suburb.guide

VIC · Hepburn Council

Wheatsheaf, 3461

Est. population · Jun 2025

256

Growth (1 yr)

+1.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+6.2%

Median age

50

Median income

$1,221/wk

Employment rate

50.5%

University qualified

34.4%

Work from home

34.2%

Languages at home

6.3%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

45.4/100
Average

737th in VIC

Verified 83% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Leafy
  • Rural living
What Wheatsheaf is known for: Leafy, Rural living

Using this data? Cite or embed. Publishers

Suburb snapshot infographic

Download PNG
Wheatsheaf, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Embed this snapshot

The image links to the canonical suburb page. Copy the HTML as-is.

Wheatsheaf, VIC suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Wheatsheaf, VIC Suburb Guide”, updated 29 September 2026, https://suburb.guide/vic/wheatsheaf

No registration is required. Please keep the link to the suburb page.

Suburb profile

Wheatsheaf is a rural locality in Victoria, in Hepburn Council.

University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities, and green cover is an exceptional strength, and working from home is more common than in comparable places, with working from home 61% above the peer median, and population has been growing faster than in comparable places, and recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places, with recorded road crashes 83% below the peer median. Employment rates sit below those of comparable places, with employment 17% below the peer median.

Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising university qualifications over employment.

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

  • University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
  • Green cover is a relative strength
  • Working from home is more common than in comparable places
  • Population has been growing faster than in comparable places
  • Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Employment rates sit below those of comparable places

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • StudentsInsufficient data
  • Budget buyersInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Wheatsheaf compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$266/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

256

+1.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

35.7%

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

#204

among Country & regional · Mature

Crime rate

67th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

75th

percentile in VIC

Rented dwellings

9%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

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
45.4/100 — Average
National rank
3033rd in Australia
State rank
737th in VIC
Peer rank
#204 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#365 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
83%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

256(June 2025)

+1.2% annual · +6.2% over 5 years · 75th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.2%
5-year growth
+6.2%
Change in 1 year
+3
Change in 5 years
+15
Growth rank in VIC
75th 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 (~250), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
252
Median age
50
Median household income / week
$1,221
Dwelling vacancy
35.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
60 of 168
Median monthly mortgage
$1,429
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$266
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
45% / 45.9% / 9.2%
Employment rate
50.5%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
34.2% / 0% / 50.5%
Walked or cycled to work
3.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
107 / 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

34.4% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 17.9% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified34.4% · 29.2% VIC
  • Diploma qualified11.5% · 9.8% VIC
  • Trade / vocational17.9% · 14.2% VIC
  • Year 12 or below36.2% · 46.8% VIC

Highest qualification field

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

  • Society and culture17%
  • Engineering and related technologies14.9%
  • Education14.2%
  • Creative arts12.1%
  • Management and commerce9.9%
  • Agriculture and environment7.1%
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)
$46,694

20th percentile in VIC · -20% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$54,547

31st percentile in VIC · -16% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
15.0%

68th percentile in VIC · +9% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$100,299

77th percentile in VIC · +58% vs Australia

Residents with business income
19.0%

96th percentile in VIC · +83% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3461 — 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
2,741
Taxpayers reporting net rent
416
Median net rent
$445
Taxpayers reporting business income
513
Taxable income vs state median
-12%
Salary / wages vs state median
-7%
Rental investment vs state median
+15%
Super vs state median
+25%
Business income vs state median
+73%

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

6.3% speak a language other than English at home; 20.8% born overseas

Language at home
222 English only · 15 other
Non-English at home
6.3%
Born overseas
48 (20.8%)
Australian citizens
222

Religion

59.9%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 59.9%, while Christianity accounts for 30.6%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion59.9%38.8%
Christianity30.6%40.9%
Other / not stated9.5%20.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic12.3%20.5%
Anglican8.3%6.5%

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 increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
20
Against the person
4
Against property
6
Rate per 1,000 residents
78.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 63 residents
State crime-rate percentile
67th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+185.7%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
2
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
7.81

Most common offence types

  • A211 Fv Serious Assault2
  • A231 Fv Common Assault2
  • B21 Criminal Damage2
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order7

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
  • Bullarto Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Daylesford Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Daylesford Secondary CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Trentham District 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

1 mapped amenities

1 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Sport & outdoors(1)
  • Swimming pool

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
83.4%
Woodland / forest cover
83.4%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
1
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
27°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
Daylesford Hospital and Nursing Home (8.7 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

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
6
Participants per 1,000 residents
23.4

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

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
27° / 12°
Rainfall
115 mm · ~14 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
21° / 8°
Rainfall
133 mm · ~17 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
13° / 4°
Rainfall
180 mm · ~22 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
19° / 7°
Rainfall
172 mm · ~22 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • ORDES/OGDEN BROTHERS SAWMILL SITENH2013

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Heritage listings as established streetscape

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated

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
Ballarat
Member of Parliament
Catherine KING (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,238
Turnout (2025)
93.3%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-2.3 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 39.3%Labor 60.7%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 29.7 km away).

Coalition 32.2%Labor 67.8%

7.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -3.3 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • GlenlyonLabor 67.3% · Coalition 32.7% TPP (2025)4.6 km away
  • DaylesfordLabor 69.0% · Coalition 31.0% TPP (2025)9.0 km away
  • TrenthamLabor 70.0% · Coalition 30.1% TPP (2025)9.4 km away
  • Hepburn SpringsLabor 71.0% · Coalition 29.0% TPP (2025)10.2 km away
  • DrummondLabor 70.7% · Coalition 29.3% TPP (2025)13.7 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

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 Hepburn Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.