VIC · Ballarat Council
Soldiers Hill, 3350
Current weather
7.3°CLight drizzle
95% humidity · 25.6 km/h wind · 9.1° / 5.9° today · 13.9 mm rain
Desirability score
Suburb snapshot
Soldiers Hill (Vic.) is a smaller suburban community in the Ballarat area, home to around 2,813 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 509 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+47%), roughly 180.9 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, 13 public transport stops within the suburb, 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
- 2,813
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $1,461
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 146 of 1,390
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,509
- Employment rate
- 61.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 84 / 121 / 68
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)
- 509
- Against the person
- 59
- Against property
- 314
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 180.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 48 residents
- State safety percentile
- 89.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +47.1%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage47
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft58
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle138
- B49 Other Theft23
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order85
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 951
- Macarthur Street Primary SchoolPrimary
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 · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
13 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ballarat Railway Station
- Ballarat Station
- Chisolm St/Lydiard St N
- MacArthur St/Lydiard St N
- St Columba's PS/Lydiard St N
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
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
83 planning-related records
2021· 23 proposals
August 2021
- Demolition and development of front fence405 NEILL STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling405 NEILL STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of an outbuilding217 LYDIARD STREET NORTH SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a garage402 LYDIARD STREET NORTH SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition of dwelling and demolition of outbuilding317 LIGAR STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling305 SEYMOUR STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
- Demolition of garage and fence and development of habitable outbuilding and fence434 LIGAR STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling, demolition and development of fencing and associated works308A LYDIARD STREET NORTH SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a verandah3/204 CHISHOLM STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Installation of Solar Panels405 HAVELOCK STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a habitable outbuilding508 GREGORY STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Withdrawn
- Partial demolition alterations and additions to an existing dwelling312 MACARTHUR STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a pergola116 BROUGHAM STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- We need to restore the old corner shop verandah which is apart of our family home. It is terribly weather beaten and could fall apart soon. She's a beautiful, large verandah that extends from Chisholm Street around to Neill Street that is in desperate need of attention to bring her back to life.12 CHISHOLM STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Withdrawn
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling including demolition of outbuildings and fencing221 CLYDE STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Alterations and additions to dwelling including partial demolition503 Doveton Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use of the land for a medical centre (allied health practitioners) and a reduction in car parking requirements524 Doveton Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition to front fence to include vehicle access gates and construction of external staircase106 Gregory StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling and development of an outbuilding and carport207 CHISHOLM STREET SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alterations to dwelling, including partial demolition402 Ligar StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Partial demolition and alterations to a dwelling (replacement of roof)813 Ligar StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alterations and additions to dwelling605 Doveton Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use land to sell and consume liquor in association with an existing cafe451 Doveton Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 17 proposals
December 2020
- Partial demolition of a dwelling, demolition of an outbuilding, alterations and additions to dwelling, addition to a carport and associated works10 Macarthur StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling606 Ligar StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Demolition of an outbuilding and partial demolition of dwelling, alterations and additions to a dwelling421 LYDIARD STREET NORTH SOLDIERS HILL 3350In progress
- Removal of Carriageway Easement created by Instrument of Transfer No.1121791 in favour of lots 1 and 2 on TP242950202 Howard StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Extension of trading hours, increase in number of patrons and increase in area that liquor is allowed to be sold and consumed and display of business identification signs524 DOVETON STREET NORTH SOLDIERS HILL 3350Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to a dwelling and development of an outbuilding437 Doveton Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of retaining wall704A Neill StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two lot subdivision425 Doveton Street NorthWithdrawn
- Demolish and erect a front fence225 Lydiard Street NorthLapsed
- Partial demolition, additions and alterations to existing dwelling, development of an outbuilding, fencing and associated works511 Doveton Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Demolition (restrospective) of front fence including trellis, development of an outbuilding and fencing605 Havelock StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Demolish a shed and construct a verandah201 Havelock StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works for additions to the existing dwelling101 Gregory StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Demolition to rear of dwelling and extension and alterations to dwelling618 Armstrong Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use land to sell and consume liquor in association with an existing cafe451 Doveton Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Demolition of an outbuilding316 Lydiard Street NorthPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Installation of solar panels516 Ligar StreetPermit 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
29 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- Bicycle Parking (2)
- Ballarat StationBus Station
- Ballarat StationBus stop
- Brougham St/Lydiard St NBus stop
- Bus stop (6)
- Chisolm St/Lydiard St NBus stop
- MacArthur St/Lydiard St NBus stop
- St Columba's PS/Lydiard St NBus stop
- Naomi & iCafe
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Gregory Street ReservePark
- Macarthur Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- 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
- 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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 34.7/100
- National rank
- 4248th in Australia
- State rank
- 842nd in VIC
- Peer rank
- #191 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #387 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 Damagecrime47
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theftcrime58
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime138
- B49 Other Theftcrime23
- E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime85
- Gregory Street Reservegovernmentpark
- Macarthur Street Reservegovernmentpark
- Alterations and additions to dwellingplanning605 Doveton Street NorthLodged 11 Feb 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alterations and additions to dwelling including partial demolitionplanning503 Doveton Street NorthLodged 26 Apr 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Alterations to dwelling, including partial demolitionplanning402 Ligar StreetLodged 23 Mar 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
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- 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
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.