VIC · Ballarat Council

Winter Valley, 3358

Current weather

7.3°CLight drizzle

95% humidity · 25.6 km/h wind · 9.1° / 5.9° today · 13.9 mm rain

Desirability score

40.3/100

3203rd in Australia

70% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Last updated 2 July 2026 at 6:15 pm AEST

Suburb snapshot

Winter Valley is a smaller suburban community in the Ballarat area, home to around 3,440 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 589 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+40%), roughly 171.2 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, fewer mapped amenities than nearby suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population: 3,440
Median age: 29
Median household income / week: $2,013
Dwelling vacancy: 4.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings: 50 of 1,229
Median monthly mortgage: $1,600
Employment rate: 73.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats): 98 / 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): 589
Against the person: 97
Against property: 346
Rate per 1,000 residents: 171.2
Person-crime prevalence: About 1 in 35 residents
State safety percentile: 88.6th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate): +39.6%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

B21 Criminal Damage64
B41 Motor Vehicle Theft33
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle80
B49 Other Theft99
E21 Breach Family Violence Order97

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

3 public transport stops in this suburb

Greenhalghs Rd/Wiltshire Lane
Meadow Ct/Wiltshire Lane
Tilbury St/Wiltshire Lane

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).

20 planning-related records

2021· 9 proposals

July 2021
Development of two dwellings and a two lot subdivision29 Jul 2021
12 SPRINTER WAY WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of two dwellings and a two lot subdivision29 Jul 2021
2 SPRINTER WAY WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Single Dwelling & Garage27 Jul 2021
13 MORITZ DRIVE WINTER VALLEY 3358Withdrawn
Use and development of a display home centre, reduction in car parking and display of business promotional signs14 Jul 2021
155 BALLARAT - CARNGHAM ROAD WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of two dwellings and two lot subdivision05 Jul 2021
30 JUMPS STREET WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Multi-lot subdivision, development of 21 dwellings and associated native vegetation removal05 Jul 2021
520 GLENELG HIGHWAY WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Staged multi-lot subdivision and creation of access to a Road Zone Category 125 May 2021
LOT B BALLARAT - CARNGHAM ROAD WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
Native vegetation removal05 Mar 2021
Greenhalghs RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
Two lot subdivision; and creation of access to a Road Zone, Category 1 and development of dwelling08 Feb 2021
2 WEST END WINTER VALLEY 3358Lapsed

2020· 11 proposals

December 2020
Staged multi-lot subdivision, creation of a new access to a road in a road zone and the removal of native vegetation17 Dec 2020
540 Wiltshire LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Installation of major promotional signage on shipping containers07 Dec 2020
540 Wiltshire LanePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
Two lot subdivision16 Nov 2020
Lot S6 Ballarat - Carngham RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
erect verandah to existing Single Storey Residental Home09 Nov 2020
9 Anneke WayWithdrawn
October 2020
Development of two dwellings and two lot subdivision26 Oct 2020
63 SPOONBILL AVENUE WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Development of two dwellings and two lot subdivision26 Oct 2020
51 PRESENTATION BOULEVARD WINTER VALLEY 3358Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use of land for a display home centre and a reduction in car parking02 Oct 2020
Lot S6 Ballarat - Carngham RoadLapsed
September 2020
Development of two dwellings and a two lot subdivision10 Sep 2020
17 Sugarloaf RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
Eight lot subdivision20 Jul 2020
20 Presentation BoulevardPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
Alterations and additions to a dwelling16 Jun 2020
29 West EndPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
Staged multi-lot subdivision and creation of access to a Road Zone Category 128 May 2020
Lot S6 Ballarat - Carngham 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

9 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Bbq
Bus stop
Greenhalghs Rd/Wiltshire LaneBus stop
Meadow Ct/Wiltshire LaneBus stop
Tilbury St/Wiltshire LaneBus stop
Drinking water
EG AustraliaPetrol station
Picnic Table
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 1 July 2026 at 5:15 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

Kensington Creek ReservePark
Lion's Gate ReservePark

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): 6/10
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

Heritage

1 state heritage place

STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYNH1701

Data sources & freshness

State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:33 pm AEST

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM): 13
Parks (OSM): 13

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: 40.3/100
National rank: 3203rd in Australia
State rank: 645th in VIC
Peer rank: #133 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank: #242 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence: 70%

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

B21 Criminal Damagecrime64
B41 Motor Vehicle Theftcrime33
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime80
B49 Other Theftcrime99
E21 Breach Family Violence Ordercrime97
STONE MILEPOSTS - GLENELG HIGHWAYheritageNH1701
Kensington Creek Reservegovernmentpark
Kensington Creek Reservegovernmentpark
Lion's Gate Reservegovernmentpark
Alterations and additions to a dwellingplanning29 West EndLodged 16 Jun 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

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
Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:32 pm AEST
State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:33 pm AEST
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.