Bellbrae vs Torquay

Torquay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 52 in Bellbrae. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bellbrae, about half of households are couple families. In Torquay, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Bellbrae: a median of $2.44 million, against $1.18 million in Torquay, though rent is higher in Torquay. On these figures, Bellbrae tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Torquay suits families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Torquay

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (17 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • But Bellbrae carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 40/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Torquay

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($633,750 vs $1,830,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,180,000 vs $2,440,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 34%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Bellbrae has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $500/wk)
  • Torquay has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 7%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Torquay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (79 min vs 85 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bellbrae carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 40/100)
  • Torquay is more walkable (76/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bellbrae

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (55.6% vs 39.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bellbrae and Torquay drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bellbrae Torquay
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bellbrae Torquay
Walkability 0 / 76
Bellbrae — Walkability: 0/100 Torquay — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 83 / 60
Bellbrae — Safety: 83/100 Torquay — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 21 / 100
Bellbrae — Low fire risk: 21/100 Torquay — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 77 / 48
Bellbrae — Low flood risk: 77/100 Torquay — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Torquay has more residents (18,534 vs 1,346); Torquay has higher household incomes ($119,340 vs $80,912).

Bellbrae Torquay
Population 1,346 18,534
+1277% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +55.6% +39.8%
Median age 52 39
Median household income $80,912/yr $119,340/yr
+47% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $500/wk
+32% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bellbrae Torquay
0-4 3.8% / 7.2%
Bellbrae — 0-4: 3.8% Torquay — 0-4: 7.2%
5-14 13.7% / 15.2%
Bellbrae — 5-14: 13.7% Torquay — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 5.3% / 5.5%
Bellbrae — 15-19: 5.3% Torquay — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 2.0% / 4.4%
Bellbrae — 20-24: 2.0% Torquay — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 5.0% / 10.2%
Bellbrae — 25-34: 5.0% Torquay — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 12.1% / 16.4%
Bellbrae — 35-44: 12.1% Torquay — 35-44: 16.4%
45-54 10.5% / 14.0%
Bellbrae — 45-54: 10.5% Torquay — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 12.5% / 10.7%
Bellbrae — 55-64: 12.5% Torquay — 55-64: 10.7%
65-74 13.5% / 10.3%
Bellbrae — 65-74: 13.5% Torquay — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 15.2% / 4.4%
Bellbrae — 75-84: 15.2% Torquay — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 6.8% / 1.7%
Bellbrae — 85+: 6.8% Torquay — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bellbrae 50.5% couple families
Bellbrae — Couple Families: 50.5% Bellbrae — Lone Person: 38.2% Bellbrae — One Parent Families: 7.6% Bellbrae — Group Household: 2.7% Bellbrae — Other Families: 1.0%
Torquay 55.4% couple families
Torquay — Couple Families: 55.4% Torquay — Lone Person: 27.3% Torquay — One Parent Families: 11.9% Torquay — Group Household: 4.6% Torquay — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bellbrae 6.8% renting
Bellbrae — Owned Outright: 57.2% Bellbrae — Mortgage: 35.9% Bellbrae — Renting: 6.8%
Torquay 22.0% renting
Torquay — Owned Outright: 34.0% Torquay — Mortgage: 44.0% Torquay — Renting: 22.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bellbrae Torquay
Bachelor Degree 16.6% / 18.2%
Bellbrae — Bachelor Degree: 16.6% Torquay — Bachelor Degree: 18.2%
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 12.5%
Bellbrae — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% Torquay — Certificate III & IV: 12.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.5%
Bellbrae — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Torquay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.0% / 5.3%
Bellbrae — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0% Torquay — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 3.6%
Bellbrae — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Torquay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bellbrae Torquay
England 5.6% / 3.7%
Bellbrae — England: 5.6% Torquay — England: 3.7%
New Zealand 0.4% / 1.5%
Bellbrae — New Zealand: 0.4% Torquay — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.9%
Bellbrae — South Africa: 0.7% Torquay — South Africa: 0.9%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.6%
Bellbrae — Scotland: 0.7% Torquay — Scotland: 0.6%
Germany 0.7% / 0.5%
Bellbrae — Germany: 0.7% Torquay — Germany: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.7% / 0.5%
Bellbrae — Netherlands: 0.7% Torquay — Netherlands: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bellbrae 98.2% houses
Bellbrae — Houses: 98.2% Bellbrae — Townhouses: 0.0% Bellbrae — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Torquay 90.6% houses
Torquay — Houses: 90.6% Torquay — Townhouses: 8.4% Torquay — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bellbrae Torquay
Median house price $2,440,000 $1,180,000
Median unit price — $810,000
Median land price $1,830,000 $633,750
Typical days to sell (houses) 60 days
from 4 sales
 41 days
from 201 sales

Zoning mix

Bellbrae has more rural and farming land (82% vs 49%); Bellbrae has more land zoned for conservation (11% vs 0%).

Bellbrae Torquay
Rural and farming 82% 49%
Residential 4% 32%
Parks and recreation 1% 13%
Environmental 11% 0%
Other and special use 0% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
same for both
Industrial 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bellbrae Torquay
New dwellings approved 300
across Surf Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +57%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bellbrae Torquay
Houses — 3.1%
$775/wk on $1.31M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Bellbrae Torquay
House price — Higher than 78% of VIC
Income Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 48% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 16% of VIC

Liveability

Torquay is more walkable (76 vs 0); Torquay scores higher overall (70 vs 56).

Bellbrae Torquay
Grade B A
Score 56/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bellbrae carries more bushfire risk (79 vs 0); Torquay carries more crime risk (40 vs 17).

Bellbrae Torquay
Bushfire High
79/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
17/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Low
23/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
48/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bellbrae Torquay
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 2

Schools in Bellbrae

  • Bellbrae Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Torquay

  • Torquay Coast Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lisieux Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Surf Coast Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Therese School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Torquay P-6 College Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bellbrae Torquay
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 2 35
Parks & reserves 1 15
Childcare 1 17
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 0 5
Waterways 3 15

Mobility

Bellbrae Torquay
Walkability score 0/100 76/100
Distance to Melbourne 102 km 101.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 79 min
Public transport score 21/100 77/100
Peak arrivals per hour 1.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 111.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3228
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 3228
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bellbrae Torquay
Car (driver) 58.6% / 59.4%
Bellbrae — Car (driver): 58.6% Torquay — Car (driver): 59.4%
Worked from Home 34.9% / 33.2%
Bellbrae — Worked from Home: 34.9% Torquay — Worked from Home: 33.2%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 3.4%
Bellbrae — Car (passenger): 2.9% Torquay — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 3.6% / 2.5%
Bellbrae — Walked Only: 3.6% Torquay — Walked Only: 2.5%
Bicycle — / 0.7%
Bellbrae — Bicycle: not among its largest Torquay — Bicycle: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.4%).

Setting

Bellbrae Torquay
Elevation 83 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.2 km 2.0 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bellbrae Torquay
Connectivity score 62/100 74/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
578 premises
 54%
9,074 premises

Climate

Bellbrae Torquay
Annual rainfall 599 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bellbrae Torquay
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Bellbrae Torquay
Average residential rate $2,314/yr
same for both
Council Surf Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Bellbrae Torquay
Division Corangamite
same for both
Member Libby Coker
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bellbrae Torquay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bellbrae

Acreage Luxury Retirees

Torquay

Coastal Family Large Blocks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bellbrae

Bellbrae vs Jan Juc Bellbrae vs Anglesea Bellbrae vs Freshwater Creek Bellbrae vs Paraparap Bellbrae vs Bells Beach

Other comparisons with Torquay

Torquay vs Mount Duneed Torquay vs Jan Juc Torquay vs Connewarre Torquay vs Freshwater Creek Torquay vs Breamlea
Full data on Bellbrae Full data on Torquay
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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