VIC · Nillumbik Council

Watsons Creek, 3097

Population

58

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

0.0%

Median age

35

Median income

$3,750/wk

Employment rate

71.7%

University qualified

32.6%

Work from home

25.8%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Leafy
  • Hills
  • Rural living
What Watsons Creek is known for: Leafy, Hills, Rural living

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Watsons Creek, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Watsons Creek, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 30 September 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/watsons-creek-vic

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Suburb profile

Watsons Creek is a semi-rural locality near Melbourne, in Nillumbik Council.

Dining and cafés are a relative strength, placing it among the highest-ranked semi-rural and lifestyle localities. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, and green cover is an exceptional strength, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, with university qualifications 58% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on higher rents and thinner park access, with median rents 10% above the peer median.

Watsons Creek is a better fit for people who value dining and socio-economic advantage more than lower rents.

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

Semi-rural locality · compared with semi-rural and lifestyle localities in Victoria (228)

Strengths

  • Dining and cafés are a relative strength
  • Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
  • Green cover is a relative strength
  • University qualifications are more common than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Rents run above those in comparable places
  • Park access is a relative weakness

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Watsons Creek compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$640/wk

Population (Census)

58

0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

0.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

99th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

40th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

0%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

national SEIFA decile

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

Housing

All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
$640

Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

Population

Population growth

0.0% annual · 0.0% over 5 years · 40th percentile in VIC

Growth rates are from ABS Estimated Resident Population at SA2 level. Headcount uses 2021 Census when allocated ERP is too low relative to Census to display reliably.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
58
Median age
35
Median household income / week
$3,750
Dwelling vacancy
0%
Unoccupied private dwellings
0 of 21
Median monthly mortgage
$2,995
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$542
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
38.5% / 61.5% / 0%
Employment rate
71.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
25.8% / 0% / 61.3%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
21 / 0 / 0

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.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

32.6% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 18.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified32.6% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified7% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational18.6% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below41.9% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Engineering and related technologies50%
  • Management and commerce35%
  • Natural and physical sciences15%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 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)
$58,533

69th percentile in VIC · 0% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$61,425

62nd percentile in VIC · -6% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
16.0%

79th percentile in VIC · +16% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$137,197

94th percentile in VIC · +117% vs Australia

Residents with business income
13.0%

72nd percentile in VIC · +25% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3097 — 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
1,019
Taxpayers reporting net rent
162
Median net rent
-$122
Taxpayers reporting business income
131
Taxable income vs state median
+10%
Salary / wages vs state median
+5%
Rental investment vs state median
+23%
Super vs state median
+70%
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

Community & culture

15% born overseas

Language at home
59 English only · 0 other
Non-English at home
0%
Born overseas
9 (15%)
Australian citizens
58

Religion

60.3%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 60.3%, while Christianity accounts for 48.3%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion60.3%38.8%
Christianity48.3%40.9%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic29.3%20.5%

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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
12
Against the person
2
Against property
9
Rate per 1,000 residents
800
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 29 residents
State crime-rate percentile
98.6th (higher = more crime)
No change (daily rate)
0%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
8
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
533.33

Most common offence types

  • A711 Fv Stalking1
  • A731 Fv Threatening Behaviour1
  • B21 Criminal Damage4
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary1
  • B45 Receiving Or Handling Stolen Goods2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

School list
School catchments
  • Christmas Hills Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Diamond Valley CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Panton Hill 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

Amenities

2 mapped amenities

1 cafes

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
2/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
17.24
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
17.24
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink(1)
  • Watsons Creek Cafe and AntiquesCafe
Other(1)
  • Parking

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
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
28.7%
Woodland / forest cover
28.7%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
0
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
24°C

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

Nearest hospital
Yarra Ranges Health (13.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

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
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%)

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).

2 planning-related records

2020· 2 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct a carport
    265 Alma RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2020

  • To construct a garage for car storage
    265 Alma RoadLapsed

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on 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
Casey
Member of Parliament
Aaron VIOLI (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
122,351
Turnout (2025)
94.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.5 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 52.9%Labor 47.1%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 12.9 km away).

Coalition 50.5%Labor 49.5%

2.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +0.7 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • St Andrews (Casey)Labor 66.1% · Coalition 33.9% TPP (2025)6.6 km away
  • Wonga ParkLabor 37.7% · Coalition 62.3% TPP (2025)7.7 km away
  • Yarra GlenLabor 40.1% · Coalition 59.9% TPP (2025)9.5 km away
  • Chirnside ParkLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)11.0 km away
  • Lilydale NorthLabor 47.7% · Coalition 52.3% TPP (2025)11.4 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

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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Nillumbik Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.