suburb.guide

VIC · South Gippsland Council

Buffalo, 3958

Current weather

10.6°CRain showers

92% humidity · 34.8 km/h wind · 12.4° / 9.4° today · 24.7 mm rain

Desirability score

22.3/100

6273rd in Australia

70% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Buffalo is a small locality in the South Gippsland area, home to around 284 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 16 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+1500%), roughly 56.3 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, and some planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.

Population

Population
284
Median age
47
Median household income / week
$1,649
Dwelling vacancy
28.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
38 of 132
Median monthly mortgage
$1,150
Employment rate
62.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
5 / 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)
16
Against the person
8
Against property
8
Rate per 1,000 residents
56.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 36 residents
State safety percentile
52.1th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+1500%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • A211 Fv Serious Assault4
  • A212 Non-Fv Serious Assault1
  • A231 Fv Common Assault1
  • B21 Criminal Damage2
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft3

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Neals Rd/Meeniyan - Promontory Rd
  • Neals Rd/Meeniyan - Promontory Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

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).

8 planning-related records

2021· 4 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Development associated with Agriculture (Stockyard shelter)
    1030 MEENIYAN-PROMONTORY ROAD BUFFALO 3958Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works associated with the construction of an agricultural shed
    705 WHITELAWS TRACK BUFFALO 3958Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Use and development of land with a dwelling and outbuilding
    15 HALL ROAD BUFFALO 3958Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Develop land with a replacement dwelling
    55 BUFFALO-STONY CREEK ROAD BUFFALO 3958Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 4 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct an agricultural building in association with the use of the land for grazing animal production
    245 Eastaways RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Develop land with an outbuilding
    1075 Meeniyan-Promontory RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Use and development of land for a poultry (geese) farm
    90 McRae RoadNOD issued by a delegate

  • March 2020

  • Development of land for an agricultural shed
    425 Buffalo North RoadPermit 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

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

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

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)
18
Parks (OSM)
0

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
22.3/100
National rank
6273rd in Australia
State rank
1185th in VIC
Peer rank
#361 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#670 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • A211 Fv Serious Assaultcrime4
  • A212 Non-Fv Serious Assaultcrime1
  • A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime1
  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime2
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theftcrime3
  • Building and works associated with the construction of an agricultural shedplanning705 WHITELAWS TRACK BUFFALO 3958Lodged 07 Sep 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct an agricultural building in association with the use of the land for grazing animal productionplanning245 Eastaways RoadLodged 27 Nov 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a replacement dwellingplanning55 BUFFALO-STONY CREEK ROAD BUFFALO 3958Lodged 19 Feb 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an outbuildingplanning1075 Meeniyan-Promontory RoadLodged 16 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development associated with Agriculture (Stockyard shelter)planning1030 MEENIYAN-PROMONTORY ROAD BUFFALO 3958Lodged 22 Sep 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

  • Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
  • 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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