Smythes Creek
Ownership rates in Smythes Creek tell the real story: 36.8% of dwellings are owned outright and 53.6% carry a mortgage, meaning fewer than 10% of residents rent, well below the national average. Every dwelling is a separate house, giving the suburb a density of 67.8 persons per km2 across 25.98 km2 on Ballarat's western fringe. Household income sits in the 81.4th percentile nationally despite a median house price of $540,000, pointing to a community that earns well relative to what it pays for housing. The identity signals combine: mortgage-belt family suburb with high owner-occupancy, a workforce skewed toward healthcare and construction, and an aging trajectory that has nudged the senior share up 5.9 points over the decade.
Population
1,762
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,132/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$540K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $540,000 sits 13.6% below its Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $625,000, so buyers entering now are not paying peak prices. Since 2014 the price has risen 42.1% from $380,000, a compound annual rate of 2.7% over 13 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,647, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income runs at 18.5%. The dwelling stock is 100% separate houses, with 61.3% having 4 or more bedrooms and 36.9% at 3 bedrooms, making Smythes Creek well suited to families rather than investors chasing apartments. Household size averages 3.1, above the national figure, consistent with the family-skewed profile.
For Buyers
The median house price of $540,000 sits 13.6% below its Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $625,000, so buyers entering now are not paying peak prices. Since 2014 the price has risen 42.1% from $380,000, a compound annual rate of 2.7% over 13 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,647, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income runs at 18.5%. The dwelling stock is 100% separate houses, with 61.3% having 4 or more bedrooms and 36.9% at 3 bedrooms, making Smythes Creek well suited to families rather than investors chasing apartments. Household size averages 3.1, above the national figure, consistent with the family-skewed profile.
For Investors
The rental market is thin: only 9.6% of dwellings are rented, which is well below the national average, and the vacancy rate sits at 3.6%. Weekly rent of $395 against a $540,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.8%. Development activity is minimal with only 2 planning applications in the past 12 months, both non-residential, so new supply is not a near-term threat. Migration is balanced, with net internal outflow of 8 and overseas intake of 2 per year, leaving growth driven mainly by natural increase. The suburb's 4.0% unemployment rate and 63.7% participation rate reflect a stable, working population. Rent grew 45.8% over the decade, substantially outpacing income growth of 15.4% in real terms, which supports the ongoing rental income case.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, though the trajectory is aging: the working-age share fell 3.7 points and the senior share rose 5.9 points over the decade. Average household size of 3.1 is 0.6 above national, driven by the high share of couples with children (653 families) compared to couples without children (384). Only 8.5% of residents were born overseas, which is 13.1 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (747), Irish (261), Scottish (243) and German (72) are the top groups. University qualifications at 26.3% are 3.8 points below the national rate. The volunteering rate of 15.4% and 5.9% needing daily assistance indicate a community with above-average civic participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
All dwellings in Smythes Creek are separate houses, with none recorded as apartments or semi-detached, a composition that differs sharply from most Victorian suburbs. The 4-plus bedroom category accounts for 61.3% of homes and 3-bedroom at 36.9%, confirming the family-sized character of the stock. Tenure splits strongly toward ownership: 36.8% own outright and 53.6% hold a mortgage, compared to typical national rental shares that exceed 25%. The price history runs from $380,000 in 2014 to a peak of $625,000 in Apr-Jun 2023 before retreating 13.6% to $540,000 in Apr-Jun 2024. The CAGR of 2.7% over 13 years is below the rate needed to match inflation, though the early base price provides a long-term capital cushion for established owners.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,647
Rent / wk
$395
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$817
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
21
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.9%
Couples, no children
1,541
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 22.7% of the workforce (135 workers), followed by Construction at 15.6% (93) and Education at 13.1% (78). Manufacturing adds 7.6% and Professional/Tech 5.9%. By occupation, Professionals (163) lead, followed by Community/Personal (129), Clerical/Admin (108) and Managers (105). The full-time employment rate is 63.2% and the unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is slightly above Ballarat's generally low jobless figures. The IRSD decile of 8 indicates relatively low disadvantage nationally, while the IRSAD decile of 6 places the suburb in the middle bracket for advantage overall. The IER decile of 10 signals very high economic resources, a reflection of high home ownership and the 81.4th-percentile household income.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
2,480
Unemployed
51
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.2%
Part-time
32.8%
Participation
63.7%
Employed
861
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.3%
Postgraduate
5.2%
Born Overseas
8.5%
Dwellings
554
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 89.7% of workers driving, compared to just 0.5% using public transport, reflecting the suburb's semi-rural position 10 km west of Ballarat's CBD. The crime rate of 123.7 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated, with property and deception offences accounting for 158 of the 218 total incidents. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in adjacent Ballarat suburbs. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 8 places Smythes Creek in the upper tier for low disadvantage nationally, and only 5.9% of residents require assistance with daily activities. Household income in the 81.4th percentile nationally, combined with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.8%, means most residents carry manageable housing costs relative to earnings.
Drive
89.7%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.85%/yr
(+36 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.85% annually, adding approximately 36 persons per year, and the 10-year change of 11.8% shows steady but modest expansion. The medium forecast projects the wider area population growing from around 4,250 in 2025 to 4,518 by 2031. The gentrification score of 43 places Smythes Creek at early signs of gentrification, though the formal stage classification is not gentrifying, as the suburb is already established and advantage-indexed. Affordability has held broadly stable, moving from 42.5% in 2011 to 43.6% in 2021, compared to many regional areas where affordability declined sharply. The migration picture is balanced with a small net internal outflow of 8 per year offset by overseas intake, meaning growth depends mainly on natural increase rather than migration-driven demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+2
Net Internal / yr
-8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
218
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
123.7
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 Smythes Creek compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smythes Creek a good suburb to live in?
Smythes Creek suits families seeking space and affordability near Ballarat. The median house price of $540,000 is accessible, mortgage-to-income sits at 17.8% below the 30% stress threshold, and 100% of dwellings are separate houses. The main trade-offs are high car dependency at 89.7% and a crime rate of 123.7 per 1,000 residents, above typical suburban benchmarks.
What is the median house price in Smythes Creek?
The median house price is $540,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 13.6% from the peak of $625,000 in Apr-Jun 2023. Since 2014 the price has grown 42.1% from $380,000, a compound annual rate of 2.7% over 13 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,647.
What schools are in Smythes Creek?
No schools are recorded within the Smythes Creek boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Ballarat suburbs. The local university qualification rate of 26.3% is 3.8 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trades and healthcare rather than graduate professions.
Is Smythes Creek safe?
Smythes Creek records a crime rate of 123.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 218 total incidents. Property and deception offences make up the largest category at 158 incidents. By contrast, the SEIFA IRSD decile of 8 places the suburb in the upper tier for low disadvantage nationally, and only 5.9% of residents need daily assistance.
Is Smythes Creek good for property investment?
The rental market is small with only 9.6% of dwellings rented, well below the national average, and vacancy sits at 3.6%. Weekly rent of $395 implies a gross yield around 3.8% on the $540,000 median. Rent grew 45.8% over the decade. Development activity is minimal at 2 applications in 12 months, limiting new supply risk, but the thin rental pool constrains demand.
How is Smythes Creek's population changing?
Population grows at 0.85% annually, adding about 36 persons per year, with a 10-year change of 11.8%. The wider area population of approximately 4,250 in 2025 is projected to reach 4,518 by 2031 under the medium forecast. The aging trajectory is notable, with the senior share rising 5.9 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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