suburb.guide

VIC · Golden Plains Council

Smythesdale, VIC, 3351

Current weather

9.9°CRain showers

95% humidity · 31.2 km/h wind · 13.1° / 7.8° today · 4.5 mm rain

Desirability score

40.7/100

3058th in Australia

78% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Smythesdale is a small locality in the Golden Plains area, home to around 1,189 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 55 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-17%), roughly 46.3 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, limited but present public transport access, 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
1,189
Median age
39
Median household income / week
$1,656
Dwelling vacancy
6.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
28 of 437
Median monthly mortgage
$1,430
Employment rate
58.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
42 / 7 / 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)
55
Against the person
8
Against property
43
Rate per 1,000 residents
46.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 149 residents
State safety percentile
43.1th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-16.7%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage8
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary4
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft5
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle7
  • B49 Other Theft10

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
993
  • Woady Yaloak Primary SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

4 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Loader St/Glenelg Hwy
  • Loader St/Glenelg Hwy
  • Loader St/Glenelg Hwy
  • Loader St/Glenelg 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· 7 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Subdivision of the land into three (3) lots under clause 35.03-3 (RLZ), 43.02-3 (DDO7), 44.06-2 (BMO) and removal of Native vegetation under clause 52.17-1 (Native vegetation)
    26 VERMONT ROAD SMYTHESDALE 3351Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2021

  • Liquor license (alteration of trading hours allowed under license extended from 11pm to 1am) under clause 52.27 (Licensed premises)
    63 BROOKE STREET SMYTHESDALE 3351Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Use of the land (dwelling) under clause 35.03-1 (RLZ) and construction of a building and works associated with a section 2 use under clause 35.03-4 (RLZ) and construction of a building (dwelling) under clause 44.06-2 (BMO)
    176 GRAMS ROAD SMYTHESDALE 3351Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Use and Development of a single dwelling and associated outbuilding
    TANNERY ROAD SMYTHESDALE 3351Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • The use and development of the land for the purposes of a dwelling and shed pursuant to the provisions of the RLZ (Clauses 35.03-1 and 35.03-4 ), DDO7 (Clause 43.02-2) and BMO (Clause 44.06-2)
    19 WETHLING LANE SMYTHESDALE 3351NOD issued by a delegate

  • March 2021

  • The development of the land for the purposes of a staged nine lot subdivision and associated native vegetation removal in accordance with endorsed plans.
    CA10 Lightwood Park RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2021

  • Construction of a building (dwelling) pursuant to clause 43.02-2 (DDO) in accordance with endorsed plans
    9 Lynch StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 17 proposals

  • December 2020

  • The development of the land for the purposes of a dwelling and shed pursuant to the provisions of the BMO (Clause 44.06-2) & DDO7 (Clause 43.02-2)
    93 Bykersmas RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Construction of a building (dwelling) under clauses 43.02-2 and 44.02-2 and creation of access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1 (RDZ1) under clause 52.29-2 in accordance with endorsed plans
    13 Browns RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a building (dwelling) under clause 44.06-2
    13 Wills StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Earthworks (retrospective) which change the rate of flow of water across a property boundary under the schedule to clause 35.03-4 (RLZ)
    270 Ross Creek-Haddon RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Construct or carry out works under clause 43.02-2
    19 Lynch StreetWithdrawn

  • September 2020

  • CONSTRUCTION OF A DWELLING
    32 BISHOP ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of a building (replacement dwelling) on a lot under the minimum lot size pursuant to clause 35.03-4 (RLZ) and construction of a building (dwelling) and associated works pursuant to clause 44.06-2 (BMO) in accordance with endorsed plans
    79 Gists RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • August 2020

  • The development of the land for a shed
    5 Junipers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of the land for a veterinary centre under clause 34.01-4, construction of a building and works under clauses 34.01-4, 43.01-1, 43.02-2, signs under clause 34.01-9 and 43.01-1 and provision of car parking under clause 52.06-3 in accordance with endorsed plans.
    67 BROOKE STREETPermit issued by the RA
  • Construction of buildings (dwelling & shed) under clauses 44.02-2 (SMO) and 43.02-2 (DDO) and creation of access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1 (RDZ1) under clause 52.29-2 in accordance with endorsed plans
    17 Browns RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2020

  • The development of the land for the purposes of a shed
    157 VERMONT ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2020

  • Application to amend a planning permit for the use of the land for animal keeping (9 Toy Poodles) in accordance with endorsed plans
    16 GRAMS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • The development of an outbuilding and crossover
    7 LYNCH STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • The development of the land for a two lot subdivision (boundary realignment)
    7 LOCK STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • The development of the land for building and works associated with an existing dwelling
    42 VERMONT ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • The development of the land for a shed
    116 BROOKE STREETPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • The development of the land for a dwelling extension
    128 BUTTERWORTH 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 · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

22 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bench (2)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Bus stop (2)
  • Drinking water
  • Koala BendPark
  • CaltexPetrol station
  • Smythesdale PharmacyPharmacy
  • Picnic Table (2)
  • Australia PostPost Box
  • 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

8 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Koala BendPark
  • Koala Bend Picnic areaPark
  • Nintingbool Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Smythesdale GardensPark
  • Smythesdale H15 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Smythesdale H16 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
  • Woady Yallock River, Smythesdale Streamside ReserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
4/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

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

Heritage

5 state heritage places

  • SMYTHESDALE COURT HOUSENH1653
  • STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYNH1701
  • STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYNH1701
  • STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYNH1701
  • SURFACE HILL HYDRAULIC GOLD SLUICING PITNH1226

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
5
Parks (OSM)
4

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
40.7/100
National rank
3058th in Australia
State rank
599th in VIC
Peer rank
#119 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#209 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 Damagecrime8
  • B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime4
  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theftcrime5
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime7
  • B49 Other Theftcrime10
  • SMYTHESDALE COURT HOUSEheritageNH1653
  • STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYheritageNH1701
  • STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYheritageNH1701
  • STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYheritageNH1701
  • SURFACE HILL HYDRAULIC GOLD SLUICING PITheritageNH1226

Data sources & freshness

  • Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site

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Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.