suburb.guide

VIC · Surf Coast Council

Winchelsea, VIC, 3241

Current weather

13.3°CLight drizzle

75% humidity · 21.3 km/h wind · 16° / 10.3° today · 3.3 mm rain

Desirability index

46.5/100

#139 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Winchelsea is a smaller suburban community in the Surf Coast area, home to around 2,456 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 104 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-10%), roughly 42.3 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, limited but present public transport access, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
2,456
Median age
41
Median household income / week
$1,442
Dwelling vacancy
8.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
84 of 1,040
Median monthly mortgage
$1,560
Employment rate
56%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
74 / 43 / 0

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Total offences (2026)
104
Against the person
18
Against property
65
Rate per 1,000 residents
42.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 136 residents
State safety percentile
38.6th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-10.3%

Most common offence types

  • A211 Fv Serious Assault8
  • B21 Criminal Damage13
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle8
  • B49 Other Theft16
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order8

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
978
  • Winchelsea Primary SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

3 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Winchelsea Railway Station
  • Winchelsea Station
  • Winchelsea Station

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

42 planning-related records

2021· 8 proposals

  • July 2021

  • Use of the land for Accommodation (short term) and Place of Assembly Function Centre)
    765 INGLEBY ROAD WINCHELSEA 3241Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Amendment C138 - Combined Application to Rezone to Industrial 1 and 22 Lot Subdivision
    25 Cressy RoadWithdrawn
  • Five (5) Lot Subdivision and Creation of Easement
    22 HOPKINS STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Use of the land for solid fuel depot (firewood) and industry (storing and splitting of wood)
    40 Inverleigh-Winchelsea RoadWithdrawn

  • April 2021

  • Construct a Dwelling
    3540 PRINCES HIGHWAY WINCHELSEA 3241Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Subdivision of the land into two lots and construction of a dwelling
    37 MAIN STREET WINCHELSEA 3241Withdrawn

  • February 2021

  • Construction of a 9m x 18m shed to be used to store equipment to maintain the property and to also store cars and machinery
    60 Tutegong RoadWithdrawn

  • January 2021

  • Use and development of the land by a Utility Installation (water collection pump and transmission pipe line) and associated works
    866 Barwon Park RoadWithdrawn
2020· 34 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Alterations and Additions to the Existing Community Health Facility and buildings and works
    8 GOSNEY STREET WINCHELSEA 3241Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development Plan PG19/0086
    135 AUSTIN STREET AND 50 WITCOMBE STREET AND PART 235 AUSTIN STREET WINCHELSEA 3241In progress

  • November 2020

  • Development and use of the land for a second dwelling
    45 GLADMAN STREET WINCHELSEA 3241Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Change of Use to Group Accommodation
    24 COOPER STREETNOD issued by a delegate
  • SPEAR - Two Lot Subdivision
    22 BARKLY STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Multi-Lot Subdivision and Removal of Native Vegetation
    135 AUSTIN STREET WINCHELSEA 3241Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two Lot Subdivision
    21 JACKSON STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a pergola
    1/22 JACKSON STREETPermit issued by the RA
  • Two lot subdivision
    3-5 REYNOLDS STREETNOD issued by a delegate
  • Two lot subdivision
    3-5 REYNOLDS STREETNOD issued by a delegate

  • September 2020

  • Two lot subdivision
    5 BENNETT STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct a building associated with the existing supermarket (storage)
    29 MAIN STREETPermit issued by the RA
  • Construction of a Replacement Dwelling, Garage and Machinery Shed
    3590 PRINCES HIGHWAYPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Construction of Two Dwellings and Two Lot Subdivision
    57 HARDING STREETNOD issued by the Resp. Authority

  • July 2020

  • Two Lot Subdivision
    8 WITCOMBE STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Multi lot Subdivision, Removal of Native Vegetation, Alteration of Access to a Road in a Road Zone Category 1, Development of an Outbuilding Ancillary to a Dwelling (Carport), Development of a Crossover in a Heritage Overlay, Partial Demolition of a Fence and Demolition of Outbuildings, in accordance with the plans
    65 MAIN STREET WINCHELSEA 3241NOD issued by a delegate
  • Construct a replacement dwelling and outbuilding
    180 MATHISONS ROADPermit issued by the RA

  • May 2020

  • Use Land for Sale & Consumption of Liquor (Restaurant & Café Licence)
    33 MAIN STREETPermit issued by the RA
  • Use and Development of a Dwelling
    96 MURPHYS RUNPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two Lot Subdivision
    5 BENNETT STREETWithdrawn
  • Two Lot Subdivision and Construction of a Second Dwelling
    22 HOPKINS STREETWithdrawn
  • Construct a building within 20 metres of a road and within 100 metres of a waterway and dwelling not in the same ownership
    5 DICKSONS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct a dwelling, use of land as a dwelling and re-subdivision of land Reason for Revision: Amendment to proposed sub division
    45 CRESSY ROAD WINCHELSEA 3241Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Replace an existing shed and construct another shed
    37 AUSTIN STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of the Land for a Dwelling
    515 SHELFORD ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Variation of a restrictive covenant (amend building and effluent envelopes)
    5 RICHMONDS LANEPermit issued by the RA
  • Construction of a Hay/Machinery Shed
    515 SHELFORD ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three Lot Subdivision and the Construction of Three Dwellings
    63 MAIN STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of Hay/Machinery Shed
    515 SHELFORD ROADWithdrawn

  • February 2020

  • Construct an Additional Dwelling and Two Lot Subdivision
    9 WORLAND STREETNOD issued by a delegate
  • Construct Two Additional Tunnel Ventilated Broiler Sheds for Existing Broiler Farm
    270 PEELS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Two Lot Subdivision
    97-105 WILLIS STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

  • PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020; 2020–2022; 2021 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Unnamed P0151 Private Nature ReserveNature reserve
  • Winchelsea Public ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
2
Emergency department
On site
  • Winchelsea DentalHesse Streetdentist
  • Winchelsea Hospitalhospital

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
4/10
IRSD decile (2021)
5/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

4 state heritage places

  • BARWON PARKNH0365
  • GLOBE THEATRENH2226
  • MEMORIAL GRANDSTAND & GATESNH1525
  • WINCHELSEA BRIDGENH1456

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
179
Parks (OSM)
5

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
46.5/100
Cohort rank
#139 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • BARWON PARKheritageNH0365
  • GLOBE THEATREheritageNH2226
  • MEMORIAL GRANDSTAND & GATESheritageNH1525
  • WINCHELSEA BRIDGEheritageNH1456
  • Winchelsea DentalhealthHesse Streetdentist
  • Winchelsea Hospitalhealthhospital
  • Unnamed P0151 Private Nature Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • Winchelsea Public Parkgovernmentpark
  • Alterations and Additions to the Existing Community Health Facility and buildings and worksplanning8 GOSNEY STREET WINCHELSEA 3241Lodged 16 Dec 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amendment C138 - Combined Application to Rezone to Industrial 1 and 22 Lot Subdivisionplanning25 Cressy RoadLodged 25 Jun 2021 · Withdrawn

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.