Trafalgar is a rural locality in Victoria, in Baw Baw Council. It is set against the Strzelecki Ranges.
The suburb is highly walkable compared with similar places, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities. School access is exceptionally strong, and open-space access is exceptionally strong. Crime remains above typical levels but is improving. Reported offences have fallen 60% year on year. Trade-offs centre on more mapped flood cover and lower socio-economic advantage.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising school access and walkability over socio-economic advantage.
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
Rural locality · compared with rural localities in Victoria (1828)
Strengths
School access is exceptionally strong
The suburb is highly walkable compared with similar places
Open-space access is exceptionally strong
Weaknesses
Mapped flood cover is a relative weakness
Socio-economic advantage sits below the peer median
What stands out
Strzelecki Ranges
Crime remains above typical levels but is improving
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 Trafalgar compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$615k
+7.9% change
Median rent (Census)
$300/wk
2021 Census median weekly rent
Population (ERP)
4,478
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.2%
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
#75
among Country & regional · Emerging
Crime rate
59th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
58th
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
22%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
46th
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
42.4/100 — Average
National rank
3792nd in Australia
State rank
869th in VIC
Peer rank
#75 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#461 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
94%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
+0.7% annual · +5.5% over 5 years · 58th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+5.5%
Change in 1 year
+29
Change in 5 years
+234
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 (~4,800), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
4,349
Median age
41
Median household income / week
$1,448
Dwelling vacancy
7.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
130 of 1,797
Median monthly mortgage
$1,432
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$300
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
40.9% / 37.6% / 21.6%
Employment rate
55.1%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
11.1% / 0.8% / 72.7%
Walked or cycled to work
3.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,551 / 100 / 5
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.
15.6% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 22.5% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified15.6% · 29.2% VIC
Diploma qualified8.5% · 9.8% VIC
Trade / vocational22.5% · 14.2% VIC
Year 12 or below53.4% · 46.8% VIC
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies20%
Management and commerce16%
Health14.3%
Society and culture12.9%
Education11.2%
Architecture and building8.5%
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)
$54,945
57th percentile in VIC · -6% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$61,814
63rd percentile in VIC · -5% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
10.0%
27th percentile in VIC · -27% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$96,056
72nd percentile in VIC · +52% vs Australia
Residents with business income
9.0%
18th percentile in VIC · -13% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3824 — 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
3,189
Taxpayers reporting net rent
332
Median net rent
$400
Taxpayers reporting business income
302
Taxable income vs state median
+3%
Salary / wages vs state median
+6%
Rental investment vs state median
-23%
Super vs state median
+19%
Business income vs state median
-18%
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
Seasonal & agricultural work
5.1% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 2.2× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 2.1% across Victoria.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
5.1%
38th percentile in VIC · +122% vs Australia
Resident workers (2021)
97
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462
Postcode 3824
Occupation mix in this industry
2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.
Managers52
Labourers19
Technicians and trades workers12
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 3824 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.
Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)
Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for Latrobe - Gippsland (SA4 205), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.
Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12135,481
Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415940
Crop Farmers ANZSCO 1212417
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214382
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211370
Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412228
Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419184
Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 8413112
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 841624
Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110
Latrobe - Gippsland is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.
Census employed residents counted in G54: 1,913 · AFF share +143% vs the state.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0
Community & culture
4.7% speak a language other than English at home; 10.3% born overseas
Language at home
3,924 English only · 192 other
Non-English at home
4.7%
Born overseas
423 (10.3%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
51 (1.2%)
Australian citizens
3,940
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
10
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Italian14 · 20.3%
German8 · 11.6%
Urdu8 · 11.6%
Malayalam7 · 10.1%
Mandarin7 · 10.1%
Samoan7 · 10.1%
Vietnamese6 · 8.7%
Japanese5 · 7.2%
Religion
50.7%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 50.7%, while Christianity accounts for 39.9%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
50.7%
38.8%
Christianity
39.9%
40.9%
Other / not stated
9.4%
20.3%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
16.9%
20.5%
Anglican
11.3%
6.5%
Uniting Church
3.9%
2.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.2%
1.4%
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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
290
Against the person
63
Against property
149
Rate per 1,000 residents
64.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 69 residents
State crime-rate percentile
58.6th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-66.7%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
130
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
29.03
Most common offence types
A231 Fv Common Assault19
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle31
B49 Other Theft35
E13 Resist Or Hinder Officer20
E21 Breach Family Violence Order22
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Great for outdoor family life — 17 parks mapped in suburb
Walkability proxy
8/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.91
Sport & outdoors(1)
Trafalgar Bushland ReserveNature reserve
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
Health access
Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
1
Nearest hospital
West Gippsland Hospital (19.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
1
Residential aged-care places
51
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
AmcalPharmacy
Aged-care services
Andrews HouseTRAFALGARResidential
Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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
25° / 12°
Rainfall
197 mm · ~25 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
20° / 9°
Rainfall
228 mm · ~28 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
13° / 5°
Rainfall
261 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
18° / 7°
Rainfall
304 mm · ~38 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).
80 planning-related records
2021· 37 proposals
August 2021
Buildings and works for an extension to an existing retail premises.
86 WATERLOO ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to a construct an outbuilding associated with an existing dwelling.
2260 PRINCES HIGHWAY TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works associated with a dwelling (driveway)
153 PRINCES HIGHWAY TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of five (5) dwellings, reduction in car parking required under Clause 52.06-5 and creation of access to a road in a Transport Zone Schedule 2
48 ASHBY STREET TRAFALGAR 3824NOD issued by a delegate
Buildings and works to construct a dependent persons unit and outbuilding
123 SLATTERS ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Amend endorsed plans of PSB0050/14.A
FLAGSHIP DRIVE TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
Amendment to the positioning and size of the proposed Administration entrance area
74-78 WATERLOO ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Withdrawn
Use of land for restricted recreational facility and display business identification signage
1/87 PRINCES HIGHWAY TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
The planning permit application is to create, vary or remove an easement
13 CONTOUR ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Withdrawn
To resubdivide land into 3 lots
13 CONTOUR ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling extension
728 WILLOW GROVE ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of 3 dwellings and to subdivide land into 3 lots
11 GIBSON STREET TRAFALGAR 3824NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
June 2021
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
7 FARMERS WAY TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Create access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1
94 CONTINGENT STREET TRAFALGAR 3824Withdrawn
Use and development of a dwelling.
110 HILLBRICKS ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by the RA
Amend the size and location of the new administration/entrance area
74-78 Waterloo RoadWithdrawn
Create access onto a road in a Road Zone, Category 1.
100 THORPDALE ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Withdrawn
Amend endorsed plans
61 KITCHENER STREET TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
5 Harvest StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Relocation of non-conforming use (Rural Produce Store) ancillary Nursery, construction and use of a warehouse, Reduction in Car Parking, and alteration of access to a Road Zone Category 1
5 RANKINS ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of fertiliser storage and distribution depot to service local agricultural industry
824 WATERLOO ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
Amending the permit to allow construction of an outbuilding
5 DAIRY DRIVE TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Amend endorsed plans for the use and development of a single dwelling
22 GILES ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
10 Harvest StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct two additional dwellings
47 KITCHENER STREET TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Display of business identification signs
18-20 SETTLEMENT ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824In progress
Subdivide the land into 9 lots adjacent to a Transport 2 Zone and create access adjacent to a Transport 2 Zone
1 SETTLEMENT ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824In progress
March 2021
Amend eave height of machinery shed from 4.2m to 4.8m
8 Orchard RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of the land to construct 2 additional dwellings on a lot, subdivision of the land into 3 lots, alteration of access to a road in a Transport Zone- Schedule 2 and subdivision of land adjacent to a Transport Zone- Schedule 2.
127 PRINCES HIGHWAY TRAFALGAR 3824Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and development of a function centre, sell and consume liquor and reduce the required number of car parking spaces.
122-124 WATERLOO ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824Withdrawn
Subdivide land into 6 lots and to create an easement
22 GILES ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824NOD issued by a delegate
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling, fences and associated works
6 Farmers WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Warehouse for storage of fresh produce and goods retailed from site.
5 Rankins RoadWithdrawn
Buildings and works to construct an agricultural building
938 Willow Grove RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling and associated fences
4 Harvest StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
7 Peppermint ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
Buildings and works to construct an agricultural building
230 South Canal RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 3 proposals
December 2020
Building and works to construct an agricultural building
8 Orchard RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Demolish and construct front fence, east side and rear south boundary fences, and construct a garage
153 Princes HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
Subdivide land into 6 lots
46-60 CONTOUR ROAD TRAFALGAR 3824NOD issued by a delegate
Utility Works activities occurring between 13/08/2026 and 30/11/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed both directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.PRINCES HIGHWAY, WATERLOO ROAD12 Aug 2026 – 29 Nov 2026
Utility Works activities occurring between 13/08/2026 and 30/11/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.PRINCES HIGHWAY, WATERLOO ROAD12 Aug 2026 – 29 Nov 2026
Data sources & freshness
Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
100% of suburb boundary
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
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 13.7 km away).
Coalition 53.7%Labor 46.3%
0.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -0.8 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
TrafalgarLabor 49.5% · Coalition 50.5% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
YarragonLabor 46.9% · Coalition 53.1% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
WillowgroveLabor 30.1% · Coalition 69.9% TPP (2025)10.7 km away
Moe WestLabor 52.9% · Coalition 47.1% TPP (2025)10.9 km away
Moe CentralLabor 61.7% · Coalition 38.3% TPP (2025)11.5 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.
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%)