYNH1021
- COLIBAN WATER SUPPLYNH1021
- COLIBAN WATER SUPPLYNH1021
- COLIBAN WATER SUPPLYNH1021
- COLIBAN WATER SUPPLYNH1021
- HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH & SUNDAY SCHOOLNH1350
- ROYAL OAKSNH1389
- TARADALE RAILWAY PRECINCTNH1595
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
- Bendigo
- Member of Parliament
- Lisa CHESTERS (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 120,088
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +51.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 14.4 km away).
Coalition 27.3%Labor 72.7%
21.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +72.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- TaradaleLabor 73.1% · Coalition 26.9% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
- ElphinstoneLabor 53.2% · Coalition 46.8% TPP (2025)4.1 km away
- MalmsburyLabor 64.3% · Coalition 35.7% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
- ChewtonLabor 80.8% · Coalition 19.2% TPP (2025)9.9 km away
- Campbells CreekLabor 66.4% · Coalition 33.6% TPP (2025)13.5 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)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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 Mount Alexander Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.