suburb.guide

VIC · Glenelg Council

Casterton, 3311

Current weather

8.4°COvercast

83% humidity · 23 km/h wind · 12.4° / 6.3° today · 9 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

31/100
Below average

946th in VIC

89% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Affordable
  • Rural
  • Green space
  • Schools
  • Established
What Casterton is known for: Affordable, Rural, Green space, Schools, Established

Suburb profile

Casterton offers a slower smaller community life in Glenelg, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Set in the wider countryside, it offers distance from the capital and a strong sense of place. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.

An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.

Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.

The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
1,673
Median age
58
Median household income / week
$881
Dwelling vacancy
15.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
139 of 900
Median monthly mortgage
$700
Employment rate
42.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
49 / 0 / 36

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)
109
Against the person
20
Against property
39
Rate per 1,000 residents
65.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 84 residents
State safety percentile
58th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-9.2%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B43 Steal From A Retail Store9
  • B49 Other Theft6
  • C32 Drug Possession9
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order15
  • Other Crimes Against The Person8

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
969
  • Casterton Primary SchoolPrimary
  • Casterton Secondary CollegeSecondary
  • Sacred Heart SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

4 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Casterton Memorial Hospital/Russell St
  • Casterton Memorial Hospital/Russell St
  • Wathen St/Henty St
  • Wathen St/Henty St

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).

23 planning-related records

2021· 13 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Building and Works to Construct a Canopy
    TRANSPORT DEPOT, 29 RHODES STREET CASTERTON 3311Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Two lot re-subdivision
    26 MT GAMBIER ROAD & 12A MT GAMBIER ROAD CASTERTON 3311Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Buildings and works in a heritage overlay
    HAIRWIZE, 95 HENTY STREET CASTERTON 3311Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Building and Works to Construct a Shed
    Rhodes StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • External Painting in a Heritage Overlay
    Casterton News, 76 Henty StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and Works to Construct a Shed
    Rhodes StreetWithdrawn
  • AMENDMENT: Business Identification Signage - Logo and Screen Picture (residential aged care facility)
    Edgarley Home, 79-87 Jackson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Buildings and works in a heritage overlay including reinstating lacework and painting facade
    73 Henty StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Signage to Existing Shed
    Casterton Pastoral & Agricultural Society Inc, Murray StreetWithdrawn
  • Buildings and works for external painting and alterations in a heritage overlay
    116-118 Henty StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • External painting and signage in a heritage overlay
    104 Henty StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Variation of Red Line Plan to Include Outdoor Dining Areas
    Glenelg Inn, 2-10 Henty StreetWithdrawn
  • Exterior painting in a heritage overlay
    Glenelg Inn, 2-10 Henty StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 10 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Building and Works to Construct a Shed
    Racecourse, 183 Racecourse RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Building and Works to Construct a Shed
    5850 Glenelg HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works in heritage overlay
    144 Henty StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Building and Works to Construct a warehouse/shed and water tank
    Plumbing Shed, 4-10 McPherson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and Works to Construct an Extension to a Dwelling
    94 Old Mt Gambier RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Building and Works to Construct Two (2) Verandahs
    Casterton Bowling Club, 2 Murray StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Use and Development for an Office
    45 McPherson StreetWithdrawn

  • March 2020

  • SECONDARY CONSENT: Building and Works to Construct a Shed
    Rhodes StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • SECONDARY CONSENT: Buildings and works - residential aged care facility
    Edgarley Home, 79-87 Jackson StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct decking
    15 McKinlay 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

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

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Goodman ParkPark
  • Island Park ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
1
Emergency department
On site
  • Casterton Memorial HospitalRussell Streethospital

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
2/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

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

  • CASTERTON RAILWAY STATIONNH1663
  • STOCK SELLING RINGNH0314

Data sources & freshness

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

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Casterton KindergartenJackson Streetkindergarten

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)
3
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
31.0/100 — Below average
National rank
5043rd in Australia
State rank
946th in VIC
Peer rank
#230 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#479 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
89%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • B43 Steal From A Retail Storecrime9
  • B49 Other Theftcrime6
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime9
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime15
  • Other Crimes Against The Personcrime8
  • Casterton KindergartenchildcareJackson Streetkindergarten
  • CASTERTON RAILWAY STATIONheritageNH1663
  • STOCK SELLING RINGheritageNH0314
  • Casterton Memorial HospitalhealthRussell Streethospital
  • Goodman Parkgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

More in Glenelg Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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