VIC · Bass Coast Council

Surf Beach, 3922

Current weather

12.5°CClear sky

79% humidity · 43.6 km/h wind · 13.3° / 12.2° today · 17 mm rain

Desirability score

15.3/100

6805th in Australia

60% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Last updated 2 July 2026 at 6:16 pm AEST

Suburb snapshot

Surf Beach (Vic.) is a small locality in the Bass Coast area, home to around 670 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 57 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+138%), roughly 85.1 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, fewer mapped amenities than nearby suburbs, and some planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.

Population

Population: 670
Median age: 46
Median household income / week: $1,414
Dwelling vacancy: 56.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings: 348 of 619
Median monthly mortgage: $1,433
Employment rate: 56.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats): 23 / 5 / 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): 57
Against the person: 19
Against property: 24
Rate per 1,000 residents: 85.1
Person-crime prevalence: About 1 in 35 residents
State safety percentile: 70th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate): +137.5%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

A211 Fv Serious Assault3
A231 Fv Common Assault7
B21 Criminal Damage13
B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary4
E21 Breach Family Violence Order11

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

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

General Store/Phillip Island Rd
General Store/Phillip Island 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).

9 planning-related records

2021· 3 proposals

September 2021
Development of the land for two dwellings and an outbuilding, and two lot subdivision in the GRZ1 and DDO102 Sep 2021
190 THE ESPLANADE SURF BEACH 3922NOD issued by a delegate
July 2021
Subdivision of land into two lots and removal of vegetation28 Jul 2021
145 PHILLIP ISLAND ROAD SURF BEACH 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
Subdivide the land into two lots17 Feb 2021
159 Phillip Island RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

2020· 6 proposals

November 2020
Extension to existing dwelling in DDO113 Nov 2020
94a The EsplanadeNOD issued by a delegate
September 2020
Subdivision of land into 2 Lots03 Sep 2020
29 Seaview CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
Boundary realignment of land between two (2) lots in the GRZ1 and DDO121 Aug 2020
2 and 4 Glen StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
Development of land for second dwelling in GRZ125 Mar 2020
159 Phillip Island RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of land for second dwelling on lot13 Mar 2020
21 Highview CrescentNOD issued by the Resp. Authority
January 2020
Buildings and works in PCRZâ to âBuildings and works for the construction of a rabbit exclusion fence and associated vegetation removal16 Jan 2020
Natural Interest Reserve -- DSE Tenure ID = 2001804, The EsplanadeWithdrawn

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

3 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

The Bottle-OAlcohol
General Store/Phillip Island RdBus stop
Post Box

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

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021): 7/10
IRSD decile (2021): 7/10

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

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 1 July 2026 at 6:14 pm AEST

Desirability index

Desirability score: 15.3/100
National rank: 6805th in Australia
State rank: 1260th in VIC
Peer rank: #82 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank: #131 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence: 60%

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

A211 Fv Serious Assaultcrime3
A231 Fv Common Assaultcrime7
B21 Criminal Damagecrime13
B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglarycrime4
E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime11
Boundary realignment of land between two (2) lots in the GRZ1 and DDO1planning2 and 4 Glen StreetLodged 21 Aug 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and works in PCRZâ to âBuildings and works for the construction of a rabbit exclusion fence and associated vegetation removalplanningNatural Interest Reserve -- DSE Tenure ID = 2001804, The EsplanadeLodged 16 Jan 2020 · Withdrawn
Development of land for second dwelling in GRZ1planning159 Phillip Island RoadLodged 25 Mar 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of land for second dwelling on lotplanning21 Highview CrescentLodged 13 Mar 2020 · NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
Development of the land for two dwellings and an outbuilding, and two lot subdivision in the GRZ1 and DDO1planning190 THE ESPLANADE SURF BEACH 3922Lodged 02 Sep 2021 · NOD issued by a delegate

Data sources & freshness

Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:13 pm AEST · Year ending March release
PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 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

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.