Golden Point
A crime rate of 123.1 incidents per 1,000 residents stands out immediately for a suburb of only 2,217 people, nearly all in separate houses. Golden Point sits within postcode 3350, sharing Ballarat's inner ring, and its SEIFA profile is split: a decile 8 education and occupation score (IEO) runs alongside a decile 4 economic resources score (IER), meaning residents are relatively well-qualified but not asset-rich. The 11.2% vacancy rate is above the national average, and 39.3% of households rent, higher than the state norm. The gentrification score is Active at 57, with population up 51% since 2011.
Population
2,217
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,309/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
No recorded median house price is available for Golden Point in current data, reflecting the small transaction volume of a suburb with only 2,217 residents. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, modest compared to Melbourne suburbs, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 86% of stock, with semi-detached at 13.2% and apartments at just 0.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 51.8% of dwellings, followed by two-bedroom at 28.2%. Outright owners account for 32% and mortgage holders 28.6%, while 39.3% rent, above the typical state rate, pointing to a mixed ownership market rather than an owner-occupier stronghold.
For Buyers
No recorded median house price is available for Golden Point in current data, reflecting the small transaction volume of a suburb with only 2,217 residents. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, modest compared to Melbourne suburbs, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 86% of stock, with semi-detached at 13.2% and apartments at just 0.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 51.8% of dwellings, followed by two-bedroom at 28.2%. Outright owners account for 32% and mortgage holders 28.6%, while 39.3% rent, above the typical state rate, pointing to a mixed ownership market rather than an owner-occupier stronghold.
For Investors
Golden Point's 39.3% renter share is higher than the VIC state average, giving landlords reasonable tenant demand. Weekly rent averages $290, low by absolute terms but proportionate to local incomes: rent-to-income sits at 22.2%, below the 30% stress level. The 11.2% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants scrutiny, as it signals either softer tenant demand or seasonal fluctuation in this Ballarat-adjacent market. Development activity is modest at 7 applications in 12 months, so new supply is not the driver of vacancies. Internal migration is the primary growth engine, with net annual inflow of 486 residents, while overseas migration adds 104 per year, suggesting steady rather than rapid rental pool expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 40 is level with the national figure. The overseas-born share of 13.7% is 7.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born, Anglo-Celtic population: English (955), Irish (435) and Scottish (325) are the top ancestries. University qualifications reach 37.3%, which is 7.2 points above the national figure, consistent with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, and couples without children make up 36.6% of families, a typical pattern for an aging-trajectory suburb. The volunteering rate of 15.3% is a positive social indicator. The community skews toward established Anglo-Celtic residents with above-average education but moderate household incomes in the 31.2nd percentile nationally.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.0%
Houses
13.2%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is spread across owners outright (32%), mortgage holders (28.6%) and renters (39.3%), with renters above the state average. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 86%, leaving apartments at only 0.4% and semi-detached at 13.2%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 51.8%, two-bedroom 28.2%, and four-plus bedroom 15.9%. No recorded median house price is available in current data, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, placing the mortgage-to-income ratio at 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The 11.2% vacancy rate is above the national average, suggesting that not all of the detached-house stock is being actively occupied or let, which may reflect investment properties or seasonal patterns tied to Ballarat's inner suburbs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$757
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.2%
Unoccupied
125
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.6%
Couples, no children
1,481
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant local industry at 25% of employed residents (194 workers), followed by Education at 15.2% (118) and Public Administration at 9.3% (72). Professionals are the largest occupation group at 307 workers, followed by Community and Personal Services (181) and Clerical/Admin (123). The unemployment rate of 6.6% is above the national norm, and the participation rate of 57% is relatively low, with 611 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment covers 57.9% of those working. The SEIFA split is notable: the IEO decile of 8 reflects above-average education and professional occupations, while the IER decile of 4 suggests below-average economic resources, likely because the high renter share (39.3%) and lower household incomes (31.2nd percentile nationally) dampen asset accumulation.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
6,267
Unemployed
189
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.9%
Part-time
35.5%
Participation
57.0%
Employed
1,016
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.3%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
13.7%
Dwellings
996
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 80.8% using a private vehicle, while public transport use is low at 2.1%, reflecting Golden Point's position as an inner Ballarat suburb without strong rail access. Walking and cycling account for a notably high 10.7% of commutes, above the national average, likely due to proximity to Ballarat's CBD. The IRSAD decile of 7 places the suburb in above-average territory nationally for relative advantage, though the IER decile of 4 flags lower economic resources. The crime rate of 123.1 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated, with property and deception offences accounting for 189 of the 273 recorded incidents. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Ballarat institutions. Rent-to-income at 22.2% keeps housing costs manageable for tenants.
Drive
80.8%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
10.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.05%/yr
(+490 people/yr)
EstablishedGolden Point's population sits at 2,217 within a suburb that shares growth dynamics with the broader Ballarat region, where the SA2-level population reached 23,952 in 2025 and is forecast to grow at 2.05% annually, reaching 26,169 by 2031. The primary driver is internal migration, averaging 486 net arrivals per year, with overseas migration adding 104. The gentrification score is 57 (Active), supported by population growth of 51% since 2011 and a shift from 17% to 29% in higher-qualification residents. The aging trajectory is also visible: the senior share rose 4.1 points and the working-age share fell 1.0 point over the decade. Rent grew 37% over the period, though affordability has been stable, with the housing-cost-to-income ratio moving only from 46.6% (2011) to 44.7% (2021).
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+104
Net Internal / yr
+486
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +51% since 2011, Net internal migration +486/yr, Accelerating: 17% → 29%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
273
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
123.1
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Golden Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Golden Point a good suburb to live in?
Golden Point scores decile 8 on the IEO education and occupation index, above the national average, and 10.7% of residents walk or cycle to work, a high active-transport rate. The trade-offs are a crime rate of 123.1 per 1,000 residents and an 11.2% vacancy rate. Mortgage-to-income at 22.9% is below the stress threshold, making ownership relatively affordable.
What is the median house price in Golden Point?
No recorded median house price is available for Golden Point in current data due to the small transaction volume in this 2,217-person suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and weekly rent is $290, placing the rent-to-income ratio at 22.2%, well below the 30% stress level.
What schools are in Golden Point?
No schools are recorded inside the Golden Point suburb boundary in this dataset. Residents rely on schools in neighbouring Ballarat suburbs. The local population is relatively well-educated, with 37.3% holding university qualifications, which is 7.2 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Golden Point safe?
The recorded crime rate is 123.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 273 total offences. Property and deception offences are the largest category at 189 incidents, followed by justice procedures (32) and crimes against the person (27). The suburb's IRSAD decile of 7 places it above the national average for relative advantage overall.
Is Golden Point good for property investment?
The 39.3% renter share is above the VIC state average, providing a broad tenant pool. Weekly rent of $290 and an 11.2% vacancy rate temper the yield case. Internal migration averaging 486 net arrivals per year supports long-term demand, and the gentrification score of 57 (Active) with 51% population growth since 2011 points to a market still in transition.
How is Golden Point's population changing?
The broader area population grew from 22,051 in 2023 to 23,952 in 2025 and is forecast to reach 26,169 by 2031 at 2.05% annual growth. Internal migration is the primary driver at 486 net arrivals per year, with overseas migration adding 104. The suburb's own trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.1 points over the decade.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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