suburb.guide

VIC · Yarra Ranges Council

Powelltown, 3797

Current weather

6.8°CThunderstorm

98% humidity · 18.2 km/h wind · 7.2° / 4.9° today · 16.2 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

26.4/100
Below average

1113th in VIC

52% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • High desirability
  • Green suburb
What Powelltown is known for: National parks, High desirability, Green suburb

Suburb profile

Set among the hills of Yarra Ranges, Powelltown is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Elevated streets and bushland backdrops bring a sense of fresh country air to daily life.

The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.

The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
214
Median age
47
Median household income / week
$1,125
Dwelling vacancy
20.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
19 of 94
Median monthly mortgage
$1,235
Employment rate
55.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
11 / 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)
2
Against the person
1
Against property
0
Rate per 1,000 residents
9.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 214 residents
State safety percentile
3th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-77.8%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • A231 Fv Common Assault1
  • C32 Drug Possession1

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

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).

4 planning-related records

2021· 2 proposals

  • March 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
    1487 LITTLE YARRA ROAD POWELLTOWN 3797Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding
    15 Blake StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 2 proposals

  • July 2020

  • Use and Development of a dwelling, creation of access to a Road Zone Category 1 and vegetation removal
    1619 Little Yarra RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct a dwelling
    10 MESSMATE CLOSE POWELLTOWN 3797Lapsed

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

5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Union ChurchPlace of worship
  • Australia PostPost Box
  • Powelly PubPost office
  • Powelly PubPub
  • Public toilets

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

  • Little River, Powelltown Streamside ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

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

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

Desirability Index

Desirability score
26.4/100 — Below average
National rank
5864th in Australia
State rank
1113th in VIC
Peer rank
#313 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#612 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
52%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Australia Postamenitiespost_box
  • Powelly Pubamenitiespost_office
  • Powelly Pubamenitiespub
  • Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
  • Union Churchamenitiesplace_of_worship
  • A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime1
  • C32 Drug Possessioncrime1
  • Little River, Powelltown Streamside Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
  • Buildings and works to construct a dwellingplanning1487 LITTLE YARRA ROAD POWELLTOWN 3797Lodged 16 Mar 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and works to construct a dwellingplanning10 MESSMATE CLOSE POWELLTOWN 3797Lodged 07 Jul 2020 · Lapsed

Data sources & freshness

More in Yarra Ranges Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.