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
#86 among Coastal & beach suburbs
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 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)
- 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
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,119
- Bellbrae Primary SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
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
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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 permit370 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 shed30 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 vegetation5 KURZMANS ROAD BELLBRAE 3228NOD issued by a delegate
- To place a sign70 School RoadWithdrawn
May 2021
- Construct an Outbuilding25 Cemetery RoadWithdrawn
- Removal of Carriageway Easement50 SCHOOL ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Withdrawn
- Four lot subdivision55 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 Dwelling1370 ANGLESEA ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 17 proposals
December 2020
- Construct a Replacement Dwelling and Shed100 Moores RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use of the land for a Winery and Sale of Liquor615 GREAT OCEAN ROAD BELLBRAE 3228In progress
November 2020
- Use and Development of a second dwelling, outbuildings, car port and verandah845 Great Ocean RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a Shed7 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 Outbuilding35 PORTREATH ROADWithdrawn
September 2020
- Proposed Telecommunication Facility, Comprising a new 35m Monopole with associated InfrastructureBELLBRAE 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 Space660 GREAT OCEAN ROAD BELLBRAE 3228Refusal issued by a delegate
August 2020
- Use Land for a Function Centre Including Alterations & Additions to an Existing Recreation Building545 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 Overlay675 GREAT OCEAN ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Construction of a shed ancillary to dwelling615 GUNDRYS ROADWithdrawn
April 2020
- Amend Permit290 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 1660 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 lots9 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 amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bellbrae ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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 overlays — State 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 features — OpenStreetMap 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 index — Suburb 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
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
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