Median house price
$600k
+9.1% change
VIC · Ballarat Council
Winter Valley, 3358
Est. population · Jun 2025
4,841
Growth (1 yr)
+7.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+56.4%
Median age
29
Median income
$2,013/wk
Employment rate
73.7%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$600,000
Languages at home
10.1%non-English
Most common: Punjabi, Mandarin, Hindi
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Winter Valley is a regional mid-sized suburb in Ballarat Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Melbourne. Young professionals and new households shape much of the local mix, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Homes are priced below the dearer neighbouring markets, though not at the bottom of the scale.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because growth momentum lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Winter Valley snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$430/wk
Population (ERP)
4,841
+7.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.1%
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
#29
among Country & regional · Growth area
Safety
81st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
98th
percentile in VIC
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
- 44.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 48% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2968th in Australia
- State rank
- 611th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #29 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #195 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $430
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $600,000
- Median price change
- +9.1%
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
4,841(June 2025)
+7.3% annual · +56.4% over 5 years · 98th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +7.3%
- 5-year growth
- +56.4%
- Change in 1 year
- +330
- Change in 5 years
- +1,746
- Growth rank in VIC
- 98th 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 (~6,800), extrapolated at +7.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,440
- Median age
- 29
- Median household income / week
- $2,013
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 50 of 1,229
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,600
- Employment rate
- 73.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,168 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 589
- Against the person
- 97
- Against property
- 346
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 121.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 35 residents
- State safety percentile
- 80.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +39.6%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage64
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft33
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle80
- B49 Other Theft99
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order97
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
Public transport
3 public transport stops in this suburb
- Greenhalghs Rd/Wiltshire Lane
- Meadow Ct/Wiltshire Lane
- Tilbury St/Wiltshire Lane
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
54 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
6 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 13 parks mapped in suburb, 6 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 5/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.78
Sport & outdoors(19)
- Kensington Creek ReservePark
- Lion's Gate ReservePark
- Park (10)
- Erskine PlaygroundPlayground
- Playground (2)
- Winter Valley Rise PlaygroundPlayground
- Winterfiled Park PlaygroundPlayground
- Yorkdale Estate PlaygroundPlayground
- Sports field
Transport(4)
4 bus stops
Other(12)
- Bbq
- Disc Golf Course (6)
- Drinking water
- Fire Rescue VictoriaFire station
- Fire Station No. 68Fire station
89 Ballarat - Carngham Road, Winter Valley
- Fitness Station
- Garden (8)
- EG AustraliaPetrol station
- Picnic Table
- Ballarat West Police ComplexPolice
1 Mirelle Drive, Winter Valley
- Public toilets
- Shelter (8)
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Kensington Creek ReservePark
- Lion's Gate ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 13
- Parks (OSM)
- 13
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
- Queen Elizabeth Centre (4.7 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)
- 252
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 52.1
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).
20 planning-related records
2021· 9 proposals
July 2021
- Development of two dwellings and a two lot subdivision12 SPRINTER WAY WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of two dwellings and a two lot subdivision2 SPRINTER WAY WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Single Dwelling & Garage13 MORITZ DRIVE WINTER VALLEY 3358Withdrawn
- Use and development of a display home centre, reduction in car parking and display of business promotional signs155 BALLARAT - CARNGHAM ROAD WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of two dwellings and two lot subdivision30 JUMPS STREET WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Multi-lot subdivision, development of 21 dwellings and associated native vegetation removal520 GLENELG HIGHWAY WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Staged multi-lot subdivision and creation of access to a Road Zone Category 1LOT B BALLARAT - CARNGHAM ROAD WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Native vegetation removalGreenhalghs RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Two lot subdivision; and creation of access to a Road Zone, Category 1 and development of dwelling2 WEST END WINTER VALLEY 3358Lapsed
2020· 11 proposals
December 2020
- Staged multi-lot subdivision, creation of a new access to a road in a road zone and the removal of native vegetation540 Wiltshire LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Installation of major promotional signage on shipping containers540 Wiltshire LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Two lot subdivisionLot S6 Ballarat - Carngham RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- erect verandah to existing Single Storey Residental Home9 Anneke WayWithdrawn
October 2020
- Development of two dwellings and two lot subdivision63 SPOONBILL AVENUE WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of two dwellings and two lot subdivision51 PRESENTATION BOULEVARD WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use of land for a display home centre and a reduction in car parkingLot S6 Ballarat - Carngham RoadLapsed
September 2020
- Development of two dwellings and a two lot subdivision17 Sugarloaf RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Eight lot subdivision20 Presentation BoulevardPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Alterations and additions to a dwelling29 West EndPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- Staged multi-lot subdivision and creation of access to a Road Zone Category 1Lot S6 Ballarat - Carngham 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
Heritage
1 heritage place
- STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYNH1701
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
- 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 4.5 km away).
Coalition 34.5%Labor 65.5%
4.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.2 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- DelacombeLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- AlfredtonLabor 58.9% · Coalition 41.1% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- Alfredton WestLabor 62.4% · Coalition 37.6% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- NewingtonLabor 66.7% · Coalition 33.3% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
- Sebastopol NorthLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)3.5 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)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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 Ballarat Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.