suburb.guide

VIC · Ballarat Council

Mount Helen, 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

49.7/100

1757th in Australia

85% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Mount Helen is a smaller suburban community in the Ballarat area, home to around 3,011 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 102 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-12%), roughly 33.9 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site 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
3,011
Median age
36
Median household income / week
$2,076
Dwelling vacancy
4.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
45 of 1,035
Median monthly mortgage
$1,600
Employment rate
62.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
57 / 34 / 16

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)
102
Against the person
20
Against property
61
Rate per 1,000 residents
33.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 151 residents
State safety percentile
29.5th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-12.1%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • A211 Fv Serious Assault8
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary11
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle15
  • B49 Other Theft12
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order12

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,076
  • Ballarat Steiner SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

19 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Federation University/Chancellor Dr
  • Greenhill Rd/Geelong Rd
  • Shire Ave/Geelong Rd
  • Wetlands Dr/Gear Ave
  • Wetlands Dr/University Dr

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).

30 planning-related records

2021· 6 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Construction of a Fence within property boundary
    2131 GEELONG ROAD MOUNT HELEN 3350In progress

  • July 2021

  • Change of use to place of assembly (activity centre associated with Step Up) and group accommodation (four respite units)
    403-407 EDDY AVENUE MOUNT HELEN 3350Lapsed

  • May 2021

  • Construction of a front fence and side boundary fence extension
    11 Darriwell DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Construction of Verandah
    2203A Geelong RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of five native trees
    11 Darriwell DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Construction of an educational building (a height and confined spaces safety training facility) and attached amenities
    University DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 24 proposals

  • October 2020

  • Development of a dwelling and garage
    56 Vincent DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Alterations and additions to a carpark associated with an emergency service facility
    14 Greenhill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    2 Kookaburra ClosePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling and outbuilding
    2008 Geelong RoadWithdrawn
  • Development of a dwelling, outbuilding and associated works
    3 Brodie CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of native vegetation (one tree)
    305 Eddy AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Native vegetation removal
    Lot 3 University DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Removal of one tree
    146 Greenhill RoadWithdrawn
  • Alterations and additions to a dwelling including the development of an inground swimming pool
    133 Moss AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Development of a dwelling and shed
    13 Sobey StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Use and development of a dwelling, outbuilding and associated works and removal of native vegetation
    10 WIRREANDA DRIVE MOUNT HELEN 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of reserve status of Reserve No. 1 of PS326983M, removal of drainage easement E-5 from the reserve and consolidate the land with Lot 1 of LP128750G
    14 BOAK AVENUE MOUNT HELEN 3350In progress
  • Buildings and works within a Vegetation Protection Envelope Restriction on Plan of Subdivision 529663A
    44 Ploughshare DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a habitable outbuilding
    6 Shakespeare AvenueWithdrawn
  • Development of a dwelling
    17 Zoe DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Development of shed
    1801 Geelong RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dependant persons unit
    206 Boak AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Development of a dwelling and associated works
    11 Brodie CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Development of a dwelling and boundary fences.
    30 Oakbank DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Removal of native vegetation
    University DriveWithdrawn
  • Development of a dwelling
    3 Woodland DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alterations and additions to a dwelling
    4 Fisken RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Use and development of a dwelling and construction of fencing
    2001 Geelong RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of one dwelling
    27 Mount Helen AvenuePermit 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

27 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • ANZ ATMATM
  • Bench (2)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Federation UniversityBicycle Parking
  • Ballarat Technology Park/University DrBus stop
  • Federation University/Chancellor DrBus stop
  • Fisken Rd/Geelong RdBus stop
  • Gear Ave/Geelong RdBus stop
  • Greenhill Rd/Geelong RdBus stop
  • Moss Ave/Geelong 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

  • The Horizon Linear ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

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

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

  • kindergartenkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site

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)
16
Parks (OSM)
7

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
49.7/100
National rank
1757th in Australia
State rank
390th in VIC
Peer rank
#16 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#87 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • A211 Fv Serious Assaultcrime8
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime11
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime15
  • B49 Other Theftcrime12
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime12
  • kindergartenchildcarekindergarten
  • The Horizon Linear Reservegovernmentpark
  • Alterations and additions to a carpark associated with an emergency service facilityplanning14 Greenhill RoadLodged 23 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alterations and additions to a dwellingplanning4 Fisken RoadLodged 07 Feb 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alterations and additions to a dwelling including the development of an inground swimming poolplanning133 Moss AvenueLodged 25 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.