Median house price
$1.15M
+20% change
VIC · Greater Geelong Council
Wandana Heights, 3216
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,091
Growth (1 yr)
+1.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+8.1%
Median age
41
Median income
$2,549/wk
Employment rate
67.8%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$1,150,000
Languages at home
8.9%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Malayalam, Cantonese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
Wandana Heights sits up in the Greater Geelong Council hills, a smaller community where elevation and tree cover define the mood. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Education outcomes and school provision stand out relative to comparable suburbs.
Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities compared with similar metro suburbs, though community and employment remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Wandana Heights snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$490/wk
Population (ERP)
2,091
+1.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.8%
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
#15
among Metro Melbourne · Emerging
Safety
7th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
68th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
84th
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
- 52.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 33% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 1858th in Australia
- State rank
- 415th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #15 among Metro Melbourne · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #279 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $490
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $1,150,000
- Median price change
- +20.4%
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025; Sep 2025 (council median) · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
2,091(June 2025)
+1.0% annual · +8.1% over 5 years · 68th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.0%
- 5-year growth
- +8.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +20
- Change in 5 years
- +157
- Growth rank in VIC
- 68th 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 (~2,300), extrapolated at +1.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,195
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,549
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 38 of 791
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 67.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 725 / 24 / 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)
- 25
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 17
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 12
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 439 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -62.1%
Most common offence types
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft4
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle7
- B49 Other Theft2
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order2
- Other Crimes Against The Person4
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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,100
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 84th
School list
- Christian College GeelongCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1098 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 1,908 students · Top SEA quarter 38% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Woodline PrimaryPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 73 students · Top SEA quarter 41% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Highton Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1121 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 359 students · Top SEA quarter 49% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Bellaire Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1094 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 623 students · Top SEA quarter 37% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Montpellier Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1101 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 563 students · Top SEA quarter 38% · 1.9 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
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Roslyn Rd/Scenic Rd
- The Strand/Barrabool Rd
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
116 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 playgrounds · 97 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 4 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Strong local sport and recreation — 102 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 3/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.82
Sport & outdoors(106)
- Drewan ParkPark
- Park (2)
- Tim Hill Recreational ReservePark
- Drewan ParkPlayground
- Playground
- Tim Hill RR-TCPlayground
- Sports field
- Wandana Heights Tennis ClubSports field
- Swimming pool (97)
Entertainment(1)
- Brownhill HeightsViewpoint
Transport(2)
2 bus stops
Other(6)
- Bbq
- Bench
- Drinking water
- Picnic Table (2)
- 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
- Drewan ParkPark
- Tim Hill Recreational ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 150
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- Epworth Geelong (1.8 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)
- 64
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.6
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
- 26° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 128 mm · ~16 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 124 mm · ~16 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 149 mm · ~19 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 182 mm · ~23 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).
14 planning-related records
2021· 5 proposals
August 2021
- Construction of a Dwelling over 7.5m in height above Natural Ground Level10 VILLA STREET WANDANA HEIGHTS 3216NOD issued by a delegate
July 2021
- Construction of Dwelling in an SBO2 Canterbury CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings and Two (2) Lot SubdivisionPARENT - 2/5 CANTERBURY COURT WANDANA HEIGHTS 3216Withdrawn
April 2021
- Buildings & Works Associated with the Construction of a Dwelling Greater than 7.5 metres in Height116 WANDANA DRIVE WANDANA HEIGHTS 3216NOD issued by a delegate
March 2021
- Buildings and Works - Spa and Safety Fence - in a SBO44 James Cook DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 9 proposals
December 2020
- Extension to a Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay3 Bent RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Removal of Restriction PS437201D from Lot 2 of PS437201D3 GREENFINCH WAY WANDANA HEIGHTS 3216In progress
September 2020
- Use of the Land for a Home Based Business (Construction Business) allowing no more than three people who do not live in the dwelling to work in the occupation at any one time, and no more than one additional commercial vehicle not exceeding two tonnes capacity and with or without a trailer registered to a resident of the dwelling, to be present at any time.5 SUNHILL COURT WANDANA HEIGHTS 3216Refusal issued by a delegate
August 2020
- Construction of a Dwelling over 7.5m in height above Natural Ground Level10 Villa StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Construction of a Spa and Fence within a Special Building Overlay43 Grosvenor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Construction of a Dwelling over 7.5m in height above Natural Ground Level2 Villa StreetNOD issued by a delegate
- Construction of a Single Dwelling35 Brownhill RidgePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Buildings and Works Associated with additions to an existing dwelling within a Special Building Overlay61 James Cook DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- Construction of a Deck and Verandah in an Special Building Overlay58 James Cook DrivePermit 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
Roadworks & transport
7 active roadworks / incidents
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 01/01/2026 and 31/12/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Weekends 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.GEELONG RING ROAD, BARRABOOL-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON31 Dec 2025 – 30 Dec 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 01/01/2026 and 31/12/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 PM to 5:00 AM, Weekends 9:30 PM to 5:00 AM. 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.GEELONG RING ROAD, BARRABOOL-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON31 Dec 2025 – 30 Dec 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 09/06/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed southbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.GEELONG RING ROAD, BARRABOOL-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON08 Jun 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 09/06/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed southbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.GEELONG RING OUT-BARRABOOL RAMP OF, BARRABOOL ROAD08 Jun 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 09/06/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed southbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.BARRABOOL ROAD, GEELONG RING IN-BARRABOOL RAMP OF08 Jun 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 09/06/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed southbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.BARRABOOL-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON, HAMILTON-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON08 Jun 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 09/06/2026 and 31/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed southbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.BARRABOOL-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON, BARRABOOL ROAD08 Jun 2026 – 30 Aug 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · 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
- Corio
- Member of Parliament
- Richard MARLES (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,756
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 36.8%Labor 63.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.9 km away).
Coalition 37.2%Labor 62.8%
0.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Highton NorthLabor 57.5% · Coalition 42.5% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- HightonLabor 64.7% · Coalition 35.3% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- Highton WestLabor 62.4% · Coalition 37.6% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- Highton SouthLabor 65.1% · Coalition 34.9% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
- BelmontLabor 72.5% · Coalition 27.5% TPP (2025)2.5 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
This suburb ranks highly for
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Greater Geelong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
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Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.