VIC · Surf Coast Council

Bellbrae, VIC, 3228

Current weather

13.5°CLight drizzle

79% humidity · 22.8 km/h wind · 16.9° / 9.7° today · 3.2 mm rain

Desirability index

66.6/100

#86 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Bellbrae is a small locality in the Surf Coast area, home to around 1,346 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 31 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+48%), roughly 23.0 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, 6 public transport stops within the suburb, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population
1,346
Median age
52
Median household income / week
$1,556
Dwelling vacancy
17%
Unoccupied private dwellings
92 of 541
Median monthly mortgage
$2,300
Employment rate
46%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
18 / 0 / 0

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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)
31
Against the person
6
Against property
12
Rate per 1,000 residents
23
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 224 residents
State safety percentile
16.3th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+47.6%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage2
  • B49 Other Theft4
  • C32 Drug Possession7
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order3
  • Other Crimes Against The Person2

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,119
  • Bellbrae Primary SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

6 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Adiscott Rd/Great Ocean Rd
  • Adiscott Rd/Great Ocean Rd
  • Jarosite Rd/Great Ocean Rd
  • Jarosite Rd/Great Ocean Rd
  • School Rd/Great Ocean Rd

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).

28 planning-related records

2021· 11 proposals
  • August 2021

  • Removal of Native Vegetation Associated with the Construction of a Minor Utility Installation (Water Main Pipeline)
    ROAD RESERVE OF GREAT OCEAN ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • The building of a habitable shed - planning permit
    370 ELKINGTON ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Withdrawn
  • July 2021

  • Removal of Native Vegetation within a Road Reserve (Installation of an earth wire pole)
    ROAD RESERVE OF GUNDRYS ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2021

  • Construction of a shed
    30 Cunningham DriveWithdrawn
  • Use and development of the land for group accommodation, construct buildings within 100m of a Transport Zone 2 and within 100m of a dwelling not in the same ownership, create access to a road in a Transport Zone 2 and the removal of native vegetation
    5 KURZMANS ROAD BELLBRAE 3228NOD issued by a delegate
  • To place a sign
    70 School RoadWithdrawn
  • May 2021

  • Construct an Outbuilding
    25 Cemetery RoadWithdrawn
  • Removal of Carriageway Easement
    50 SCHOOL ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Withdrawn
  • Four lot subdivision
    55 SCHOOL ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • March 2021

  • Use of the land for a Children's Disability Services and Support Centre and alteration of an access to a road in Road Zone Category 1.
    TARA, 435 GREAT OCEAN ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2021

  • Use and Development of a Dwelling and Outbuildings and Decommissioning of the Existing Dwelling
    1370 ANGLESEA ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 17 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Construct a Replacement Dwelling and Shed
    100 Moores RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of the land for a Winery and Sale of Liquor
    615 GREAT OCEAN ROAD BELLBRAE 3228In progress
  • November 2020

  • Use and Development of a second dwelling, outbuildings, car port and verandah
    845 Great Ocean RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a Shed
    7 WOOD ROADWithdrawn
  • Amend the Permit Preamble to Allow for the sale and consumption of liquor and inclusion of the land use term restaurant Delete Condition 2, Amend Conditions 17 and 24, and add new conditions
    (FORMERLY KNOWN AS 15 ELKINGTON ROAD BELLBRAE), 1200 GREAT OCEAN ROAD BELLBRAE 3228NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Construct a Replacement Garage and Construct an Outbuilding
    35 PORTREATH ROADWithdrawn
  • September 2020

  • Proposed Telecommunication Facility, Comprising a new 35m Monopole with associated Infrastructure
    BELLBRAE CEMETERY, 65 SCHOOL ROADLapsed
  • Use and Development of land for a Host Farm, Construct Buildings and Works within 50 metres of a road in Road Zone Category 1 and Removal of Native Vegetation to provide Defendable Space
    660 GREAT OCEAN ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Refusal issued by a delegate
  • August 2020

  • Use Land for a Function Centre Including Alterations & Additions to an Existing Recreation Building
    545 GREAT OCEAN ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • July 2020

  • Construction of Non-Habitable Outbuilding Associated with an Existing Dwelling in the Bushfire Management Overlay
    675 GREAT OCEAN ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • June 2020

  • Construction of a shed ancillary to dwelling
    615 GUNDRYS ROADWithdrawn
  • April 2020

  • Amend Permit
    290 GUNDRYS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • February 2020

  • Alterations and Additions to an existing Dwelling located within 50 metres of a road in Road Zone Category 1
    660 GREAT OCEAN ROADWithdrawn
  • To change the timing of all conditions related to 'Landscaping" under condition 9 so as not to delay the release of the endorsed plans. To change the wording condition 13 to remove the word 'foundation' so the development can commence prior to the approval of a septic permit.
    520 GREAT OCEAN ROADPermit issued by the RA
  • Change of Use to Industry (Motor Vehicle Repairs)
    460 GROSSMANS ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Refusal issued by a delegate
  • January 2020

  • Subdivision of land into three lots
    9 WOOD ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Change of Use to Industry (Caravan Repairs)
    460 GROSSMANS ROADRefusal issued by a delegate

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 amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bellbrae ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

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

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

Data sources & freshness

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
15
Parks (OSM)
4

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

Data sources & freshness

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

Desirability index

Desirability score
66.6/100
Cohort rank
#86 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Bellbrae Reservegovernmentpark
  • Alterations and Additions to an existing Dwelling located within 50 metres of a road in Road Zone Category 1planning660 GREAT OCEAN ROADLodged 27 Feb 2020 · Withdrawn
  • Amend Permitplanning290 GUNDRYS ROADLodged 08 Apr 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amend the Permit Preamble to Allow for the sale and consumption of liquor and inclusion of the land use term restaurant Delete Condition 2, Amend Conditions 17 and 24, and add new conditionsplanning(FORMERLY KNOWN AS 15 ELKINGTON ROAD BELLBRAE), 1200 GREAT OCEAN ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Lodged 11 Nov 2020 · NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Change of Use to Industry (Caravan Repairs)planning460 GROSSMANS ROADLodged 06 Jan 2020 · Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Change of Use to Industry (Motor Vehicle Repairs)planning460 GROSSMANS ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Lodged 03 Feb 2020 · Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Construct a Replacement Dwelling and Shedplanning100 Moores RoadLodged 23 Dec 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct a Replacement Garage and Construct an Outbuildingplanning35 PORTREATH ROADLodged 05 Nov 2020 · Withdrawn
  • Construct an Outbuildingplanning25 Cemetery RoadLodged 21 May 2021 · Withdrawn
  • Construction of Non-Habitable Outbuilding Associated with an Existing Dwelling in the Bushfire Management Overlayplanning675 GREAT OCEAN ROADLodged 17 Jul 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

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