Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · South Gippsland Council
Tarwin Lower, 3956
Est. population · Jun 2025
473
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.7%
Median age
53
Median income
$1,262/wk
Employment rate
55.6%
Languages at home
3.8%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Life in Tarwin Lower revolves around the coast at a genuine remove from Melbourne. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre.
Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
Desirability sits below average overall, with growth momentum the main drag compared with similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Tarwin Lower snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
473
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
32.2%
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
#78
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
61st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
58th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
42nd
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
- 25.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6285th in Australia
- State rank
- 1177th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #78 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #126 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
473(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +3.7% over 5 years · 58th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.6%
- 5-year growth
- +3.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +17
- Growth rank in VIC
- 58th 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 +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 462
- Median age
- 53
- Median household income / week
- $1,262
- Dwelling vacancy
- 32.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 92 of 286
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,548
- Employment rate
- 55.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 185 / 5 / 0 (+ 3 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)
- 32
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 21
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 67.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 462 residents
- State safety percentile
- 61.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +88.2%
Most common offence types
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary3
- B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary12
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft2
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception2
- E13 Resist Or Hinder Officer3
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
- 990
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 42th
School list
- Tarwin Lower Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 990 · 42th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 34 students · Top SEA quarter 3%View 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
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Cape Liptrap Lighthouse ReserveNature reserve
- Kings Flat Flora ReserveNature reserve
- School Road ReserveNature reserve
- Tarwin Lower Flora ReserveNature reserve
- Tarwin Lower Recreation ReservePark
- Tarwin South Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- South Gippsland Hospital (28.8 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)
- 11
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 23.3
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
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 143 mm · ~18 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 223 mm · ~28 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 308 mm · ~38 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 248 mm · ~31 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).
13 planning-related records
2021· 5 proposals
September 2021
- Building and works associated with developing the land with a dwelling10 CUMBERLAND COURT TARWIN LOWER 3956Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of land for an agricultural shed255 CAPE LIPTRAP ROAD TARWIN LOWER 3956Withdrawn
- Use and development of land with a Dwelling and Group Accommodation The application is for the proposed addition of a shed to the existing permit. The shed will provide safe rodent proof storage for vehicles, tools and machinery away from the elements and corrosive sea air of cape liptrap. The proposed toilet and basin will provide myself and workers/Helpers a place to clean up and toilet when carrying out messy jobs, such as weeding and maintaining the bush area.323 CAPE LIPTRAP ROAD TARWIN LOWER 3956Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Subdivision of land and certification (ref: S172921P)3 River DriveNo permit required
February 2021
- Develop land with a dwelling455 Walkerville RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 8 proposals
December 2020
- Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling21-23 School RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Develop land with a domestic outbuilding11 Cumberland CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling45 Arbuthnots RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling1720 Buffalo-Waratah RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding1220 Buffalo-Waratah RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Development of land for a domestic shed20 Arbuthnots RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of land for an agricultural shed255 Cape Liptrap RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- Develop land with a domestic outbuilding14 Burrows WayPermit 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
1 heritage place
- BELL POINT LIME KILNNH2068
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
- 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 28.3 km away).
Coalition 47.3%Labor 52.7%
6.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Tarwin LowerLabor 56.5% · Coalition 43.5% TPP (2025)8.9 km away
- Fish CreekLabor 53.9% · Coalition 46.1% TPP (2025)16.9 km away
- InverlochLabor 55.9% · Coalition 44.1% TPP (2025)22.7 km away
- MeeniyanLabor 37.5% · Coalition 62.5% TPP (2025)23.2 km away
- KoonwarraLabor 45.8% · Coalition 54.2% TPP (2025)25.2 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)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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 South Gippsland Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.