suburb.guide

VIC · Ballarat Council

Ballarat North, 3350

Current weather

7.3°CLight drizzle

95% humidity · 25.6 km/h wind · 9.1° / 5.9° today · 13.9 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

47.2/100
Average

Top 34% of Victoria's suburbs

85% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Good transport
  • Green space
  • Regional town
  • Shops
  • Established
What Ballarat North is known for: Good transport, Green space, Regional town, Shops, Established

Suburb profile

Ballarat North is a regional centre in Ballarat that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.

Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.

Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.

The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space and housing affordability holding up better.

Population

Population
4,041
Median age
43
Median household income / week
$1,290
Dwelling vacancy
7.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
150 of 1,895
Median monthly mortgage
$1,416
Employment rate
54.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
135 / 299 / 12

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)
342
Against the person
45
Against property
226
Rate per 1,000 residents
84.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 90 residents
State safety percentile
69.7th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+41.3%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage24
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary21
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle51
  • B49 Other Theft70
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order41

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,090
  • St Columba's SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

20 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Howitt St/Lydiard St N
  • Howitt St/Lydiard St N
  • Lydiard St/Landsborough St
  • Norman St/Doveton St N
  • Walker St/Lydiard St N

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

6 active roadworks / incidents

  • Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 60 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 80 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 60 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, DAYLESFORD-WESTERN OUT RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
  • Utility Works activities occurring between 30/04/2026 and 30/08/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.CRESWICK ROAD, NORMAN STREET29 Apr 2026 – 29 Aug 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported

Planning & development

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

30 planning-related records

2021· 12 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Development of a dwelling
    2 MIKAELA COURT BALLARAT NORTH 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an additional dwelling, two lot subdivision and removal of covenant which limits the development of the site to one dwelling
    115 NORMAN STREET BALLARAT NORTH 3350Refusal issued by a delegate

  • July 2021

  • Two (2) lot subdivision and development of two (2) dwellings
    1117 ARMSTRONG STREET NORTH BALLARAT NORTH 3350In progress
  • Development of a second dwelling and a 2 lot subdivision
    321 NORMAN STREET BALLARAT NORTH 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Alterations and additions to an existing Childcare centre
    1007 ARMSTRONG STREET NORTH BALLARAT NORTH 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Extension of a childcare centre and reduction in carparking requirements
    1007-1015 ARMSTRONG STREET NORTH BALLARAT NORTH 3350Withdrawn

  • May 2021

  • Development for a dwelling
    1244 HAVELOCK STREET BALLARAT NORTH 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Development of an additional dwelling and a two lot subdivision
    327 NORMAN STREET BALLARAT NORTH 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three lot subdivision
    1005 Sherrard StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Development of a carport
    909-911 Doveton Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of three dwellings and a four lot subdivision
    1011 Lydiard Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Use of land for a food and drink premises (cafe), sale and consumption of liquor (cafe and restaurant licence) and a reduction in car parking
    Shop 4/100 Simpson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 18 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Development of a dwelling
    3 Philip AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Two lot subdivision
    1016 Ligar StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision (Re-subdivision)
    1002 Armstrong Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Development of two dwellings
    420 Walker StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two dwellings and two lot subdivision
    11 Loren ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • New driveway including crossover
    123 Moola StreetWithdrawn

  • July 2020

  • Development of a dwelling
    4 Mikaela CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Two lot subdivision
    408 Landsborough StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of two additional dwellings
    11 Aquila CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision
    5 Kinnane CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Display of business identification signage
    8/1113 Doveton Street NorthWithdrawn
  • Two lot subdivision
    1206 Havelock StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Two lot subdivision
    207 Walker StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Two lot subdivision (boundary realignment)
    327 Norman StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of land for a food and drink premises (cafe) and sale and consumption of liquor (cafe and restaurant liquor licence)
    Shop 4/100 Simpson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    9 Mikaela CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Two lot subdivision
    23 Lilley StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Use of existing building as place of worship, display of business identification signage (incl. internally illuminated signage)
    7/502 Howitt StreetPermit 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

27 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bakery
  • Bus stop
  • CDC Ballarat/Norman StBus stop
  • Club Cres/Norman StBus stop
  • Howitt St/Lydiard St NBus stop
  • Lydiard St/Landsborough StBus stop
  • Midlands Terrace Ret Village/Doveton St NBus stop
  • Norman St/Doveton St NBus stop
  • North Ballarat Sports Club/Creswick RdBus stop
  • Walker St/Lydiard St NBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

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

4 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bullock Gully ReservePark
  • Inkerman Gully ReservePark
  • Marks ReservePark
  • Midlands ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

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

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

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Neighbourhood Early Learning Centrekindergarten

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)
9
Parks (OSM)
8

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
47.2/100 — Average
State standing
Top 34% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
2109th in Australia
State rank
425th in VIC
Peer rank
#60 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#111 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime24
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime21
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime51
  • B49 Other Theftcrime70
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime41
  • Neighbourhood Early Learning Centrechildcarekindergarten
  • Bullock Gully Reservegovernmentpark
  • Inkerman Gully Reservegovernmentpark
  • Marks Reservegovernmentpark
  • Midlands Reservegovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

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.