Lake Wendouree vs Lake Gardens

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lake Wendouree, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Lake Wendouree: a median of $962,000, against $700,000 in Lake Gardens, though rent is higher in Lake Gardens. On these figures, Lake Gardens tends to suit 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

Lake Wendouree

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 5)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Lake Gardens has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 79%)

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

First-home buyers

Lake Gardens

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($618,000 vs $920,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($700,000 vs $962,500)
  • But Lake Wendouree has cheaper units ($501,250 vs $600,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lake Wendouree

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($321/wk vs $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Lake Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 41/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Lake Wendouree has more units and townhouses to downsize into (21% vs 8%)
  • Lake Gardens is more walkable (75/100 vs 41/100)

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

Investors

Lake Gardens

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (6.3% vs -0.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.0% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
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.

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Walkability 41 / 75
Lake Wendouree — Walkability: 41/100 Lake Gardens — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 24 / 15
Lake Wendouree — Safety: 24/100 Lake Gardens — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lake Wendouree — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lake Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Lake Wendouree — Low flood risk: 100/100 Lake Gardens — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lake Wendouree has more residents (2,878 vs 1,801); Lake Wendouree has higher household incomes ($101,556 vs $79,768).

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Population 2,878
+37% vs other
 1,801
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.1% +6.3%
Median age 53 51
Median household income $101,556/yr
+21% vs other
 $79,768/yr
Median weekly rent $321/wk $360/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
0-4 2.7% / 3.8%
Lake Wendouree — 0-4: 2.7% Lake Gardens — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 11.0% / 9.6%
Lake Wendouree — 5-14: 11.0% Lake Gardens — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 6.2% / 8.6%
Lake Wendouree — 15-19: 6.2% Lake Gardens — 15-19: 8.6%
20-24 4.1% / 4.1%
Lake Wendouree — 20-24: 4.1% Lake Gardens — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 5.9% / 7.7%
Lake Wendouree — 25-34: 5.9% Lake Gardens — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 9.1% / 8.2%
Lake Wendouree — 35-44: 9.1% Lake Gardens — 35-44: 8.2%
45-54 13.6% / 14.7%
Lake Wendouree — 45-54: 13.6% Lake Gardens — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 15.0% / 14.8%
Lake Wendouree — 55-64: 15.0% Lake Gardens — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 15.3% / 13.9%
Lake Wendouree — 65-74: 15.3% Lake Gardens — 65-74: 13.9%
75-84 11.0% / 12.1%
Lake Wendouree — 75-84: 11.0% Lake Gardens — 75-84: 12.1%
85+ 6.3% / 3.1%
Lake Wendouree — 85+: 6.3% Lake Gardens — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lake Wendouree 48.7% lone person
Lake Wendouree — Lone Person: 48.7% Lake Wendouree — Couple Families: 37.1% Lake Wendouree — One Parent Families: 10.6% Lake Wendouree — Group Household: 3.1% Lake Wendouree — Other Families: 0.5%
Lake Gardens 42.8% lone person
Lake Gardens — Lone Person: 42.8% Lake Gardens — Couple Families: 39.0% Lake Gardens — One Parent Families: 14.5% Lake Gardens — Group Household: 2.6% Lake Gardens — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lake Wendouree 25.6% renting
Lake Wendouree — Owned Outright: 51.8% Lake Wendouree — Mortgage: 22.6% Lake Wendouree — Renting: 25.6%
Lake Gardens 29.0% renting
Lake Gardens — Owned Outright: 49.8% Lake Gardens — Mortgage: 21.2% Lake Gardens — Renting: 29.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Bachelor Degree 20.4% / 16.2%
Lake Wendouree — Bachelor Degree: 20.4% Lake Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 9.7%
Lake Wendouree — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Lake Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Certificate III & IV 8.8% / 9.9%
Lake Wendouree — Certificate III & IV: 8.8% Lake Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 8.6% / 7.2%
Lake Wendouree — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6% Lake Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.3% / 4.1%
Lake Wendouree — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.3% Lake Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

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.

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
England 1.9% / 3.2%
Lake Wendouree — England: 1.9% Lake Gardens — England: 3.2%
China 0.5% / 4.0%
Lake Wendouree — China: 0.5% Lake Gardens — China: 4.0%
India 1.0% / 1.7%
Lake Wendouree — India: 1.0% Lake Gardens — India: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.6%
Lake Wendouree — New Zealand: 1.1% Lake Gardens — New Zealand: 0.6%
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Lake Wendouree — Netherlands: 0.7% Lake Gardens — Netherlands: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.7%
Lake Wendouree — South Africa: not among its largest Lake Gardens — South Africa: 0.7%
Vietnam 0.5% / —
Lake Wendouree — Vietnam: 0.5% Lake Gardens — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lake Wendouree 79.1% houses
Lake Wendouree — Houses: 79.1% Lake Wendouree — Townhouses: 18.8% Lake Wendouree — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Lake Gardens 92.0% houses
Lake Gardens — Houses: 92.0% Lake Gardens — Townhouses: 7.2% Lake Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Median house price $962,500 $700,000
Median unit price $501,250 $600,000
Median land price $920,000 $618,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 34 sales
 25 days
from 20 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
3 bed $830K / $615K
Lake Wendouree — 3 bed: $830K (39 sales) Lake Gardens — 3 bed: $615K (36 sales)

39 vs 36 sales

4 bed $1.41M / $780K
Lake Wendouree — 4 bed: $1.41M (30 sales) Lake Gardens — 4 bed: $780K (39 sales)

30 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Parks and recreation 64% 16%
Residential 30% 59%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 20%
Industrial 0% 4%
Other and special use 3% 0%
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

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
New dwellings approved 1,451
across Ballarat
same for both
Approvals change year on year +42%
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.

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Houses 2.5%
$650/wk on $1.35M
 3.0%
$460/wk on $800K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
House price Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Schools Higher than 76% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC

Liveability

Lake Gardens is more walkable (75 vs 41).

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Grade A
same for both
Score 71/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
76/100
 High
85/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 20
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 2.0 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.8%

Schools in Lake Wendouree

  • Loreto College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Pleasant Street Primary School (Ballarat) Government · Primary below peers
  • Loreto College - The Little Flower Campus Catholic · Secondary

Schools in Lake Gardens

  • Ballarat High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Ballarat Specialist School Government · Combined · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Cafes & restaurants 6 0
Parks & reserves 15 5
Childcare 1 3
GPs 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 9 0

Mobility

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Walkability score 41/100 75/100
Distance to Melbourne 121.9 km 122.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 89 min
Public transport score 75/100 36/100
Peak arrivals per hour 30.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3350
 0.5%
postcode 3355
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3350
 27
postcode 3355

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.

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Car (driver) 61.6% / 65.2%
Lake Wendouree — Car (driver): 61.6% Lake Gardens — Car (driver): 65.2%
Worked from Home 22.8% / 24.4%
Lake Wendouree — Worked from Home: 22.8% Lake Gardens — Worked from Home: 24.4%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 6.5%
Lake Wendouree — Car (passenger): 5.8% Lake Gardens — Car (passenger): 6.5%
Walked Only 7.4% / 2.0%
Lake Wendouree — Walked Only: 7.4% Lake Gardens — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bicycle 1.6% / 1.0%
Lake Wendouree — Bicycle: 1.6% Lake Gardens — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.2%).

Setting

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Elevation 449 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 464 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Connectivity score 84/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 70%
1,516 premises
 58%
909 premises

Climate

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Annual rainfall 605 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lake Wendouree

Professionals Quiet Retirees

Lake Gardens

Large Blocks Parks Professionals Quiet Retirees River

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Full data on Lake Wendouree Full data on Lake Gardens
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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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