Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Bass Coast Council
Wattle Bank, 3995
Est. population · Jun 2025
267
Growth (1 yr)
+1.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+14.1%
Median age
41
Median income
$1,812/wk
Employment rate
65.1%
Languages at home
2.5%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Wattle Bank is a quieter smaller community in Bass Coast Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
The overall desirability read is below average, pulled by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus parks and green space compared with similar regional towns, though community and employment remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Wattle Bank snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
267
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
11.7%
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
#76
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
3rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
86th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 39.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3775th in Australia
- State rank
- 754th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #76 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #302 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 62%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
267(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +14.1% over 5 years · 86th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.9%
- 5-year growth
- +14.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +5
- Change in 5 years
- +33
- Growth rank in VIC
- 86th 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 (~300), extrapolated at +2.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 250
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $1,812
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 11 of 94
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 65.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 79 / 0 / 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)
- 2
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 2
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 7.5
- State safety percentile
- 2.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -81.8%
Most common offence types
- B49 Other Theft1
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception1
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
Amenities
6 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 2/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 4
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Food & drink(1)
- Harman WinesRestaurant
612 Inverloch-Kongwak Road
Other(3)
- Parking
- Picnic Table (3)
- Public toilets
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- Wonthaggi Medical Centre (10.9 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)
- 8
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.0
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
- 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 (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).
15 planning-related records
2021· 6 proposals
July 2021
- Subdivision of two lots515 LYNNES ROAD WATTLE BANK 3995Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Building and works for an agricultural shed in RLZ9 Desmond RoadWithdrawn
May 2021
- Outbuilding(shed) larger than 100sqm in association with existing dwelling in the RLZ51 DESMOND ROAD WATTLE BANK 3995Refusal issued by a delegate
- Variation of Covenant PS542235X to replace building envelope with building exclusion zone494 Lynnes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Amendment subdivision of land into two lots and removal of native vegetation494 Lynnes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alterations & Addition to existing dwelling RLZ51 Desmond RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 9 proposals
December 2020
- Alterations & addition to existing dwelling RLZ51 Desmond RoadWithdrawn
- Development of land for a dwelling within 100m of a waterway94 Desmond RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Building and works for outbuilding in association to dwelling in RLZ114 Desmond RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Development of land for Outbuilding associated with dwelling in RLZ128 Desmond RoadWithdrawn
September 2020
- Re-subdivision of the land into three lots85 Desmond Road & 590 Inverloch-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Subdivision of land into two lots in RLZ66 Desmond RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Development of land for dwelling and outbuilding in BMO751 Lynnes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- Subdivision of land into two lots and removal of native vegetation494 Lynnes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Subdivision of land into two lots525 Lynnes RoadPermit 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
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 18.6 km away).
Coalition 48.9%Labor 51.1%
5.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- InverlochLabor 55.9% · Coalition 44.1% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
- KongwakLabor 41.5% · Coalition 58.5% TPP (2025)6.8 km away
- Wonthaggi NorthLabor 53.8% · Coalition 46.2% TPP (2025)9.6 km away
- WonthaggiLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)10.8 km away
- Cape PatersonLabor 65.5% · Coalition 34.5% TPP (2025)12.7 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)
- 9/10
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
More in Bass Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.