The Basin is an outer metropolitan suburb of Melbourne, in Knox Council. It is primarily residential, without a particularly distinct commercial centre or landmark identity.
Dining and café access is an exceptional strength, well above typical levels for outer metropolitan suburbs. Green cover is an exceptional strength, and recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places, with recorded road crashes 39% below the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The main trade-offs are weaker population growth and higher rents, with median rents 9% above the peer median.
The Basin's appeal is better explained by housing, access and location than by a strong standalone precinct or destination.
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
Outer metropolitan suburb · compared with outer metropolitan suburbs in Victoria (148)
Strengths
Green cover is stronger than in comparable places
Dining and café access is a relative strength
Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Population growth is a relative weakness
Rents run above those in comparable places
What stands out
Space is a strength, but car dependence is high
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★☆☆
Professionals★★☆☆☆
Retirees★★★☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How The Basin compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$958k
+8.5% change
Median rent
$610/wk
Population (ERP)
4,398
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.2%
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
#14
among Metro Melbourne · Emerging
Crime rate
47th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
51st
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
11%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
70th
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
53.7/100 — Average
State standing
Top 26% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
1326th in Australia
State rank
325th in VIC
Peer rank
#14 among Metro Melbourne · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#186 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Data confidence
98%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
$610
Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$957,900
Median price change
+8.5%
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
+0.4% annual · -1.7% over 5 years · 51th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.4%
5-year growth
-1.7%
Change in 1 year
+19
Change in 5 years
-76
Growth rank in VIC
51th 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 (~4,350), extrapolated at -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
4,497
Median age
40
Median household income / week
$2,019
Dwelling vacancy
5.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
84 of 1,624
Median monthly mortgage
$1,950
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$365
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
36.7% / 52.8% / 10.5%
Employment rate
63.9%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
22.2% / 1% / 60%
Walked or cycled to work
1.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,457 / 74 / 3 (+ 4 other)
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.
21.2% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 21% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified21.2% · 29.2% VIC
Diploma qualified12% · 9.8% VIC
Trade / vocational21% · 14.2% VIC
Year 12 or below45.8% · 46.8% VIC
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies17.8%
Management and commerce17.1%
Society and culture13.8%
Health11.8%
Education10.1%
Architecture and building9.5%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 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)
$63,225
84th percentile in VIC · +8% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$69,356
86th percentile in VIC · +7% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
14.0%
66th percentile in VIC · +1% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$111,895
86th percentile in VIC · +77% vs Australia
Residents with business income
10.0%
35th percentile in VIC · -4% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3154 — 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
2,735
Taxpayers reporting net rent
374
Median net rent
-$2,864
Taxpayers reporting business income
279
Taxable income vs state median
+18%
Salary / wages vs state median
+19%
Rental investment vs state median
+8%
Super vs state median
+39%
Business income vs state median
-9%
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
8.5% speak a language other than English at home; 17.6% born overseas
Language at home
3,955 English only · 369 other
Non-English at home
8.5%
Born overseas
765 (17.6%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
42 (0.9%)
Australian citizens
4,040
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
16
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
German39 · 29.8%
Mandarin24 · 18.3%
Sinhalese13 · 9.9%
French7 · 5.3%
Tamil6 · 4.6%
Italian5 · 3.8%
Japanese5 · 3.8%
Vietnamese5 · 3.8%
Religion
54.6%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 54.6%, while Christianity accounts for 36.7%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
54.6%
38.8%
Christianity
36.7%
40.9%
Other / not stated
8.7%
20.3%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
15.7%
20.5%
Anglican
8.3%
6.5%
Christian (not further defined)
2.6%
2.5%
Baptist
2.1%
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)
219
Against the person
38
Against property
117
Rate per 1,000 residents
49.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 118 residents
State crime-rate percentile
46.7th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+7.4%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
58
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
13.19
Most common offence types
B21 Criminal Damage17
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle33
B49 Other Theft18
C32 Drug Possession17
E21 Breach Family Violence Order24
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
St Bernadette's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1069 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 255 students · Top SEA quarter 27% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
The Basin Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1042 · 65th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 583 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Boronia K-12 CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Ferny Creek Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Sassafras Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
The Basin 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
Victorian designated neighbourhood zones — Victorian Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Great for outdoor family life — 11 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 15 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
43/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.67
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2.22
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.45
Food & drink(10)
The Basin BakeryBakery
1311 Mountain Highway, The Basin
The Basin BakeryBakery
1313 Mountain Highway, The Basin
1 in 20 CaféCafe
1305 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Svaks Passion for Cake and CoffeeCafe
1325 Mountain Highway, The Basin
The Chocolate Dragon Fly CafeCafe
1317 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Fast food
The Basin Fish & Chip ShopFast food
1321 Mountain Highway, The Basin
The Oak Tree TavernPub
Unit 1 367 Forest Road, The Basin
Restaurant
381 Forest Road, The Basin
The Acorn Bar & RestaurantRestaurant
375 Forest Road, The Basin
Shopping(4)
The Basin Liquor StoreBottle shop
1309 Mountain Highway, The Basin
The Basin Meat SupplyButcher
1319 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Convenience store
The Basin PantryGreengrocer
1323 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Everyday services(3)
Evie NetworksEV charging
UnitedPetrol station
1202 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Australia Post - The Basin LPOPost office
1303 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Community(4)
The Basin Pre-SchoolKindergarten
385 Forest Road, The Basin
Fernbrook SchoolSchool
16 Clevedon Road
St Bernadette's Primary SchoolSchool
1264 Mountain Highway
The Basin Primary SchoolSchool
21 Liverpool Road
Sport & outdoors(27)
BBQ (2)
Knox City Council Informal Bike RouteCycling route
Ringwood - Belgrave Rail TrailCycling route
The Basin TrailCycling route
Drinking water (2)
Conservation AreaNature reserve
Wicks East Nature ReserveNature reserve
Wicks ReserveNature reserve
Arcadia Avenue Linear ReservePark
George Grumont ReservePark
Mortiboy ReservePark
Park (2)
The Basin TrianglePark
1326 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Winby Court ReservePark
George Grumont ReservePlayground
Playground (2)
Public toilets
Sports field
Swimming pool (3)
Community (ngurrak barring | RidgeWalk)Walking trail
Dog TrackWalking trail
Entertainment(1)
The Basin TheatreTheatre
Transport(15)
15 bus stops
Other(16)
Bicycle Parking
City of KnoxBicycle Repair Station
Rainy Day Book ShopBooks
1301 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Car wash
The Basin CFAFire station
364 Forest Road, The Basin
Ferdinand Von Mueller Rain GardenGarden
Allure HairdressingHairdresser
1323 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Kubochi Hair & BeautyHairdresser
395 Forest Road, The Basin
Information (2)
Ralf Fisch Fine JewelleryJewelry
1315 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Parking (15)
Picnic Table (2)
Sri Vakrathunda Vinayagar TemplePlace of worship
1292 Mountain Highway, The Basin
Knox City CouncilShelter, Bbq
Onemda The BasinSocial Facility
TelstraTelephone
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
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
Sri Vakrathunda Vinayagar Temple
1292 Mountain Highway, The Basin
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
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.
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
24° / 13°
Rainfall
155 mm · ~19 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
20° / 11°
Rainfall
186 mm · ~23 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
203 mm · ~25 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
18° / 9°
Rainfall
207 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
99 planning-related records
2021· 38 proposals
September 2021
Development of the land for one (1) double storey dwelling
6 LOCKSLEY PLACE THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Tree Removal
35 MILLER ROAD THE BASIN 3154Withdrawn
August 2021
Removal of one (1) Tilia cordata (Small Leaved Lime) and one (1) Eucalyptus nicholii (Narrow leaved Black Peppermint)
2 LIVERPOOL ROAD THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
move retaining wall out 600mm towards boundary to allow for reversing of car's into garage without doing a 10 point turn
87 CLAREMONT AVENUE THE BASIN 3154No permit required
July 2021
The Removal of two (2) Ficus carica (Common Fig)
31 CLAREMONT AVENUE THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of the land for a double storey dwelling
3 LOCKSLEY PLACE THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of one (1) Grevillea robusta (Silky Oak)
40 DEMOCRAT DRIVE THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
The Pruning of one (1) Grevillea robusta (Silky Oak)
38 DEMOCRAT DRIVE THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
The construction of a shed
99 INVERNESS AVENUE THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Amendment to plans for a wall on boundary
307 FOREST ROAD THE BASIN 3154Refusal issued by a delegate
The removal of one (1) Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate)
1294 Mountain HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
Buildings and Works (Dependent Persons Unit)
334 Forest RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of one (1) Eucalyptus viminalis (Manna Gum) from common property area of 49-51 Democrat Drive, The Basin
1/49 Democrat DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works - Construction of a Garage
65 Basin-Olinda RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
The Pruning of one (1) Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate) and one (1) Eucalyptus radiata (Narrow Leaved Peppermint)
4 Locksley PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
The removal of two (2) Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood) and the pruning of one (1) Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate)
6 Locksley PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Tree to be removed
27-33 Bayview CrescentNo permit required
Buildings and Works (Addition to existing dwelling)
20 CARNARVON AVENUE THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Pruning of one (1) Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate)
66 Arcadia AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works (Extension to existing dwelling and new carport and shed)
45 STUART STREET THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Front fence
27 Christopher AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use as an Education Centre (Disability Support Education) and reduction in car parking requirement
1221 MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY THE BASIN 3154NOD issued by a delegate
Removal of large Eucalyptus Radiata
1333A Mountain HighwayNo permit required
Removal of one (1) Eucalyptus camaldulensis, one (1) Eucalyptus botryoides and one (1) Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
9 Verbena AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
The removal of one (1) Eucalyptus goniocalyx (Long Leaf Box)
14 Stuart StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
remove trees
63 Old Forest RoadNo permit required
March 2021
Removal of 1 tree
1 Waratah AvenueNo permit required
Removal of 1 tree
1 Waratah AvenueNo permit required
February 2021
Removal of 1 tree
81 Claremont AvenueNo permit required
Construction of one (1) Double Storey Dwelling, Vegetation Removal and Variation to Building Envelope to the satisfaction of the RA
1333A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY THE BASIN 3154NOD issued by a delegate
Remove of (1) Monterey Cypress **refer to memo for additional notes**
2/1331 Mountain HighwayNo permit required
The addition of a garage
8A Golden GrovePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a dwelling and removal of vegetation (Pyrus calleryana)
2/21 AUGUSTA ROAD THE BASIN 3154Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a new dwelling
57 Miller RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
Removal of one (1) Lagunaria patersonia (Norfolk Island hibiscus)
30 Stuart StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Pruning of one (1) Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)
36 Goodwin StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Removal of three (3) Acacia implexa and one (1) Ulmus parvifolia
20 Carnarvon AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works (Alterations and Additions to existing dwelling)
15 Milleara StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 2 proposals
December 2020
Construction of a dwelling and vegetation removal
11 Ross AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
St Bernadette Catholic Primary School - Buildings and works to construct a single storey learning centre within the Neighborhood Residential Zone, Environmental Significance Overlay, and Significant Landscape Overlay and the removal of six (6) exotic trees within the Significant Landscape Overlay.
1264 MOUNTAIN HIGHWAYPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
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
Aston
Member of Parliament
Mary DOYLE (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
122,459
Turnout (2025)
94.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+6.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 46.6%Labor 53.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.5 km away).
Coalition 41.1%Labor 58.9%
5.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
The BasinLabor 57.4% · Coalition 42.6% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
Boronia EastLabor 61.0% · Coalition 39.0% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
Boronia NorthLabor 60.0% · Coalition 40.0% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
Boronia WestLabor 62.9% · Coalition 37.1% TPP (2025)3.9 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.
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%)