VIC · Greater Geelong Council

Breakwater, 3219

Current weather

10°CMainly clear

84% humidity · 24.7 km/h wind · 13.6° / 9.5° today · 9.7 mm rain

Desirability score

28/100

5520th in Australia

70% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Last updated 2 July 2026 at 6:15 pm AEST

Suburb snapshot

Breakwater is a small locality in the Greater Geelong area, home to around 1,060 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 234 offences in 2026 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-4%), roughly 220.8 offences per 1,000 residents, 14 public transport stops within the suburb, a reasonable spread of amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.

Population

Population: 1,060
Median age: 40
Median household income / week: $1,077
Dwelling vacancy: 7%
Unoccupied private dwellings: 34 of 486
Median monthly mortgage: $1,213
Employment rate: 49.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats): 59 / 40 / 64

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 1 July 2026 at 5:05 pm AEST · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Total offences (2026): 234
Against the person: 34
Against property: 89
Rate per 1,000 residents: 220.8
Person-crime prevalence: About 1 in 31 residents
State safety percentile: 91.9th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate): -4.1%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle19
B45 Receiving Or Handling Stolen Goods13
C32 Drug Possession31
D11 Firearms Offences23
E21 Breach Family Violence Order25

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:14 pm AEST · Year ending March release

Public transport

14 public transport stops in this suburb

47 Tucker St
Boundary Rd/Leather St
Dyson Ct/Leather St
Reeves Ct/Leather St
Tanner St/Leather St

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:20 pm AEST · 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).

35 planning-related records

2021· 13 proposals

September 2021
Removal of Native Vegetation10 Sep 2021
140 TANNER STREET BREAKWATER 3219Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
Construction of a Shed30 Aug 2021
44 FELLMONGERS ROAD BREAKWATER 3219Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
Construction of Two (2) Additional Dwellings and a Three (3) Lot Subdivision15 Jul 2021
6 COSGROVE STREET BREAKWATER 3219Withdrawn
Change of Use to Motor Car Sales06 Jul 2021
17/28 INDUSTRIAL PLACE BREAKWATER 3219Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
Multi Lot Subdivision (18 Lots) and Creation of Access to a Transport Zone (Category 2)10 Jun 2021
66-70 TUCKER STREET BREAKWATER 3219In progress
Buildings & Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Industrial Building and Reduction of Carparking Requirements04 Jun 2021
22-23 Industrial PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Construction of a Shed19 May 2021
46-48 Fellmongers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use of Land for Motor Vehicle Sales19 May 2021
5/21 Leather StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of an Amenities Building15 Apr 2021
41-45 Leather StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
Removal of Native Vegetation22 Mar 2021
140 Tanner StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of Hardstanding, Fence and Shipping Container17 Mar 2021
96-150 Breakwater RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
Construction of Eight (8) Dwellings, Eight (8) Lot Subdivision and Alter and Create Access to a Road in a Transport Zone 226 Feb 2021
52 TUCKER STREET BREAKWATER 3219NOD issued by a delegate
Construction of a Storage Shed and new Freezer room08 Feb 2021
2 Dyson CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

2020· 22 proposals

December 2020
Construction of a Carport on an Existing Warehouse Site29 Dec 2020
298 Boundary RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and Development of the Land for a Take Away Food Premise and Display of Business Identification Signage and Promotion Signage11 Dec 2020
96-150 Breakwater RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Carport02 Dec 2020
298 Boundary RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
Four (4) Lot Subdivision09 Nov 2020
16-18 Apparel ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of an Amenities Building27 Oct 2020
41-45 Leather StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of Three (3) Warehouses and a Reduction in Car Parking01 Sep 2020
14 Kadak PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
Use and Development of Forty-One (41) Stores (Personal Storage Units), Forty-One (41) Lot Subdivision, Reduction of Car Parking and Demolition of a Front Fence28 Aug 2020
106 Tanner StreetNOD issued by a delegate
Buildings and Works Associated with Additions to a Warehouse27 Aug 2020
4 Reeves CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of Two (2) Additional Dwellings and a Three (3) Lot Subdivision27 Aug 2020
6 Cosgrove StreetNOD issued by a delegate
Use of the land for a Restricted Recreation Facility (Group Fitness Training)17 Aug 2020
3/30 Leather StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
Two Lot Subdivision08 Jul 2020
42B Leather StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
Multi-lot Subdivision and Removal of Easement E-2 from Crown Allotment 19B Section 6A City of Greater Geelong Parish of Corio26 Jun 2020
5 Haworth CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Partial Demolition of Front Fence and Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Shed and Driveway10 Jun 2020
108-110 Tanner StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
Building and Works to Construct Stables and Other Works in Association with an Existing Racecourse Including the Existing Stables11 May 2020
99 Breakwater RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
Construction of Two (2) Dwellings, Two (2) Lot Subdivision and Alteration of Access to a Road Zone Category 128 Apr 2020
15 Fellmongers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Warehouse06 Apr 2020
14 Leather StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
Buildings and Works Associated with a Car Park in a Special Use Zone (SUZ)20 Mar 2020
96-150 Breakwater RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
Buildings and Works in Association with the Construction of an Open-sided Shelter28 Feb 2020
9-10 Reeves CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Seventeen (17) Lot Subdivision03 Feb 2020
28-31 Industrial PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
Removal of Native Vegetation31 Jan 2020
13 Perry CloseWithdrawn
Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Warehouse24 Jan 2020
14 Leather StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of Warehouses Including Storage Facilities, Business Identification Signage and a Reduction in the Statutory Car Parking Requirements21 Jan 2020
3 Dyson CourtPermit 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 1 July 2026 at 5:31 pm AEST · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

17 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Bench
Bus stop (8)
Reeves CourtBus stop
The Showman's Bar and CafeCafe
Grovedale KitchensKitchen
Public toilets
Sanitary Dump Station
Shelter (2)
Oz TrampolinesTrade
Unit 3 21 Leather Street

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 1 July 2026 at 5:15 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021): 1/10
IRSD decile (2021): 1/10

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

SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:05 pm AEST · 2021 SEIFA release

Heritage

2 state heritage places

OVOID SEWER AQUEDUCT OVER BARWON RIVERNH0895
SUNNYSIDE WOOL SCOURNH1146

Data sources & freshness

State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:33 pm AEST

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 1 July 2026 at 6:14 pm AEST

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM): 1
Parks (OSM): 1

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 1 July 2026 at 5:16 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score: 28.0/100
National rank: 5520th in Australia
State rank: 1080th in VIC
Peer rank: #199 among Metro Melbourne · Established suburbs
Cohort rank: #384 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Data confidence: 70%

Data sources & freshness

Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 6:10 pm AEST · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime19
B45 Receiving Or Handling Stolen Goodscrime13
C32 Drug Possessioncrime31
D11 Firearms Offencescrime23
E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime25
OVOID SEWER AQUEDUCT OVER BARWON RIVERheritageNH0895
SUNNYSIDE WOOL SCOURheritageNH1146
Building and Works to Construct Stables and Other Works in Association with an Existing Racecourse Including the Existing Stablesplanning99 Breakwater RoadLodged 11 May 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings & Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Industrial Building and Reduction of Carparking Requirementsplanning22-23 Industrial PlaceLodged 04 Jun 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works Associated with Additions to a Warehouseplanning4 Reeves CourtLodged 27 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:13 pm AEST · Year ending March release
State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:33 pm AEST
PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:31 pm AEST · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.