suburb.guide

VIC · Warrnambool Council

Bushfield, 3281

Current weather

10.9°CMainly clear

79% humidity · 38.5 km/h wind · 13.5° / 9.4° today · 2.3 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

38.8/100
Below average

673rd in VIC

62% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Rural
  • Established
  • Residential
  • Amenities
  • Open space
What Bushfield is known for: Rural, Established, Residential, Amenities, Open space

Suburb profile

Bushfield offers a slower smaller community life in Warrnambool, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.

Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.

A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and parks and green space lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
596
Median age
43
Median household income / week
$2,125
Dwelling vacancy
4.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
9 of 202
Median monthly mortgage
$1,625
Employment rate
69.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
19 / 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
4
Against property
1
Rate per 1,000 residents
31.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 149 residents
State safety percentile
26.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+90%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault2
  • A712 Non-Fv Stalking1
  • C32 Drug Possession7
  • D11 Firearms Offences2
  • D12 Prohibited And Controlled Weapons Offences2

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).

14 planning-related records

2021· 5 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Construct an outbuilding
    50 BRIDGE RD BUSHFIELD 3281Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Construct an outbuilding (associated with a dwelling)
    23 McKenzies RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Amended wording to condition 1 and revised design of garage
    61 Bellmans RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Extension to existing shed
    61 BELLMANS RD BUSHFIELD 3281In progress

  • February 2021

  • Extension to a dwelling and construction of an outbuilding
    98 Bridge RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 9 proposals

  • November 2020

  • Multi- lot subdivision in stages creation of roads and reserves
    119 BRIDGE RD BUSHFIELD 3281Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Construction of a garage
    94 Bridge RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Construction of a barn
    2 Rodger PlPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a shed
    91 Rodger PlPermit issued by the RA

  • July 2020

  • Amended wording of condition 2
    12 McKenzies RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Construction of an outbuilding
    12 McKenzies RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Construction of an outbuilding (shed)
    39 Quinns RdPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Use & Development of land for a Telecommunications Facility (4G & 5G), and creation of an access to a Transport Zone 2
    63 MCKENZIES RD BUSHFIELD 3281Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority

  • January 2020

  • Building and works to construct an outbuilding
    60 Forresters 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

1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Public toilets

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 · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bushfield Recreation ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
8/10
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

Desirability Index

Desirability score
38.8/100 — Below average
National rank
3546th in Australia
State rank
673rd in VIC
Peer rank
#139 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#265 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
62%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime2
  • A712 Non-Fv Stalkingcrime1
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime7
  • D11 Firearms Offencescrime2
  • D12 Prohibited And Controlled Weapons Offencescrime2
  • Bushfield Recreation Reservegovernmentpark
  • Amended wording of condition 2planning12 McKenzies RdLodged 14 Jul 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amended wording to condition 1 and revised design of garageplanning61 Bellmans RdLodged 19 Mar 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works to construct an outbuildingplanning60 Forresters RoadLodged 28 Jan 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct an outbuildingplanning50 BRIDGE RD BUSHFIELD 3281Lodged 17 Aug 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

More in Warrnambool Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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