suburb.guide

VIC · East Gippsland Council

Bairnsdale, 3875

Current weather

14.3°CModerate drizzle

58% humidity · 23.1 km/h wind · 17° / 9.9° today · 4.4 mm rain

Desirability score

45.5/100

2319th in Australia

89% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Bairnsdale is a smaller suburban community in the East Gippsland area, home to around 7,905 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 2,437 offences in 2026 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+2%), roughly 308.3 offences per 1,000 residents, 8 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many Public Transport Victoria stops, 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
7,905
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,101
Dwelling vacancy
10.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
380 of 3,682
Median monthly mortgage
$1,192
Employment rate
48.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
301 / 476 / 28

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 · 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)
2,437
Against the person
461
Against property
916
Rate per 1,000 residents
308.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 17 residents
State safety percentile
95.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+1.9%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage191
  • B43 Steal From A Retail Store205
  • C32 Drug Possession159
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order334
  • E23 Breach Bail Conditions156

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
8
Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
982.5
  • Bairnsdale Christian CollegeCombined
  • Bairnsdale Primary SchoolPrimary
  • Bairnsdale Secondary CollegeSecondary
  • Bairnsdale West Primary SchoolPrimary
  • East Gippsland Specialist SchoolSpecial
  • Nagle CollegeSecondary
  • St Mary's SchoolPrimary
  • Wild Cherry SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

33 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bailey St/Princes Hwy
  • Bailey St/Princes Hwy
  • Bairnsdale Railway Station
  • Bairnsdale Railway Station/Macleod St
  • Bairnsdale Station

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

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).

94 planning-related records

2021· 34 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Development of an industrial building and reduction to the standard car parking requirement
    3 CAMPBELLS DRIVE BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for a carport
    15 MCCULLOCH STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Withdrawn
  • Construction of four light towers
    2 HOLLOWAY STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works (Alterations and additions to existing school buildings including new classrooms and associated site works)
    5 HOPE AVENUE BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Change of use to a Medical Centre, development of a business identification signage and reduction to the car parking requirement
    9 ROSS STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of four double storey dwellings and four lot subdivision
    189 NICHOLSON STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875NOD issued by a delegate

  • July 2021

  • Buildings and works to an existing dwelling (verandah and carport) within a Heritage Overlay
    13 WARDE STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a dwelling in the rural living zone
    25 RACECOURSE ROAD BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Multi lot subdivision and roadworks
    70 BAIRNSDALE-DARGO ROAD BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Externally paint a heritage building (windows and doors)
    9 FRANCIS STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Buildings and works for Industrial development, five lot industrial subdivision and reduction to the standard car parking requirement
    15 RAILWAY COURT BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a warehouse with an ancillary office and reduction in the standard carparking requirement.
    66 FORGE CREEK ROAD BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling
    170 RACECOURSE ROAD BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction and Display of Internally illuminated Business Identification and Pylon Signage
    457-461 MAIN STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to an existing industrial premises
    41 BOSWORTH ROAD BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for an ancillary office to an existing utility depot
    107 RUPERT STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alterations and works associated with an existing heritage building
    9 FRANCIS STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Withdrawn

  • May 2021

  • Demolition, buildings and works, redevelopment of a place of assembly (neighbourhood house), display of signs, and reduction of car parking to be provided
    27 DALMAHOY STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875NOD issued by a delegate

  • April 2021

  • Use and Development of land for Trade Supplies, Buildings and Works for Industry, Display of Signs, Removal of Native Vegetation, Reduction in Car Parking Requirement and Reduction in Bicycle Facilities
    108 FORGE CREEK ROAD BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of additions (carport) to the existing dwelling and construction of two double storey dwellings to the rear and a Three lot subdivision
    23 DAWSON STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • External Painting of a Heritage Building (HO62)
    119 Main StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • External Painting of a Heritage Building
    59 Main StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a warehouse and reduction to the standard car parking requirement
    15 Collins StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works (Alterations and additions to existing school buildings including new classrooms and associated site works)
    5 Hope AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works (Extension to an existing office building) and a reductions to the car parking requirement
    347 Main StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works (extension to existing industrial buildings), reduction to the required number of carparking spaces
    15 BOSWORTH ROAD BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Extension to an existing restricted place of assembly
    6 FORGE CREEK ROAD BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of additions (carport) and alterations to the existing dwelling and construction of a single storey dwelling to the rear
    40 GOOLD STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875NOD issued by a delegate

  • February 2021

  • Demolition of a heritage dwelling
    98 Wallace StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Four lot subdivision
    35 PINNOCK STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision and construction of a new dwelling (on Lot 2) and carport (existing dwelling on Lot 1)
    46 MORONEY STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding (domestic shed and carport) within a Heritage Overlay
    11 Warde StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Use and development of the land for an outbuilding (shed)
    85 Bengworden RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of land for restricted recreation facility (circus school)
    1/30 ROVAN PLACE BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 6 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Buildings and works for a second dwelling
    120 DREVERMANN STREET BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for the purpose of an industrial premise and a store and reduction to the standard car park requirement
    1 Radford PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for a shadesail
    26D Grant StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Nagle Catholic College - Removal of Native Vegetation, and building and works to refurbish and extend school facilities, car park and bus loop in a Residential Living Zone (RLZ1) and Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO2).
    HOPE AVENUE BAIRNSDALE 3875Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works (demolition, additions and alterations to a heritage dwelling) within a Heritage Overlay
    40 Riley StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works (storage building)
    3A Radford PlacePermit 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) · Period: 2020–2022 · 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.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

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

Parks & reserves

6 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • City ParkPark
  • Dennison OvalPark
  • Harnham Drive ReservePark
  • Mitchell River water reserve Gippsland Lakes ReserveNature reserve
  • Park or reserveNature reserve
  • Rotary ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
6
Emergency department
On site
  • Bairnsdale Medical Groupclinic
  • Bairnsdale Regional Health Servicehospital
  • Chemist Warehousepharmacy
  • Gippsland Physiotherapy Group BairnsdaleNicholson Streetphysiotherapist
  • TerryWhite Chemmartpharmacy
  • Your Spaceclinic

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
2/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

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

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

6 state heritage places

  • BAIRNSDALE PUMPING STATIONNH2040
  • BAIRNSDALE PUMPING STATIONNH2040
  • COURT HOUSENH1462
  • FORMER BAIRNSDALE HOSPITALNH2310
  • FORMER BAIRNSDALE MECHANICS INSTITUTENH1284
  • ST MARYS CATHOLIC CHURCHNH2174

Data sources & freshness

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

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Westdale Kinderkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
12
Parks (OSM)
9

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

Desirability index

Desirability score
45.5/100
National rank
2319th in Australia
State rank
473rd in VIC
Peer rank
#73 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#132 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
89%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime191
  • B43 Steal From A Retail Storecrime205
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime159
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime334
  • E23 Breach Bail Conditionscrime156
  • Westdale Kinderchildcarekindergarten
  • BAIRNSDALE PUMPING STATIONheritageNH2040
  • BAIRNSDALE PUMPING STATIONheritageNH2040
  • COURT HOUSEheritageNH1462
  • FORMER BAIRNSDALE HOSPITALheritageNH2310

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
  • Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.