suburb.guide

VIC · Ballarat Council

Lucas, 3350

Current weather

7.3°CLight drizzle

95% humidity · 25.6 km/h wind · 9.1° / 5.9° today · 13.9 mm rain

Desirability score

54.4/100

1250th in Australia

89% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Lucas is a smaller suburban community in the Ballarat area, home to around 2,994 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 253 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+58%), roughly 84.5 offences per 1,000 residents, 2 school and preschool sites in the area, 7 public transport stops within the suburb, many local shops, services and recreation venues, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
2,994
Median age
32
Median household income / week
$1,956
Dwelling vacancy
4.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
50 of 1,106
Median monthly mortgage
$1,700
Employment rate
68.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
82 / 24 / 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)
253
Against the person
33
Against property
158
Rate per 1,000 residents
84.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 91 residents
State safety percentile
69.7th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+58.1%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage12
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft22
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle41
  • B49 Other Theft54
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order44

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
1,042
  • Lucas Primary SchoolPrimary
  • Siena Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

7 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Daly Dr/Eleanor Dr
  • Eleanor Dr/Messenger Pde
  • Lucas PS/O'Shannassy Pde
  • Paterson St/Eleanor Dr
  • Shortridge Dr/Messenger Pde

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).

29 planning-related records

2021· 10 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Development of a Residential Village and Business Identification Signage
    21 HARRIS DRIVE LUCAS 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Development of the land for an education centre Stage 4 associated works
    150 ELEANOR DRIVE LUCAS 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Use and development of a medical centre, childcare centre, indoor recreation facility (swim school), restricted recreation facility (gym), food and drink premises (cafe) and shop (pharmacy), reduction in car parking, staged eight lot subdivision and display of business identification signage
    LOT Z3 DYSON DRIVE LUCAS 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Carry out works to existing supermarket
    6 COLTMAN PLAZA LUCAS 3350In progress
  • Development of land for a business hub, comprising a number of individual office tenancies, retail space and reduction in the car parking requirements
    18 LILBURNE STREET LUCAS 3350Withdrawn

  • March 2021

  • 6 lot subdivision and creation of a carriageway easement
    180 Eleanor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Two Lot Subdivision (resubdivision)
    Lot 1 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2021

  • Development of Community Care Accommodation
    9 Moore WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of community care accommodation
    3 Brownfield DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a medical centre, childcare centre, food and drink premises shop staged seven lot subdivision and display of business identification signage
    Lot Z3 Dyson DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 19 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Development of an office building and reduction in carparking requirements
    25 Lilburne StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Use and development of a land for childcare centre
    25 Harris DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of the land for a medical centre (dental practice) and display of business identification signage
    1 Merz StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Two Lot Subdivision (resubdivision)
    Lot 1 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Use and development of a Residential Village
    65 Eleanor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a Community Care Accomodation
    5 Beaston WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a Community Care Accomodation (retrospective)
    2 Cornell CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a Residential Village
    Lot P3 Cuthberts RoadWithdrawn
  • Staged multi lot subdivision, removal of native vegetation and creation/removal of carriageway easements
    317 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Use and development of a medical centre food and drink premises shop staged three lot subdivision and display of business identificaiton signage
    Lot Z3 Dyson DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged multi lot subdivision and creation/removal of carriageway easements
    23 Remembrance DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Use and development of land for a display village, development of car park, installation of promotional signage and reduction of car parking requirements
    Lot P3 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding
    410 Ballarat - Carngham RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • 6 lot subdivision
    180 Eleanor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a residential village
    65 Eleanor DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Staged multi lot subdivision and creation/removal of carriageway easements
    23 Remembrance DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Multi lot subdivision, removal of native vegetation and creation/removal of carriageway easements
    317 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Staged five lot subdivision
    317 Cuthberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Use of a restricted recreation facility (Surf Gym)
    180 Eleanor DrivePermit 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

73 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • BWSAlcohol

    Unit Shop 10 Coltman Plaza

  • Bank of MelbourneATM
  • Bendigo BankATM
  • Bakers DelightBakery

    Unit Shop 2 6 Coltman Plaza

  • Glitter Nails & BeautyBeauty salon

    6 Coltman Plaza, Lucas

  • Bench (13)
  • Bicycle Parking (7)
  • Belltower Ave/Dyson DrBus stop
  • Bus stop
  • Eleanor Dr/Messenger PdeBus 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

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
4
Emergency department
Not in suburb
  • Ballarat Community HealthLilburne Streetclinic
  • Ballarat Family DentalColtman Plazadentist
  • TristarColtman Plazaclinic
  • UFSColtman Plazapharmacy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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

  • Journey Early Learning LucasHarris Drivekindergarten

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)
11
Parks (OSM)
11

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
54.4/100
National rank
1250th in Australia
State rank
301st in VIC
Peer rank
#9 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#44 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

  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime12
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theftcrime22
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime41
  • B49 Other Theftcrime54
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime44
  • Journey Early Learning LucaschildcareHarris Drivekindergarten
  • Ballarat Community HealthhealthLilburne Streetclinic
  • Ballarat Family DentalhealthColtman Plazadentist
  • TristarhealthColtman Plazaclinic
  • UFShealthColtman Plazapharmacy

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.