suburb.guide

VIC · Greater Bendigo Council

California Gully, VIC, 3556

Current weather

11.5°CRain showers

95% humidity · 21.4 km/h wind · 14.4° / 9.1° today · 17.9 mm rain

Desirability score

42/100

2876th in Australia

85% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

California Gully is a smaller suburban community in the Greater Bendigo area, home to around 4,476 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 580 offences in 2026 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+3%), roughly 129.6 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many Public Transport Victoria stops, a reasonable spread of amenities, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population
4,476
Median age
39
Median household income / week
$1,054
Dwelling vacancy
5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
94 of 1,870
Median monthly mortgage
$1,200
Employment rate
48.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
156 / 63 / 15

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)
580
Against the person
170
Against property
149
Rate per 1,000 residents
129.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 26 residents
State safety percentile
82.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+2.8%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage52
  • C32 Drug Possession32
  • D12 Prohibited And Controlled Weapons Offences43
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order123
  • Other Crimes Against The Person78

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
913
  • California Gully Primary SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

24 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bendigo-Eaglehawk Rd/Eaglehawk Rd
  • Sandhurst Rd/Eaglehawk Rd
  • Speedy St/Eaglehawk Rd
  • Thorpe St/Eaglehawk Rd
  • Weatherall St/Eaglehawk Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

1 active roadworks / incidents

  • Council Works activities occurring between 12/06/2026 and 29/01/2027 during the following times: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 6 to 10 min.SANDHURST ROAD, EAGLEHAWK ROAD11 Jun 2026 – 28 Jan 2027

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

43 planning-related records

2021· 22 proposals

  • August 2021

  • 2 lot subdivision
    12 PARKER STREET CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of an outbuilding
    13 EVANS STREET CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of a second dwelling on the land and 2 Lot Subdivision
    48 NELSON STREET CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivide land into 3 lots, demolish outbuilding and alter access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1
    352 EAGLEHAWK ROAD CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of existing hall for dancing studio, including a display sign and parking to the satisfaction of the responsible authority (amended conditions of permit- increase number of patrons and increased hours of operation)
    107 UPPER CALIFORNIA GULLY ROAD CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556NOD issued by a delegate
  • Installation of a weighbridge
    41 TURNER STREET CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Development of the land for a dwelling
    173 UPPER CALIFORNIA GULLY ROAD CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Construction of 2 dwellings on a lot and 2 lot subdivision (amended permit and plans for design changes)
    3 Meggs CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 2 lot subdivision
    12 Brown StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 3 lot subdivision of land
    15 Llewellyn CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Development of a Second Dwelling on a Lot and 2 Lot Subdivision
    48 Nelson StreetLapsed
  • Construction of a dwelling
    70A Averys RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Demolition of existing house and construction of dwelling
    10 Vinton StreetNo permit required
  • Construction of Dependent Persons Unit
    1 Whitfield CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Part demolition and external alterations to an existing dwelling.
    270 Eaglehawk RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of existing hall for dancing studio, including a display sign and parking to the satisfaction of the responsible authority
    107 Upper California Gully RoadNOD issued by a delegate

  • February 2021

  • Buildings and works for the extension of an undercover truck area to the rear of the existing warehouse
    84-90 Wood StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a dwelling
    18A Staley StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for self storage buildings
    14 Stafford StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Construction of a dwelling
    9 Westwood DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of 3 dwellings
    15 Llewellyn CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a dwelling
    70B Averys RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 18 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Use of land for a restricted retail, display signage and reduction in car parking (retrospective)
    8 Stafford StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • 6 lot subdivision and creation of easement, construction of 6 dwellings and removal of vegetation
    347 EAGLEHAWK ROAD CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556NOD issued by a delegate
  • Construction of two dwellings
    4 Meggs CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Construction of 14 dwellings and waiver of visitor parking requirements
    25 ALLIANCE AVENUE CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Construction of 3 dwellings on a lot and 4 lot subdivision (Amended plans to allow for design change)
    31 Dowding StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Construction of dependant persons unit
    6 Meggs CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 2 lot subdivision
    8 Arblaster StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Construction of 30 dwellings and subdivision of the land into 30 lots
    17-35 Poplar StreetWithdrawn
  • Extension to existing warehouse and the creation and alteration of access to a road zone category 1 (Amended plans to allow for design changes - relocation of parking and addition of 3 windows
    42 Sandhurst RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for the purpose of restricted recreation facility (to run private swimming and water safety classes) (Amended permit to allow for an increase in the hours of operation)
    76B Wood StreetWithdrawn

  • June 2020

  • Use and development of a store on the land
    80 Wood StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • 2 lot subdivision
    50 Nelson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Replace roof on existing dwelling
    270 Eaglehawk RoadNo permit required

  • April 2020

  • Two lot subdivision. (Amended plans to change allotment configurations)
    18 Pearce StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of 5 dwellings, associated outbuildings, and alteration to vehicle crossover
    37 BARRELL STREET CALIFORNIA GULLY 3556Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Construction of a dependent persons unit. Amended plans to allow for design change
    33 Gill AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Use of land for industry (storage and servicing of trucks and equipment) and reduction of car parking
    84-90 Wood StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into six lots; construction of five dwellings; removal of easement E2 on LP131693; and creation of easements
    42 Nelson StreetPermit 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

25 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Highgrove BathroomsBathroom Furnishing

    320A Eaglehawk Road, California Gully

  • Bench
  • Bendigo-Eaglehawk Rd/Eaglehawk RdBus stop
  • Bright St/Nelson StBus stop
  • Dowding St/Sandhurst RdBus stop
  • Green St/Nelson StBus stop
  • Margaret Ct/Bright StBus stop
  • Mathrick St/Nelson StBus stop
  • McGowan St/Sandhurst RdBus stop
  • Nelson St/Eaglehawk RdBus stop

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

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bright Street ParkPark
  • Truscott ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

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

Heritage

2 state heritage places

  • CALIFORNIA GULLY PRIMARY SCHOOLNH1623
  • FORMER METHODIST CHURCHNH0692

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Neangar KindergartenWatson Avenuekindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site

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)
8
Parks (OSM)
3

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
42.0/100
National rank
2876th in Australia
State rank
568th in VIC
Peer rank
#107 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#198 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime52
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime32
  • D12 Prohibited And Controlled Weapons Offencescrime43
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime123
  • Other Crimes Against The Personcrime78
  • Neangar KindergartenchildcareWatson Avenuekindergarten
  • CALIFORNIA GULLY PRIMARY SCHOOLheritageNH1623
  • FORMER METHODIST CHURCHheritageNH0692
  • Bright Street Parkgovernmentpark
  • Truscott Reservegovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
  • Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
  • Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site

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