suburb.guide

VIC · Corangamite Council

Cobden, 3266

Current weather

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78% humidity · 30.9 km/h wind · 12.4° / 7.6° today · 3.3 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

40.9/100
Average

Top 48% of Victoria's suburbs

82% data confidence

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

Suburb profile

Cobden is a quieter smaller community in Corangamite, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.

Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.

Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.

The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space holding up better.

Population

Population
1,804
Median age
51
Median household income / week
$1,162
Dwelling vacancy
11.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
94 of 824
Median monthly mortgage
$1,083
Employment rate
51.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
45 / 56 / 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)
128
Against the person
30
Against property
45
Rate per 1,000 residents
71
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 60 residents
State safety percentile
62.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+4.1%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage15
  • B49 Other Theft11
  • E13 Resist Or Hinder Officer12
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order12
  • Other Crimes Against The Person11

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)
919
  • Cobden Primary SchoolPrimary
  • Cobden Technical SchoolSecondary
  • Hampden P-12 SchoolSpecial

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

5 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bond St/Camperdown-Cobden Rd
  • Bond St/Camperdown-Cobden Rd
  • Cobden Post Office/Curdie St
  • McKenzie St/Curdie St
  • McKenzie St/Curdie 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).

28 planning-related records

2021· 12 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct a verandah and display business identification signage
    50 VICTORIA STREET COBDEN 3266Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works Associated with Outdoor Recreation (Cobden Mini-Golf Storage Shed Extension)
    29 GRAYLAND STREET COBDEN 3266Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Two Lot Subdivision (Boundary Realignment)
    7-11 LORD STREET COBDEN 3266Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Five (5) Lot Subdivision and Creation of Access to a Road in Road Zone Category 1 (Curdie Street)
    67 CURDIE STREET COBDEN 3266Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Two Lot Subdivision (Excision of Dwelling)
    54 Cemetery RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Use of Land for a Camping and Caravan Park (Free Camp)
    Golf coursePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three Lot Subdivision
    43 ROBERTS ROAD COBDEN 3266Lapsed
  • Buildings and Works Associated with Office Building (Installation of Storage Container and Construction of Roof Structure)
    12 Curdie StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Buildings and Works for Construction of Outbuilding
    421 Lavers Hill-Cobden RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for a dog wash
    1236 CAMPERDOWN-COBDEN ROAD COBDEN 3266Lapsed

  • February 2021

  • Display of Business Identification Signage and Exterior Painting
    31 Curdie StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Buildings and Works Associated with Open Sports Ground (Installation of New Lighting System for Netball Courts)
    Parrott StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 16 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Use of land for Motor Repairs
    24 Mills RoadWithdrawn

  • October 2020

  • Buildings and works associated with rural industry (covered area)
    9 L Graylands RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for alterations and extension to existing dwelling
    10 Cobden-Scotts Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Buildings and works for the construction of a Store associated with Industry
    1-3 Station StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of the Land for a Dwelling and Outbuilding
    Blandford StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Erection and Display of Floodlit Double Sided Major Promotional Sign
    1232 Camperdown-Cobden RoadRefusal issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Display of Business Identification Signage
    28 Silvester StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two Lot Subdivision
    1 Stirling StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Buildings and works for construction of extension to carport
    13-15 Curdie StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Two Lot Subdivision (Boundary Realignment)
    26 Shenfield StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Three Lot Subdivision
    26 Shenfield StreetWithdrawn

  • May 2020

  • Buildings and works for the construction of a building associated with a cemetery (amenities building)
    195 Cemetery RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works for Alterations and Additions to Building
    1236 Camperdown-Cobden RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Buildings and works for the construction of a Store associated with an Outdoor Recreation Facility (Cobden Miniature Railway and Mini Golf Park)
    29 Grayland StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Use of land for group accommodation
    131 Boundary RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works for Construction of an Outbuilding
    31 N Graylands 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

7 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Cobden Post Office/Curdie StBus stop
  • Cafe
  • Cobden HotelPub
  • Cobden - Victoria StreetPublic toilets
  • Public toilets
  • BBQ shelterShelter
  • Ritchies Supa IGASupermarket

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

  • Cobden Botanic GardensPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
1
Emergency department
On site
  • Cobden Hospitalhospital

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

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)
13
Parks (OSM)
9

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
40.9/100 — Average
State standing
Top 48% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
3159th in Australia
State rank
601st in VIC
Peer rank
#78 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#217 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
82%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime15
  • B49 Other Theftcrime11
  • E13 Resist Or Hinder Officercrime12
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime12
  • Other Crimes Against The Personcrime11
  • Cobden Hospitalhealthhospital
  • Cobden Botanic Gardensgovernmentpark
  • Buildings and Works Associated with Office Building (Installation of Storage Container and Construction of Roof Structure)planning12 Curdie StreetLodged 06 Apr 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works Associated with Open Sports Ground (Installation of New Lighting System for Netball Courts)planningParrott StreetLodged 29 Jan 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works Associated with Outdoor Recreation (Cobden Mini-Golf Storage Shed Extension)planning29 GRAYLAND STREET COBDEN 3266Lodged 09 Aug 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

More in Corangamite Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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