suburb.guide

VIC · Greater Bendigo Council

Woodvale, 3556

Est. population · Jun 2025

570

Growth (1 yr)

+2.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.7%

Median age

44

Median income

$1,428/wk

Employment rate

56.5%

Languages at home

2.8%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

45.3/100
Average

Top 47% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 62% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
What Woodvale is known for: National parks, Green suburb, High desirability

Suburb profile

Woodvale offers a slower smaller community life in Greater Bendigo Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.

Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state.

Reported crime has been falling recently. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.

Desirability sits around average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Woodvale snapshot

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$475/wk

Population (ERP)

570

+2.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

6.0%

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

#49

among Country & regional · Emerging

Safety

36th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

93rd

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

3/10

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
45.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 47% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
2877th in Australia
State rank
589th in VIC
Peer rank
#49 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#180 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
62%

Data sources & freshness

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

Housing

All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
$475

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

Population

Estimated resident population

570(June 2025)

+2.7% annual · +14.7% over 5 years · 93th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.7%
5-year growth
+14.7%
Change in 1 year
+15
Change in 5 years
+73
Growth rank in VIC
93th 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 (~650), extrapolated at +2.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
556
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,428
Dwelling vacancy
6%
Unoccupied private dwellings
12 of 199
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Employment rate
56.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
187 / 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)
22
Against the person
5
Against property
11
Rate per 1,000 residents
38.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 111 residents
State safety percentile
35.7th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-40.5%

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault3
  • A81 Dangerous Driving2
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft3
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle4
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order4

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

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

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Nerring I150 Bushland ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
6
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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Emergency Department (13.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
22
Participants per 1,000 residents
38.6

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

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 (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).

17 planning-related records

2021· 9 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Construction of a replacement dwelling (Amended plans for design changes)
    1553 LODDON VALLEY HIGHWAY WOODVALE 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Use and develop land for dwelling and outbuilding and the removal of selected native vegetation (Amended plans for design changes)
    Lot 1 Booth RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Use and development of land for a dwelling and shed (Amend plans to allow for design changes)
    140 Evans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Use and develop land for dwelling and outbuilding and the removal of selected native vegetation (Amended plans to change design of dwelling and include the removal of native vegetation)
    Lot 1 Booth RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Use and Development of a Dwelling
    LOT 2 TONTA ROAD WOODVALE 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a replacement dwelling
    1072 BENDIGO-PYRAMID ROAD WOODVALE 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of an extension to the existing dwelling and construction of an outbuilding
    140 Rothackers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for a dwelling and outbuilding (amended plans to allow for an increase to the outbuilding size)
    CA 7 Gees RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Construction of a building (pavilion) and associated works, and parking to the satisfaction of the responsible authority
    24 JANAWAY ROAD WOODVALE 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 8 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Construction of a replacement dwelling
    1553 Loddon Valley HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Construction of a swimming pool
    394 Vosti RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Use and development of land for a dwelling and outbuilding
    CA 7 Gees RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Use and development of land for a dwelling and shed
    CA 18C Evans RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a dependent persons unit
    140 Caldow RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Construction of an outbuilding
    55 Genardinis LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and develop land for dwelling and outbuilding. Amended plans to allow for design changes (new shed design)
    Lot 1 Booth RoadWithdrawn

  • February 2020

  • Construct garage within 100m of watercourse
    88 Bayliss RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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
Bendigo
Member of Parliament
Lisa CHESTERS (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
120,088
Turnout (2025)
94.0%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+51.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 48.6%Labor 51.4%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.3 km away).

Coalition 50.6%Labor 49.4%

2.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +49.4 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • WoodvaleLabor 48.7% · Coalition 51.3% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
  • Sailors GullyLabor 51.9% · Coalition 48.1% TPP (2025)6.0 km away
  • EaglehawkLabor 49.0% · Coalition 51.0% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
  • Eaglehawk EastLabor 55.6% · Coalition 44.4% TPP (2025)8.4 km away
  • Maiden GullyLabor 40.4% · Coalition 59.6% TPP (2025)8.9 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)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

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

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Greater Bendigo Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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