Miners Rest
A 98.9% separate-house share and 59.0% mortgage tenure make Miners Rest a strongly detached, owner-oriented suburb. Its 3,829 residents have a median age of 33, which is 7.0 years lower than the national figure, while household income sits at the 74.4th percentile. Compared with nearby Wendouree, the suburb presents a more car-oriented housing profile, with 77.7% of workers driving and only 0.5% using public transport. The combination of larger homes, a 52.8% four-bedroom-plus share and steady 0.63% annual growth suits households seeking space, although low SEIFA deciles point to uneven economic conditions across the area.
Population
3,829
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,983/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$650K
October to December 2025
Buyers are purchasing an overwhelmingly detached market, with 98.9% separate houses, including 52.8% with 4 or more bedrooms and 44.6% with 3 bedrooms. A monthly mortgage estimate of $1,517 equals 17.7% of household income, so mortgage stress is not flagged despite the suburb's mortgage-belt profile. Affordability was broadly stable, moving from 39.4 in 2011 to 40.5 in 2021, because household earnings and larger dwelling stock help offset the higher entry price.
For Buyers
Buyers are purchasing an overwhelmingly detached market, with 98.9% separate houses, including 52.8% with 4 or more bedrooms and 44.6% with 3 bedrooms. A monthly mortgage estimate of $1,517 equals 17.7% of household income, so mortgage stress is not flagged despite the suburb's mortgage-belt profile. Affordability was broadly stable, moving from 39.4 in 2011 to 40.5 in 2021, because household earnings and larger dwelling stock help offset the higher entry price.
For Investors
Miners Rest has a $360 weekly median rent, a 4.0% vacancy rate and a 16.8% renting share, below the 59.0% mortgage share. That owner-heavy mix can limit the depth of the tenant pool, but it also reflects established family demand for detached homes. Rent growth of 44.4% is higher than the 0.63% annual population trend, indicating that rental pricing has moved faster than local growth. There were 18 development applications in 12 months, including subdivision and new dwelling permits, while overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver. Investors should test property-level costs carefully because broad rental momentum does not guarantee equal returns across streets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
27
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1800.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Miners Rest
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Miners Rest Primary School
Demographics
Miners Rest has a median age of 33, 7.0 years lower than the national figure, and an average household size of 2.8, which is 0.3 above the national comparison. University attainment is 25.9%, 4.2 percentage points lower than nationally, while the overseas-born share is 8.4%, 13.2 points lower. English ancestry is recorded by 1,653 residents, followed by Irish at 522 and Scottish at 447. No religion is recorded for 2,009 people and Christianity for 1,617. These patterns support a young, Anglo-leaning household base, while the 47.9% couples-with-children share helps explain demand for larger detached homes.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.9%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Long-term compound growth is 3.6% over 19 years, so the market's overall pace is lower than the headline 97.0% cumulative increase suggests. Housing is dominated by 98.9% separate houses, with 52.8% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Tenure is concentrated in mortgages at 59.0%, compared with 23.6% owned outright and 16.8% rented, because Miners Rest largely serves family buyers seeking space rather than apartment-style stock.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$360
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$927
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.0%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.9%
Couples with children
36.7%
Couples, no children
14.0%
Single parent
1,089
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 22.4% and 306 workers, followed by education at 12.7% and 174, construction at 11.8% and 162, manufacturing at 8.7% and 119, and public administration at 8.6% and 117. The occupational mix is led by trades with 368 workers and professionals with 356, followed by community and personal services at 293. A 75.6% participation rate and 2.3% unemployment indicate strong labour-force engagement. Household income is $1,983 per week at the 74.4th percentile, higher than the area-level disadvantage profile suggested by IEO decile 1, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 2 and IRSAD decile 1. This contrast suggests prosperity is uneven because employment strength does not lift every household equally.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
2,173
Unemployed
49
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
33.1%
Participation
75.6%
Employed
2,124
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.9%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
8.4%
Dwellings
1,314
Transport to Work
Miners Rest is highly car dependent: 77.7% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.5% using public transport and 1.9% walking or cycling. This matters because daily access to Ballarat services is more practical by car, while 14.8% work from home. The suburb has 1 named local school, Miners Rest Primary School, in the government primary sector; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime totals 141 incidents, or 36.8 per 1,000 residents. IRSAD is decile 1, lower than IER decile 2, so household budgets should allow for transport and service access even though mortgage stress is not flagged.
Drive
77.7%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
14.8%
Population Forecast
+0.63%/yr
(+98 people/yr)
EstablishedMiners Rest has an established profile, with forecast annual growth of 0.63% and population change across the wider area of 7.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the shift trajectory is Mixed, indicating that expansion is not following one clear demographic pattern. Rent growth of 44.4% is higher than the 7.9% ten-year population change, so housing demand has strengthened faster than the resident base. The shift assessment records a gentrification score of 41 and stage Early signs, but the separate gentrification classification is Not gentrifying with a score of 0. Together, these signals point to gradual change rather than rapid transformation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+91
Net Internal / yr
-56
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
141
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
36.8
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 Miners Rest compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Miners Rest a good suburb to live in?
Miners Rest suits households wanting detached homes, with 98.9% separate houses and 52.8% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Its median age is 33 and mortgage stress is not flagged at 17.7% of household income. The trade-off is car dependence, with 77.7% driving and only 0.5% using public transport.
What schools are in Miners Rest?
There is 1 named local school: Miners Rest Primary School, a government primary school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. Secondary school access may require travel beyond the immediate suburb.
Is Miners Rest safe?
There were 141 recorded offences, equal to a rate of 36.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 62 incidents, while crimes against the person totalled 31. Safety can vary by street and time, so buyers and renters should review current local conditions before choosing an address.
Is Miners Rest good for property investment?
The median rent is $360 per week, vacancy is 4.0% and rent growth is 44.4%. However, only 16.8% of households rent, compared with 59.0% paying a mortgage, so tenant demand is more owner-oriented than in a typical rental market. There were 18 development applications in 12 months.
How is Miners Rest's population changing?
Growth is gradual rather than rapid, with a forecast annual trend of 0.63% and population change across the wider area of 7.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is classified as Mixed. The shift assessment records Early signs of gentrification with a score of 41.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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