suburb.guide

VIC · Surf Coast Council

Freshwater Creek, 3217

Current weather

9°CClear sky

88% humidity · 27.9 km/h wind · 12.7° / 8.2° today · 7.8 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

36.9/100
Below average

746th in VIC

70% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Premium
  • Rural
  • Established
  • Residential
  • Amenities
What Freshwater Creek is known for: Premium, Rural, Established, Residential, Amenities

Suburb profile

In Surf Coast, Freshwater Creek keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.

Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with plenty of young families in the mix. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood.

Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. 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 safety against similar regional towns, even with community and employment and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
454
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$2,087
Dwelling vacancy
7.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
12 of 164
Median monthly mortgage
$2,145
Employment rate
66%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
11 / 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)
52
Against the person
7
Against property
9
Rate per 1,000 residents
114.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 65 residents
State safety percentile
79.1th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+116.7%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B43 Steal From A Retail Store3
  • B49 Other Theft3
  • C12 Drug Trafficking22
  • C32 Drug Possession7
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order6

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,094
  • Freshwater Creek Steiner SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

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).

25 planning-related records

2021· 8 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Construction of Two Open Sided Structures in Association with the Existing Use of the land as a Caravan Park (Site 87 and Site 95).
    660 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of the Land for a Restaurant, Agriculture (Within Road Zone), Primary Produce Sales and Market; Sale and Consumption of Liquor (Restaurant and Café Licence); the Display of a Business Identification Sign and the Waiving of Loading Bay and Bicycle Parking Requirements - Amended plans for a packing shed, seedling greenhouse, workshop and preparation and chicken shed (retrospective)
    673 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Re-subdivision of the land into two lots
    350 COOMBES ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Use of the land for a poultry farm (low density mobile outdoor egg production)
    1185 BLACKGATE ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Use of the Land for a Place of Assembly (Pet Bakery)
    250 Bogans LaneWithdrawn

  • February 2021

  • Use and Development of land for an Art and Craft Centre
    THE FARMERS PLACE - RESTAURANT, 675 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and works associated with agriculture
    1500 BLACKGATE ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Earthworks that Change the Rate of Flow Across the Property Boundary
    380 Pettavel RoadLapsed
2020· 17 proposals

  • October 2020

  • Construction of a Garage
    785 DICKINS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Native Vegetation Removal (One tree)
    550 DICKINS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a Horse Arena
    1305 BLACKGATE ROADWithdrawn
  • Construct alterations and extensions to the existing dwelling
    1305 BLACKGATE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alteration and Additions to existing Dwelling
    740 ANGLESEA ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Amend Condition 7 to have operating hours of 6.30AM to 9.30PM daily
    670 Anglesea RoadWithdrawn
  • Construction of farming shed
    615 MT DUNEED ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Buildings and Works to an Existing Shed
    1100 ANGLESEA ROADPermit issued by the RA

  • May 2020

  • Construct a Shed
    20 HARDINGS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Use and development of the land for a dwelling, construction of a building associated with the use of the land for agriculture within 100 metres of a waterway and alter access to the Road Zone Category 1
    865 Anglesea RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Works in a Salinity Management Overlay Associated with a Vehicle Cross Over
    380 PETTAVEL ROADRefusal issued by a delegate
  • Use and Development of the subject Land for a Process and Packaging
    380 PETTAVEL ROADWithdrawn

  • March 2020

  • Earthworks that Change the Rate of Flow
    1210 ANGLESEA ROAD FRESHWATER CREEK 3217In progress
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision (Re-subdivision)
    1465 BLACKGATE ROAD AND 820 PETTAVEL ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Application to reduce minimum lot size
    865 ANGLESEA ROADWithdrawn
  • Construction of a farm shed
    865 ANGLESEA ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Use of the Land for Storage of Caravans, Boats, Trailers and Containers, and Associated Works, and Display of Business Identification Signage
    1200 GHAZEEPORE ROADNOD issued by a delegate

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

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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

1 state heritage place

  • ST DAVIDS LUTHERAN CHURCH & CEMETERYNH1903

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
7
Parks (OSM)
0

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
36.9/100 — Below average
National rank
3895th in Australia
State rank
746th in VIC
Peer rank
#132 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#318 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
70%

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 Storecrime3
  • B49 Other Theftcrime3
  • C12 Drug Traffickingcrime22
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime7
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime6
  • ST DAVIDS LUTHERAN CHURCH & CEMETERYheritageNH1903
  • Alteration and Additions to existing Dwellingplanning740 ANGLESEA ROADLodged 12 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amend Condition 7 to have operating hours of 6.30AM to 9.30PM dailyplanning670 Anglesea RoadLodged 25 Sep 2020 · Withdrawn
  • Application to reduce minimum lot sizeplanning865 ANGLESEA ROADLodged 16 Mar 2020 · Withdrawn
  • Buildings and Works to an Existing Shedplanning1100 ANGLESEA ROADLodged 04 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by the RA

Data sources & freshness

  • Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
  • PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

More in Surf Coast Council

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Comparable suburbs

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