VIC · Ballarat Council
Mount Rowan, 3352
Current weather
7.3°CLight drizzle
95% humidity · 25.6 km/h wind · 9.1° / 5.9° today · 13.9 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Rural
- Transport
- Shops
- Established
- Residential
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Ballarat, Mount Rowan is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Ridge-top pockets and tree cover give the area a cooler, greener hillside feel.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Housing is well-priced for what you get: space, location and everyday convenience. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and safety holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 295
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,528
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 6 of 115
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,975
- Employment rate
- 58%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 6 / 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)
- 18
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 13
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 61
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 98 residents
- State safety percentile
- 55.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- A231 Fv Common Assault2
- B11 Cause Damage By Fire2
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft2
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
- B49 Other Theft5
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 · Year ending March release
Public transport
15 public transport stops in this suburb
- 690 Creswick Rd
- 790 Creswick Rd
- Fraser Rd/Creswick Rd
- Pistol Club Rd/Creswick Rd
- Taronga Rd/Creswick Rd
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 · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
6 active roadworks / incidents
- Maintenance Works activities occurring between 13/01/2026 and 30/06/2027 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 6 to 10 min.MIDLAND HIGHWAY, CUMMINS ROAD12 Jan 2026 – 29 Jun 2027
- Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, SUNRAYSIA-WESTERN IN RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
- Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 60 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, SUNRAYSIA-WESTERN IN RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
- Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed eastbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 80 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, SUNRAYSIA-WESTERN IN RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
- Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, SUNRAYSIA-WESTERN IN RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
- Utility Works activities occurring between 25/06/2026 and 02/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 60 and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.WESTERN FREEWAY, SUNRAYSIA-WESTERN IN RAMP ON24 Jun 2026 – 01 Oct 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
8 planning-related records
2021· 5 proposals
July 2021
- Use and development of a veterinary centre (equine) and caretaker's house and business identification signage736 MIDLAND HIGHWAY MOUNT ROWAN 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Development of outbuilding17 Cummins RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development of a dwelling770 MIDLAND HIGHWAY MOUNT ROWAN 3352Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Construction of a domestic storage shed138 Olliers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- mixed use equestrian sheds736 Midland HighwayWithdrawn
2020· 3 proposals
June 2020
- Development of a warehouse55 Old Midland HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- Use and development of an emergency services facility, removal of native vegetation, alteration and creation of access to a road zone, category 119 Old Midland HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Alterations and additions to shed55 Old Midland HighwayPermit 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
13 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 612 Creswick RdBus stop
- 613 Creswick RdBus stop
- 690 Creswick RdBus stop
- 790 Creswick RdBus stop
- 797 Creswick RdBus stop
- Bus stop
- Cummins Rd/Creswick RdBus stop
- Fraser Rd/Creswick RdBus stop
- Millers Rd/Creswick RdBus stop
- Olliers Rd/Creswick 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- 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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 42.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 43% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2845th in Australia
- State rank
- 541st in VIC
- Peer rank
- #64 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #173 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime2
- B11 Cause Damage By Firecrime2
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theftcrime2
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime2
- B49 Other Theftcrime5
- Alterations and additions to shedplanning55 Old Midland HighwayLodged 27 Feb 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a domestic storage shedplanning138 Olliers RoadLodged 09 Mar 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a warehouseplanning55 Old Midland HighwayLodged 26 Jun 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of outbuildingplanning17 Cummins RoadLodged 03 May 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and development of a dwellingplanning770 MIDLAND HIGHWAY MOUNT ROWAN 3352Lodged 03 May 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
- 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 Ballarat Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.