suburb.guide

VIC · East Gippsland Council

Nicholson, 3882

Current weather

13.3°CModerate drizzle

63% humidity · 11.8 km/h wind · 17.3° / 9.7° today · 4.2 mm rain

Desirability score

35.1/100

4168th in Australia

78% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Nicholson (Vic.) is a small locality in the East Gippsland area, home to around 1,322 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 87 offences in 2026 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-1%), roughly 65.8 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, limited but present public transport access, fewer mapped amenities than nearby suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.

Population

Population
1,322
Median age
47
Median household income / week
$1,390
Dwelling vacancy
9.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
54 of 550
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
55.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
34 / 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)
87
Against the person
17
Against property
28
Rate per 1,000 residents
65.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 78 residents
State safety percentile
58.4th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-1.1%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage10
  • C32 Drug Possession7
  • D35 Improper Movement On Public Or Private Space6
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order14
  • E22 Breach Intervention 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
948
  • Nicholson Primary SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

3 public transport stops in this suburb

  • General Store/Princes Hwy
  • Retreat Hotel/Princes Hwy
  • Retreat Motel/Princes Hwy

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).

24 planning-related records

2021· 10 proposals

  • August 2021

  • Earthworks associated with the construction of a dwelling within an Erosion Management Overlay
    36 PARKSIDE DRIVE NICHOLSON 3882Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Build a steel shed to maximum height of four point three eight metres
    73 LIDDELLS ROAD NICHOLSON 3882No permit required

  • June 2021

  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding in association with a dwelling
    973 Princes HighwayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Earthworks associated with an outbuilding to a dwelling
    23 PEPPERCORN WAY NICHOLSON 3882Withdrawn
  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding extension and water tank
    290 Watts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two lot subdivision
    86 LANDSMAN DRIVE NICHOLSON 3882Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2021

  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding (domestic storage shed)
    35 Hazeldene CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling and outbuilding
    4 GLEN IRVINE ROAD NICHOLSON 3882Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Removal of vegetation (Box Tree)
    1 HALLIER COURT NICHOLSON 3882Lapsed

  • January 2021

  • Multiple lot staged subdivision and roadworks
    285 Nicholson-Sarsfield RoadWithdrawn
2020· 14 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Earthworks associated with construction of a dwelling and outbuilding
    3 Wattlebark CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Buildings and works for dwelling additions and alterations
    56 Waddells RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Buildings and works associated with the development of a dwelling and outbuilding
    12 Paterson CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for a dwelling
    620 Olivers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of an outbuilding
    34 Neds Creek DriveNo permit required
  • Earthworks associated with a dwelling within an Erosion Management Overlay
    4 Wattlebark CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • Use and development of land for a dwelling and outbuilding
    234 Waddells RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2020

  • Earthworks Associated with a Dwelling Greater than 1 Metre
    198 Nicholson-Sarsfield RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • Two lot subdivision (restructure)
    8 Binghams RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of a dwelling
    20 Peppercorn WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Earthworks associated with construction of a dwelling
    3 Wattlebark CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Buildings and works for the development of a dwelling and shed, and use of the site for a dwelling
    785 Princes HighwayNOD issued by a delegate

  • March 2020

  • Works associated with the development of a dwelling
    23 Peppercorn WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Development of a dwelling
    7 Peppercorn WayPermit 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

  • Alcohol
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Retreat Hotel/Princes HwyBus stop
  • Retreat Motel/Princes HwyBus stop
  • Nicholson General StoreConvenience store
  • Drinking water
  • Nicholson General StorePetrol station
  • Picnic Table (2)
  • Australia PostPost office
  • Pub

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)
4/10
IRSD decile (2021)
5/10

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

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)
2
Parks (OSM)
1

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
35.1/100
National rank
4168th in Australia
State rank
826th in VIC
Peer rank
#163 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#373 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • B21 Criminal Damagecrime10
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime7
  • D35 Improper Movement On Public Or Private Spacecrime6
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime14
  • E22 Breach Intervention Ordercrime6
  • Build a steel shed to maximum height of four point three eight metresplanning73 LIDDELLS ROAD NICHOLSON 3882Lodged 22 Jul 2021 · No permit required
  • Buildings and works associated with the development of a dwelling and outbuildingplanning12 Paterson CourtLodged 24 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for a dwellingplanning620 Olivers RoadLodged 15 Sep 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding (domestic storage shed)planning35 Hazeldene CrescentLodged 13 Apr 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works for an outbuilding extension and water tankplanning290 Watts RoadLodged 04 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

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Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.