VIC · Mildura Council

Merbein, 3505

Current weather

12.3°CModerate drizzle

90% humidity · 20.5 km/h wind · 16.7° / 10.3° today · 2.4 mm rain

Desirability score

38.3/100

3580th in Australia

85% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Last updated 2 July 2026 at 6:15 pm AEST

Suburb snapshot

Merbein is a smaller suburban community in the Mildura area, home to around 2,770 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 283 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+43%), roughly 102.2 offences per 1,000 residents, 2 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many Public Transport Victoria stops, a reasonable spread of amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population: 2,770
Median age: 44
Median household income / week: $1,147
Dwelling vacancy: 9.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings: 114 of 1,166
Median monthly mortgage: $1,025
Employment rate: 49.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats): 113 / 62 / 26

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 1 July 2026 at 5:05 pm AEST · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Total offences (2026): 283
Against the person: 72
Against property: 119
Rate per 1,000 residents: 102.2
Person-crime prevalence: About 1 in 38 residents
State safety percentile: 76.2th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate): +42.9%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

A211 Fv Serious Assault18
B21 Criminal Damage31
B49 Other Theft21
E21 Breach Family Violence Order56
Other Crimes Against The Person17

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:14 pm AEST · Year ending March release

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools: 2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools): 975

Merbein P-10 CollegeCombined
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:19 pm AEST · Annual ACARA release
School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:19 pm AEST · Annual ACARA release

Public transport

24 public transport stops in this suburb

Foster St/Commercial St
Game St/Reilly St
Mead St/Commercial St
Merbein P-10 College/Commercial St
River Ave/Reilly St

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:20 pm AEST · GTFS static feed

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· 12 proposals

September 2021
Section 71 Amendment Multi lot staged residential subdivision16 Sep 2021
67 RIVER AVENUE MERBEIN 3505Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
Other30 Jun 2021
Channel RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Other17 Jun 2021
Channel RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Application to Amend Use and development of the land for rural industry (warehouse), reduction in car parking requirements, waiver of bicycle facilities and alteration of access to a Road in a Road Zone, Category 115 Jun 2021
Channel RoadWithdrawn
Section 71 Amendment Subdivision of the land into two (2) lots08 Jun 2021
139 Fifth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Section 71 Amendment Two lot subdivision (boundary re-alignment)19 May 2021
23 Fourth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Section 71 Amendment Two Lot Subdivision (dwelling excision)14 May 2021
158 Second StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
Application to Amend 2 Lot Re-subdivision07 Mar 2021
139 Cowanna AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
Section 71 Amendment Create access to a road in a Road Zone Category 108 Feb 2021
33 Third StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Application to Amend 2 Lot Re-subdivision01 Feb 2021
139 Cowanna AvenueWithdrawn
Application to Amend 3 lot subdivision01 Feb 2021
32 Box StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
Application to Amend Use and development of the land for residential buildings and 3 lot subdivision29 Jan 2021
32 Box StreetWithdrawn

2020· 13 proposals

December 2020
Create access to a Road Zone Category 1 Create access to a Road Zone Category 117 Dec 2020
31 Third StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Subdivision land (1-9 lots) 2 Lot Subdivision (dwelling excision)10 Dec 2020
207 Fifth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
Create access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1 Create access to a road in a Road Zone Category 130 Nov 2020
33 Third StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Dwelling Use and development of a dwelling27 Nov 2020
Second StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Section 71 Amendment Two lot subdivision (dwelling excision)19 Nov 2020
118 Sixth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
Application to Amend Development for Alterations and Extensions to Hotel and Restricted Gaming Room and Signage17 Sep 2020
108 Commercial StreetWithdrawn
Application to Amend Multi lot staged residential subdivision02 Sep 2020
95 Chaffey StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
2 Lot Subdivision Two (2) Lot Subdivision20 Jul 2020
469 Wentworth RoadWithdrawn
June 2020
Rural Industry (Packing Shed) Use and development of the land for rural industry (warehouse), reduction in car parking requirements, waiver of bicycle facilities and alteration of access to a Road in a Road Zone, Category 116 Jun 2020
Channel RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
Section 71 Amendment Six Lot Staged Subdivision04 May 2020
47 Main AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
Section 71 amendment Two lot subdivision (dwelling excision)06 Apr 2020
118 Sixth StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
Alterations to School Facilities Buildings and works associated with existing primary school and Internally Illuminated Sign21 Jan 2020
18 Box StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and Develop Child care centre, display signage and alter access Use and development of the land for a child care centre, development and display of business identification signage and alteration of access to a road in a road zone, category 108 Jan 2020
3-15 Third StreetPermit 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 1 July 2026 at 5:31 pm AEST · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

20 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Bendigo BankATM
Bakery Old Fashioned BreadsBakery
Commercial Street, Merbein
Merbein Post OfficeBus stop
Merbein TerminusBus stop
Our Lady of The Sacred Heart Primary SchoolBus stop
healthSAVE Keens PharmacyChemist
81 Commercial Street
GT 2 GOFast food
83 Commercial Street, Merbein
Rustey's TakeawayFast food
Commercial Street, Merbein
Tasty TakeawaysFood
71 Commercial Street, Merbein
Fresh Fruit & VegHealth Food
Commercial Street, Merbein

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 1 July 2026 at 5:15 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

6 parks and public open space in this suburb

Apex Civic ParkPark
Bildstien ParkPark
Chaffey ParkPark
Kenny ParkPark
Merbein Bushland ReserveNature reserve
O’Bryan Street PlaygroundPark

Data sources & freshness

Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:32 pm AEST

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021): 1/10
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

SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:05 pm AEST · 2021 SEIFA release

Heritage

1 state heritage place

MILDARA BLASS DISTILLERYNH1099

Data sources & freshness

State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:33 pm AEST

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

Merbein KindergartenO'Bryan Streetkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 6:14 pm AEST

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 1 July 2026 at 6:14 pm AEST

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM): 6
Parks (OSM): 6

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 1 July 2026 at 5:16 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score: 38.3/100
National rank: 3580th in Australia
State rank: 716th in VIC
Peer rank: #153 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank: #292 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence: 85%

Data sources & freshness

Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 6:10 pm AEST · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

A211 Fv Serious Assaultcrime18
B21 Criminal Damagecrime31
B49 Other Theftcrime21
E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime56
Other Crimes Against The Personcrime17
Merbein KindergartenchildcareO'Bryan Streetkindergarten
MILDARA BLASS DISTILLERYheritageNH1099
Apex Civic Parkgovernmentpark
Bildstien Parkgovernmentpark
Chaffey Parkgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 6:14 pm AEST
Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:13 pm AEST · Year ending March release
Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:32 pm AEST
State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:33 pm AEST

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