suburb.guide

VIC · South Gippsland Council

Foster, 3960

Current weather

9.8°CThunderstorm

95% humidity · 31.2 km/h wind · 11.7° / 8.5° today · 22.6 mm rain

Desirability score

34.1/100

4346th in Australia

89% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Foster is a smaller suburban community in the South Gippsland area, home to around 2,044 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 265 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+39%), roughly 129.6 offences per 1,000 residents, 3 school and preschool sites in the area, limited but present public transport access, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
2,044
Median age
59
Median household income / week
$975
Dwelling vacancy
12.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
126 of 1,018
Median monthly mortgage
$1,348
Employment rate
41.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
62 / 30 / 61

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)
265
Against the person
26
Against property
198
Rate per 1,000 residents
129.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 79 residents
State safety percentile
82.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+38.7%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage14
  • B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary9
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle14
  • B49 Other Theft136
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order29

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)
985
  • Corner Inlet CollegeSecondary
  • Foster Primary SchoolPrimary
  • Foster Secondary CollegeSecondary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

1 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Pulhams Store/Main 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).

50 planning-related records

2021· 18 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Development associated with existing dwelling
    15 ALBERT COURT FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) lot subdivision
    15 JACKSONS ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and works associated with development of land with a dwelling
    13 YELLOW BRICK ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development associated with an existing dwelling (extension)
    25 ARNUPS ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Develop land with a dwelling
    18 VARNEY ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a replacement dwelling
    50 LOWER FRANKLIN ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with two (2) dwellings associated with existing retirement village
    UNIT 1-39 LINTON COURT FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of the land for an outbuilding ancillary to an existing dwelling and retrospective approval of an existing ancillary outbuilding (games room)
    3640 SOUTH GIPPSLAND HIGHWAY FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a dwelling and outbuilding
    440 AMEYS TRACK FOSTER 3960Withdrawn

  • June 2021

  • Use and development of land building associated with Industry
    21 TOORA ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with two additional storage buildings
    50 LOWER FRANKLIN ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling
    15 Yellow Brick RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a domestic outbuilding
    445 Fullers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) lot subdivision
    57 PIONEER STREET FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding and a domestic outbuilding
    115 BOOLARRA-FOSTER ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • 61 lot subdivision
    50 O'CONNELL ROAD FOSTER 3960Refusal issued by a delegate

  • March 2021

  • Two lot subdivision - Amend current conditions of the permit
    105 Harmon RoadNOD issued by a delegate
  • Development associated with Agriculture (Hay Shed)
    330 Foster-Promontory RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 22 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Develop land with a domestic carport
    535 Gardiners RoadPermit issued by the RA

  • November 2020

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    365 Ameys TrackPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a domestic outbuilding
    140 Lower Franklin RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of the land for a Medical Centre (osteo), buildings and works and reduction in car parking requirement
    86 Main StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a dwelling
    22 Varney RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision. Develop land with a dwelling.
    10 OLD HAT ROAD FOSTER 3960Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    4225 South Gippsland HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Develop land with a domestic outbuilding
    277 Fullers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a dwelling
    21 Blackwood DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an outbuilding
    75 Landing RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with three (3) dwellings associated with existing retirement village
    Unit 1-36 Linton CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a replacement dwelling and outbuilding
    335 Gardiners RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with two dwellings. Two lot subdivision.
    40 Station RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling
    110 Lower Franklin RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Two lot subdivision. Creation of a carriageway easement. Remove vegetation.
    15 Powells RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and develop land for a dwelling, rural industry (cider manufacture), manufacturing sales (cellar door), licensed premises, access to a road zone and business identification signage - Use of land for Function Centre, extension of building, extension of operating hours and licensed area - amend endorsed plans to include an underground cellar
    343 Fish Creek-Foster RoadNOD issued by a delegate
  • Develop land with an extension to the existing dwelling
    515 Fullers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop land with a dwelling
    2 Oberon VistaPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding
    630 Foster-Promontory RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Four (4) lot subdivision
    60 HARMON ROAD FOSTER 3960NOD issued by a delegate
  • Develop land with a dwelling
    4 Heath RisePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two (2) lot subdivision (boundary realignment)
    3992 SOUTH GIPPSLAND HIGHWAY FOSTER 3960Permit 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

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bonnie Brae Streamside ReserveNature reserve
  • Hoddle Range Flora ReserveNature reserve
  • Wonga Wonga South Bushland ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
3
Emergency department
On site
  • Foster PharmacyStation Roadpharmacy
  • South Gippsland HospitalStation Roadhospital
  • Southern Smiles DentalMain Streetdentist

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

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

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • childcarechildcare

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)
25
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
34.1/100
National rank
4346th in Australia
State rank
865th in VIC
Peer rank
#53 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#93 among Coastal & beach 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

  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime14
  • B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime9
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime14
  • B49 Other Theftcrime136
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime29
  • childcarechildcarechildcare
  • Foster PharmacyhealthStation Roadpharmacy
  • South Gippsland HospitalhealthStation Roadhospital
  • Southern Smiles DentalhealthMain Streetdentist
  • Bonnie Brae Streamside Reservegovernmentnature_reserve

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.