Ironbark
A crime rate of 109.2 incidents per 1,000 residents is the most striking number in Ironbark's profile, running well above the national average and signalling a suburb that trades off security for affordability. At a median house price of $387,500, Ironbark sits toward the lower end of the Bendigo market, and its household income in the 28.9th percentile nationally confirms that cost is the primary draw. The suburb covers just 0.92 square kilometres and holds 1,163 residents, making it a compact inner-Bendigo pocket where 44.4% rent rather than own, and 86.2% of dwellings are separate houses.
Population
1,163
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,274/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$388K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $387,500 median house price is the central figure for any buyer, and it reflects a market that has retreated from a peak of $580,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023, a fall of 33.2% to the Apr-Jun 2024 reading. That pullback is sharp compared to many regional centres and suggests buyers should consider whether the market has stabilised. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and mortgage-to-income sits at 23.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 86.2% of the stock, with 3-bedroom dwellings the most common at 48.4%, followed by 2-bedroom at 30.2%. The 26.5% outright ownership rate is lower than many established suburbs nationally, which, combined with a 44.4% renter share, points to a tenure base more typical of a transitional area than a settled owner-occupier enclave.
For Buyers
The $387,500 median house price is the central figure for any buyer, and it reflects a market that has retreated from a peak of $580,000 reached in Jul-Sep 2023, a fall of 33.2% to the Apr-Jun 2024 reading. That pullback is sharp compared to many regional centres and suggests buyers should consider whether the market has stabilised. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and mortgage-to-income sits at 23.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 86.2% of the stock, with 3-bedroom dwellings the most common at 48.4%, followed by 2-bedroom at 30.2%. The 26.5% outright ownership rate is lower than many established suburbs nationally, which, combined with a 44.4% renter share, points to a tenure base more typical of a transitional area than a settled owner-occupier enclave.
For Investors
Ironbark's 44.4% renter share is well above the national average, giving landlords a consistently large tenant pool in a suburb where median rent is $275 per week. The rent-to-income ratio for tenants is 21.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters can generally sustain current rent levels. The vacancy rate of 8.0% is elevated compared to most markets, indicating some oversupply risk that investors should monitor. Twenty development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, mainly planning permits and subdivision amendments, suggesting modest but ongoing activity. The long-run price gain from $277,000 in 2013 to $387,500 in 2024 represents a 39.9% increase, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.4% over 14 years, well below the growth rates recorded in higher-demand suburbs over the same period.
Development Activity
Total DAs
23
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+900.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Ironbark's median age is 41, matching the national figure precisely, which means it is neither notably younger nor older than average. The overseas-born share of 11.3% sits 10.3 percentage points below the national figure, making it one of the more Anglo-Celtic suburbs in VIC. Ancestry data confirms this, with English (483), Irish (185) and Scottish (130) the three dominant groups. University qualification rates reach 31.4%, slightly above the national figure by 1.3 percentage points, pointing to a modest professional layer within an otherwise moderate-income suburb. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with the low one-parent family count and a relatively high share of couples without children at 30.7% of families. Volunteering stands at 16.7%, a reasonable measure of community participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.2%
Houses
13.2%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
The price trajectory from $277,000 in 2013 to a peak of $580,000 in Jul-Sep 2023 and then a retreat to $387,500 by Apr-Jun 2024 captures the full cycle in this market. The 33.2% decline from peak is unusually large and warrants attention, particularly for anyone purchasing near recent highs. Tenure is split between outright owners at 26.5%, mortgage holders at 29.0% and renters at 44.4%, with renters in the majority, which is higher than most comparable regional suburbs. Bedroom composition skews toward 3-bedroom homes at 48.4%, which dominate supply, while 4-plus bedroom homes account for 18.0%, indicating some family-oriented stock. Apartments make up just 0.6% of dwellings, and semi-detached housing accounts for 13.2%, reinforcing the separate-house character of the suburb at 86.2%. The monthly mortgage repayment of $1,300 gives a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, which is manageable compared to many higher-priced markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$275
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$696
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
43
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.7%
Couples, no children
720
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer, accounting for 25.5% of employed residents, with Education second at 14.9% and Professional and Technical services third at 10.3%. This industry mix, led by health and education, is common across many regional Victorian centres and reflects the role of Bendigo's hospital and university precinct as the dominant local employer. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 144 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service workers at 74 and Labourers at 60. The unemployment rate of 5.8% is notable, running above most comparable suburban areas. Full-time employment is 59.6% of those employed. Household income in the 28.9th percentile nationally reflects the combined effect of moderate occupational mix, below-average personal weekly income of $696, and a high share of part-time employment at 204 workers versus 301 full-time.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.6%
Part-time
34.6%
Participation
53.7%
Employed
505
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.4%
Postgraduate
7.8%
Born Overseas
11.3%
Dwellings
493
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high, with 81.9% of employed residents driving to work, consistent with most regional Victorian suburbs where public transport is limited. Walking and cycling account for 9.7% of commutes, above what many car-dependent suburbs record, which may reflect the compact 0.92 square kilometre footprint and proximity to Bendigo's central facilities. The crime rate of 109.2 incidents per 1,000 residents is the key livability concern. Property and deception offences account for 60 of 127 recorded incidents, and crimes against the person account for 45, both categories ranking this suburb higher than the average for comparable regional areas. The proportion of residents needing daily assistance is 12.8%, which is elevated compared to many suburbs. SEIFA scores are unavailable for this suburb, so a direct decile comparison cannot be made.
Drive
81.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
9.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
127
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
109.2
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 Ironbark compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ironbark a good suburb to live in?
Ironbark offers affordable housing with a $387,500 median and mortgage-to-income of 23.6%, which is below the stress threshold. However, the crime rate of 109.2 incidents per 1,000 residents is a significant concern, and household income sits in the 28.9th percentile nationally. It suits buyers prioritising affordability over safety metrics.
What is the median house price in Ironbark?
The median house price is $387,500, based on Apr-Jun 2024 data. This represents a 33.2% fall from the peak of $580,000 in Jul-Sep 2023. Over 14 years from 2013, prices have grown 39.9% in total, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300.
What schools are in Ironbark?
No schools are recorded inside the Ironbark boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.92 square kilometres within the broader Bendigo area, so families would rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local university qualification rate of 31.4% is 1.3 points above the national figure.
Is Ironbark safe?
Ironbark recorded 127 crimes in the reference period, giving a rate of 109.2 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 60 incidents, and crimes against the person account for 45. This rate is higher than most comparable regional VIC suburbs and is the primary safety concern for prospective residents.
Is Ironbark good for property investment?
The 44.4% renter share is well above the national average, providing a strong tenant pool, and rent-to-income at 21.6% is sustainable for tenants. However, the 8.0% vacancy rate is elevated, and the price compound annual growth rate of 2.4% over 14 years is modest. The 33.2% fall from the 2023 peak adds uncertainty to short-term capital growth prospects.
How is Ironbark's population changing?
The suburb holds 1,163 residents across 0.92 square kilometres, with a density of 1,263 people per square kilometre. Mobility data shows 26.6% of residents moved in the five years before the census, while 73.4% stayed. The compact footprint limits significant population expansion, and development activity of 20 applications in 12 months is modest.
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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