suburb.guide

VIC · Yarra Ranges Council

Ferny Creek, 3786

Current weather

9.9°CDense drizzle

96% humidity · 23.8 km/h wind · 11.2° / 8.9° today · 9.5 mm rain

Desirability score

33.5/100

4466th in Australia

78% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Ferny Creek is a small locality in the Yarra Ranges area, home to around 1,524 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 67 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+68%), roughly 44.0 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, 10 public transport stops within the suburb, fewer mapped amenities than nearby suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population
1,524
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$2,393
Dwelling vacancy
7.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
42 of 578
Median monthly mortgage
$2,167
Employment rate
64.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
30 / 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)
67
Against the person
3
Against property
17
Rate per 1,000 residents
44
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 508 residents
State safety percentile
40.9th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+67.5%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage2
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle5
  • C32 Drug Possession3
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order43

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,111
  • Ferny Creek Primary SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

10 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Fernbrook Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
  • Mast Gully Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
  • Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd/Old Main Rd
  • Seaview Ave/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
  • Sherbrooke Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist 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).

28 planning-related records

2021· 15 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Buildings and works to extend existing dwelling
    38 HILTON ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Building and works to extend an existing dwelling and construct an outbuilding and a carport
    4 OLD MAIN ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to extend/alter existing dwelling
    14 SEABREEZE AVENUE FERNY CREEK 3786Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Buildings and works to an outbuilding (carport)
    25 ONE TREE HILL ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Withdrawn
  • Buildings and works to alter and extend an existing dwelling
    46 HILTON ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Lapsed

  • April 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    2 WEBBS ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Lapsed

  • March 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    1 WOODS LANE FERNY CREEK 3786Withdrawn
  • Building and works to extend an existing dwelling and construct an outbuilding
    4 Old Main RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct a deck, outbuilding, retaining wall, fence and domestic swimming pool, carry out earthworks greater than 600mm, and removal of vegetation
    183 MT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling and vegetation removal
    10 MACNAMARA STREET FERNY CREEK 3786Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    42 One Tree Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling
    4 Old Main RoadWithdrawn
  • Buildings and works to extend existing dwelling
    2 BELGRAVE-FERNY CREEK ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling and retaining wall greater than 1 metre
    24 Hilton RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct a boundary fence
    55 Hilton RoadNOD issued by a delegate
2020· 13 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Buildings and works to alter and extend existing dwelling, vegetation removal, and reduction of car parking spaces
    24 BELGRAVE-FERNY CREEK ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Withdrawn

  • September 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    29 Belgrave-Ferny Creek RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling
    48 HILTON ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    6A Breen TerracePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct a studio
    6 Clarke RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Use and Development of a dwelling, construction of an outbuilding, retaining walls, and swimming pool, earthworks greater than 1 metre, vegetation removal and variation of an easement.
    164 MT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    24 Breen TerracePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Use and development of a dependent persons unit
    3 Jacka StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a dependent persons unit and associated tree pruning
    17 One Tree Hill RoadLapsed

  • April 2020

  • Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling
    14 Seaview AvenueNOD issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    211 Mt Dandenong Tourist RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Building and works to construct an outbuilding and removal of one tree
    37 One Tree Hill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    6A Breen TerracePermit 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

14 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bench
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Bicycle Repair Station
  • Fernbrook Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist RdBus stop
  • Hilton Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist RdBus stop
  • Kallamondah Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist RdBus stop
  • Mast Gully Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist RdBus stop
  • Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd/Old Main RdBus stop
  • Seaview Avenue/Mount Dandenong Tourist RoadBus stop
  • Sherbrooke Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist 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

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Dunns HillPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
10/10
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
Overlay applies

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)
5
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
33.5/100
National rank
4466th in Australia
State rank
882nd in VIC
Peer rank
#35 among Metro Melbourne · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#369 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime2
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime2
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime5
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime3
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime43
  • Dunns Hillgovernmentpark
  • Building and works to construct an outbuilding and removal of one treeplanning37 One Tree Hill RoadLodged 16 Mar 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works to extend an existing dwelling and construct an outbuildingplanning4 Old Main RoadLodged 11 Mar 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works to extend an existing dwelling and construct an outbuilding and a carportplanning4 OLD MAIN ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Lodged 24 Aug 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to alter and extend an existing dwellingplanning46 HILTON ROAD FERNY CREEK 3786Lodged 19 Jul 2021 · Lapsed

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.