VIC · Yarra Ranges Council

Sassafras, 3787

Current weather

9.9°CDense drizzle

96% humidity · 23.8 km/h wind · 11.2° / 8.9° today · 9.5 mm rain

Desirability score

32/100

4790th in Australia

85% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Last updated 2 July 2026 at 6:15 pm AEST

Suburb snapshot

Sassafras (Vic.) is a small locality in the Yarra Ranges area, home to around 970 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 38 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+23%), roughly 39.2 offences per 1,000 residents, 2 school and preschool sites in the area, 12 public transport stops within the suburb, many local shops, services and recreation venues, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population: 970
Median age: 47
Median household income / week: $2,147
Dwelling vacancy: 10.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings: 42 of 399
Median monthly mortgage: $2,000
Employment rate: 64.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats): 23 / 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 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): 38
Against the person: 6
Against property: 12
Rate per 1,000 residents: 39.2
Person-crime prevalence: About 1 in 162 residents
State safety percentile: 35.5th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate): +22.6%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary4
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle3
E19 Other Justice Procedures Offences2
E21 Breach Family Violence Order17
Other Crimes Against The Person4

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): 1,018.5

Sassafras Primary SchoolPrimary
Sherbrooke Community SchoolCombined

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

12 public transport stops in this suburb

Colehurst Cres/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Prince St/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Sassafras PS/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
Sherbrooke Community School/Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd
The Crescent/Mt Dandenong Tourist 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 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).

26 planning-related records

2021· 14 proposals

September 2021
Buildings and works to extend and alter an existing dwelling27 Sep 2021
73 THE CRESCENT SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a carport and verandah16 Sep 2021
4-6 WANNAWONG ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling, construct an outbuilding/studio and decking13 Sep 2021
5-7 HETHERSETT ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling10 Aug 2021
429 MT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Lapsed
July 2021
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling06 Jul 2021
28 HETHERSETT ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
Use of the land for an Art and Craft Centre, sale and consumption of liquor and display of advertising signage23 Jun 2021
320 MT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Withdrawn
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling01 Jun 2021
4 YARILLA ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling and extend an existing outbuilding associated vegetation removal19 May 2021
10-12 HETHERSETT ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787NOD issued by a delegate
Buildings and works to extend an existing deck and construct a spa14 May 2021
53 RANGE ROAD SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding, earthworks greater than 1 metre and vegetation removal10 May 2021
11 Woodlands AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
Buildings and works to construct a deck07 Apr 2021
5 Alice StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
Boundary re-alignment03 Mar 2021
4 Chudleigh CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
Boundary re-alignment19 Jan 2021
4 Chudleigh CrescentWithdrawn
Buildings and works to construct a replacement dwelling, associated vegetation removal and earthworks18 Jan 2021
13 COLEHURST CRESCENT SASSAFRAS 3787Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

2020· 12 proposals

December 2020
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling23 Dec 2020
294 Mt Dandenong Tourist RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
Buildings and works to construct a garage12 Oct 2020
4 Chudleigh CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct a carport05 Oct 2020
31 Hethersett RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
September 2020
Amending the internal layout, increasing the footprint of the Restaurant and increasing the external shelter to the North of the building.16 Sep 2020
201 Ferndale RoadWithdrawn
Buildings and works to extend and alter existing dwelling09 Sep 2020
290 Mt Dandenong Tourist RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding12 Aug 2020
33 THE CRESCENT SASSAFRAS 3787Lapsed
May 2020
Buildings and works to extend existing dwelling18 May 2020
21 Alice StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling22 Apr 2020
3 Panteg RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to extend existing dwelling14 Apr 2020
21 Alice StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling, construct an outbuilding and earthworks exceeding 600mm20 Feb 2020
333 Mt Dandenong Tourist RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works to construct an outbuilding05 Feb 2020
2 Aurora RiseLapsed
January 2020
Buildings and works to extend an existing dwelling31 Jan 2020
16 Clarkmont RoadPermit 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

43 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Smits and BitsAntiques
Bbq (2)
Bench (4)
Daisy BootsBooks
385 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
CachetsBoutique
Clarkmont Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist RdBus stop
Colehurst Cres/Mt Dandenong Tourist RdBus stop
Hethersett Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist RdBus stop
Hilton Rd/Mt Dandenong Tourist RdBus stop
Prince St/Mt Dandenong Tourist 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 1 July 2026 at 5:15 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

5 parks and public open space in this suburb

Colehurst Crescent ReserveNature reserve
Ferny Creek Recreation ReservePark
Park or reserveNature reserve
Sassafras G163 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Sassafras Village GreenPark

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): 10/10
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

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

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

Sassafras PreschoolMount Dandenong Tourist Roadkindergarten

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: 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 1 July 2026 at 6:14 pm AEST

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM): 7
Parks (OSM): 2

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: 32.0/100
National rank: 4790th in Australia
State rank: 930th in VIC
Peer rank: #36 among Metro Melbourne · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank: #371 among Metro Melbourne 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

B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime4
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime3
E19 Other Justice Procedures Offencescrime2
E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime17
Other Crimes Against The Personcrime4
Sassafras PreschoolchildcareMount Dandenong Tourist Roadkindergarten
Colehurst Crescent Reservegovernmentnature_reserve
Ferny Creek Recreation Reservegovernmentpark
Park or reservegovernmentnature_reserve
Sassafras G163 Bushland Reservegovernmentnature_reserve

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

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