suburb.guide

VIC · Loddon Council

Bridgewater, 3516

Current weather

10.4°CLight drizzle

92% humidity · 26.9 km/h wind · 13.1° / 8.4° today · 5.9 mm rain

Updated

  • Green suburb
  • Café precinct
  • Education hub
What Bridgewater is known for: Green suburb, Café precinct, Education hub

Suburb profile

Set among the hills of Loddon, Bridgewater is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Ridge-top pockets and tree cover give the area a cooler, greener hillside feel.

A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.

Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.

Population

Population
133
Median age
49
Median household income / week
$1,771
Dwelling vacancy
21.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
15 of 70
Median monthly mortgage
$1,350
Employment rate
62.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
3 / 0 / 0

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)
19
Against the person
1
Against property
9
Rate per 1,000 residents
142.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 133 residents
State safety percentile
84.5th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+35.7%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
  • B49 Other Theft4
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception2
  • C32 Drug Possession2
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order5

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

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).

15 planning-related records

2021· 7 proposals

  • July 2021

  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling
    11 PARK STREET BRIDGEWATER 3516Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling in the LSIO
    13 PARK STREET BRIDGEWATER 3516Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Buildings and works with a total area of more than 130 metres squared
    LOT 2 BRIDGEWATER-MALDON ROAD BRIDGEWATER 3516Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Woks for the installation of a Minor Utility (water pipeline) within the PCRZ
    3610 Bridgewater-Dunolly RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works with a total area of more than 130 metres squared
    1684 Yorkshire RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Buildings and works (carport) heritage overlay
    38 Camp StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • 2 Lot Subdivision
    10-16 Camp StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 8 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Proposed amendments is for the inclusion of an Office and Staff Room.
    Calder HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • 15 Lot Staged Subdivision
    CEMETERY ROAD BRIDGEWATER 3516Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • 2-lot subdivision
    Lot 1 Bridgewater-Dunolly RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Use and development of the land for a store (shipping container)
    38 Camp StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Buildings and works in an LSIO and HO
    11 Main StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • The use and development of land for a dwelling, development of the site for an aircraft hangar, use of land for industry (aircraft maintenance - very small ultralights and rotorcraft, up to and including turbine commuter aircraft) and creation of access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1
    Sky Diving Club, 58 Fantasy RoadNOD issued by the Resp. Authority

  • March 2020

  • Buildings and works with a floor area of more than 130 metres squared within an LSIO
    3620 Bridgewater-Dunolly RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Use and development of a farm shed in an LSIO
    38 Avondale LanePermit 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

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Old Chinese Market GardensPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

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

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)
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 · Weekly refresh

Recent changes

  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime2
  • B49 Other Theftcrime4
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deceptioncrime2
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime2
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime5
  • Old Chinese Market Gardensgovernmentpark
  • 15 Lot Staged SubdivisionplanningCEMETERY ROAD BRIDGEWATER 3516Lodged 13 Nov 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 2 Lot Subdivisionplanning10-16 Camp StreetLodged 16 Feb 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 2-lot subdivisionplanningLot 1 Bridgewater-Dunolly RoadLodged 29 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works (carport) heritage overlayplanning38 Camp StreetLodged 12 Mar 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

More in Loddon Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.