Median house price
$820k
+7.9% change
VIC · Greater Geelong Council
Waurn Ponds, 3216
Est. population · Jun 2025
5,321
Growth (1 yr)
+1.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+11.2%
Median age
27
Median income
$2,286/wk
Employment rate
64.7%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$820,000
Languages at home
13.9%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Sinhalese, Hindi
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
In Greater Geelong Council, Waurn Ponds is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. A younger crowd gives the area energy, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. 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. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because growth momentum and safety lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Waurn Ponds snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$490/wk
Population (ERP)
5,321
+1.6% 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
#119
among Metro Melbourne · Growth area
Safety
48th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
82nd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
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
- 51.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 35% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2010th in Australia
- State rank
- 438th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #119 among Metro Melbourne · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #287 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
- Data confidence
- 92%
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)
- $820,000
- Median price change
- +7.9%
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
5,321(June 2025)
+1.6% annual · +11.2% over 5 years · 82th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.6%
- 5-year growth
- +11.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +83
- Change in 5 years
- +536
- Growth rank in VIC
- 82th 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 (~5,950), extrapolated at +2.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 4,956
- Median age
- 27
- Median household income / week
- $2,286
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 71 of 1,363
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,755
- Employment rate
- 64.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,261 / 31 / 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)
- 269
- Against the person
- 39
- Against property
- 174
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 50.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 127 residents
- State safety percentile
- 48.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.6%
Most common offence types
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft19
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle39
- B43 Steal From A Retail Store28
- B49 Other Theft24
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception30
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
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- HEI Schoolskindergarten
- Next Steps Early Learning Centrekindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
18 public transport stops in this suburb
- Brentwood Way/Ghazeepore Rd
- Deakin University/Alfred Deakin Dr
- Grange Park Dr/Ghazeepore Rd
- Oakwood Cres/Ghazeepore Rd
- Waurn Ponds Railway Station
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
133 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 playgrounds · 9 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Decent local green space — 6 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 18 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 11 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 27/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.21
Sport & outdoors(13)
- Waurn Ponds Memorial ReservePark
- Waurn Ponds ReservePark
- Waurn Pds Tennis ClubPlayground
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (9)
Other(15)
- Silver CloudArtwork
- They Were On A Wild Ride To A Safe PlaceArtwork
- Bench (38)
- Bicycle Parking
- Waurn Ponds HallEvents Venue
- Garden (45)
- Car Park 12Parking
- Parking (13)
- Parking Space (7)
- Picnic Table (4)
- Public toilets
- RotundaShelter
- Shelter (3)
- Deakin University (Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus)University
- Water Point (2)
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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Baum ParkPark
- Malbec Loop ReservePark
- Waurn Ponds Memorial ReservePark
- Waurn Ponds ParklandPark
- Waurn Ponds ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 31
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Epworth Geelong (2.1 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Dove DentalColac RoadDentist
- Epworth GeelongHospital
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)
- 184
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.6
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).
30 planning-related records
2021· 12 proposals
September 2021
- Construction of an Agricultural Research and Education Facility and Removal of Vegetation73 PIGDONS ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216In progress
- Removal of Restriction on Lot 84 PS3377554 ELM COURT WAURN PONDS 3216Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority
- Construction of a Dwelling500 PRINCES HIGHWAY WAURN PONDS 3216NOD issued by a delegate
August 2021
- Alteration to Facade and Floodlit Business Identification Signage4/213-215 COLAC ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF THE LAND FOR A WINERY, FUNCTION CENTRE, RESTAURANT, MARKET, ON PREMISES LIQUOR LICENCE AND GROUP ACCOMMODATION65 PETTAVEL ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Change of Use to Winery, Associated Buildings and Works, Display of Signage and Variation to Existing Liquor Licence 3260411933 Waurn Ponds DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alteration to Liquor License Red Line Plan35 Waurn Ponds DriveWithdrawn
April 2021
- Buildings and Works associated with the construction of a Dwelling and Shed154-160 MCPHERSON ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Removal of Native Vegetation129-135 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Building and Works Associated with a Carpark129-135 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of an Access Road in a Public Acquisition Overlay and Removal of Native Vegetation255 Reservoir RoadNo permit required
January 2021
- Earthworks for Land Rehabilitation and Four (4) Lot Subdivision (Boundary Realignment)110 LEMINS ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216In progress
2020· 18 proposals
December 2020
- Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Takeaway Food Premises and Construct and Display an Internally Illuminated Signage2-26 Rossack DriveNOD issued by a delegate
- Use and Development of a Community Care Accommodation and Creation of Access to a Transport Zone 2100-120 WAURN PONDS DRIVE WAURN PONDS 3216In progress
- Use and Development of a Dwelling160 Waurn Ponds DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Shed in a Significant Landscape Overlay160 Waurn Ponds DriveWithdrawn
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision10 Bourbon WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Education Centre (Student Accommodation Building)145 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works for the Construction of a Dwelling and Outbuilding180-200 McPherson RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Use and Development for a Research and Development Centre, Reduction to the Standard Car Parking Requirement for Industry and Removal of Vegetation.73 PIGDONS ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling in a Farming Zone235 Cochranes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
- Building and Works to Existing Building and Change of Use associated with an additional 11 gaming machines217-227 Colac RoadNOD issued by a delegate
May 2020
- Building and Works Associated with an Education Centre129-135 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Construction of a Shed235 Cochranes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Buildings and Works associated with the Construction of Three (3) Awnings to the Existing Hotel217-227 Colac RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and Development of a Dwelling160 Waurn Ponds DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development of a Childcare Centre and a Three (3) Lot Subdivision1-3 Ghazeepore RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Buildings and Works Associated with an Existing Education Centre129-135 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of an Outbuilding in a Significant Landscape Overlay135 Lemins RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- Buildings and Works associated with an Extension to Existing Dwelling70 Lemins 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
Roadworks & transport
5 active roadworks / incidents
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.PRINCES-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON, COLAC ROAD16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.COLAC ROAD, WAURN PONDS DRIVE16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WAURN PONDS DRIVE, COLAC ROAD16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.COLAC ROAD, PRINCES-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.GEELONG RING ROAD, GEELONG RING OUT-PRINCES RAMP OF16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
2 heritage places
- BRIDGE OVER WAURN PONDS CREEKNH1104
- LIME-BURNING KILNNH0866
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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
- Corangamite
- Member of Parliament
- Libby COKER (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 114,123
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 42.0%Labor 58.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 6.6 km away).
Coalition 43.4%Labor 56.6%
1.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- CeresLabor 46.5% · Coalition 53.5% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- Grovedale WestLabor 62.9% · Coalition 37.1% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
- GrovedaleLabor 58.7% · Coalition 41.3% TPP (2025)5.1 km away
- Mount Duneed UpperLabor 66.5% · Coalition 33.5% TPP (2025)5.3 km away
- Grovedale EastLabor 60.7% · Coalition 39.3% TPP (2025)5.7 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)
- 9/10
- 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
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.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.