Bairnsdale VIC 3875
Bairnsdale sits 278 km from Melbourne CBD in Victoria, around 3 hours 20 minutes by car. Census data records 7,905 residents with a median age of 44 and a median household income of $57,252 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 4.3% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $270 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,192. The area shows high crime risk and high flood risk. Of 9 schools within the suburb boundary, 1 ranks above the state average, and walkability is low.
Is Bairnsdale a good suburb?
Bairnsdale scores a D (14/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on prices, weaker on transit, safety, and community.
Mixed results
9 schools · 1 above peer schools
Car-dependent
Walkability 0/100 · 278.2 km · 200 min drive to Melbourne
More affordable than most
Median $520K · More affordable than 78% of VIC
High crime risk
Fire 61/100 · Crime 95/100 · Flood 69/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 2/10 · median age 44 · 7,905 residents
Liveability Rating
14 / 100 · Ranked #859 in VICEach bar is Bairnsdale's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
How do you rate the liveability in Bairnsdale?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
14 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataBairnsdale's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $520,000, roughly 19% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$520,000
7% below its 4 neighbours (median $558,000)
Based on 267 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 42 days — median across 132 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 24 sales $375K
- 3 bed 164 sales $490K
- 4 bed 67 sales $620K
- 5 bed 9 sales $735K
Units
$347,500
Based on 38 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 48 days — median across 20 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 29 sales $345K
- 3 bed 7 sales $401K
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Bairnsdale are currently listed at around $565,000 on average. Based on 141 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$565K
141 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$410K
22 units listed in the last 6 months.
163 of the suburb's 3,300 dwellings (4.9%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Bairnsdale rent for around $500 a week on average, based on 56 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$500/wk
56 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$415/wk
12 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
68 rentals advertised against an estimated 1,145 rented homes (5.9%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025104 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 29% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3875.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$500/week ($26,000 a year) on a $565,000 median
$415/week ($22,000 a year) on a $410,000 median
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Is Bairnsdale safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Bairnsdale sits in the high band, with 1,686 incidents recorded in 2026 — up about 8% on the prior year.
1,686 offences
8.4% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–202516 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 1 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Nine schools serve Bairnsdale, and results are mixed — some outperforming peer-suburb schools, some below. Bairnsdale Primary School leads the pack.
- • 3,297 students across 8 schools (avg 412)
- • Sectors: 5 Government, 2 Independent, 2 Catholic
- • ICSEA 857-1053, median 982 (around the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Bairnsdale Secondary College (1,213 students)
Primary
Secondary
Combined
Walkability
Bairnsdale is very car-dependent on foot — at 0/100, nearly all errands require a car. Within the suburb there are 3 supermarkets, 9 parks and 13 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Bairnsdale.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 4.5 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 13.0 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 1.8 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 5 min
- Span of service
- 18.1 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Bairnsdale.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 44%
- Premises covered
- 5,144
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
East Gippsland: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 19 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 5 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Bairnsdale is home to about 7,900 residents, with a median age of 44, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $57,000 a year, with unemployment at 4.9%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
7,905
Median Age
44
Median Household Income
$57,252/yr
Census Median Rent
$270/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,192/mo
Avg Household Size
2.2
Median Personal Income
$32,968/yr
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Unoccupied Dwellings
11.5%
Total Dwellings
3,300
Owner-Occupier Rate
65.3%
Houses
84.3%
Rental Stress
24.5%
Mortgage Stress
25.0%
Work From Home
9.9%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
154 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 63 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 1,102 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 80.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 85.7%
- Employment Rate
- 48.7%
- Completed Year 12
- 32.9%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
188 residents (2.4%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
6.7% of residents (503) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (414).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 7,458 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 7,820 people work here; 3,197 employed residents live here.
A jobs hub: 2.4 jobs for every working resident. At least 51% of the people who work here must live elsewhere.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,807 a year through East Gippsland based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 69%
- Parks and recreation 10%
- Residential 9%
- Infrastructure and transport 9%
- Industrial 3%
- Zones under 1% 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 — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: East Gippsland
In the year to August 2026, 386 new dwellings were approved across East Gippsland. That mix is 362 houses and 24 units. Approvals are up 50.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2017).
Registered Aboriginal Parties are appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage for their area. They are the body to contact about cultural heritage here.
Climate & Setting
from Bairnsdale Airport, 3.1 kmModerate rainfall — warm summers, cold winters with occasional frost.
- Elevation
- 24 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 18.5 km
- Annual rainfall
- 620 mm
- 82 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 25.5°C
- 8 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 4.5°C
- 7 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
5 facilities within 5 km- 1.7 kmFossil Fuel Electricity GenerationTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
- 2.8 km
- 2.9 kmPetroleum Product WholesalingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · n-Hexane · Benzene
- 3.1 km
- 4.5 kmWaste Treatment and Disposal ServicesTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Total Volatile Organic Compounds
EV adoption
In postcode 3875, 95 of 19,447 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.5% (298 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.0%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3875, 4,072 rooftop-solar systems totalling 26.8 MW have been installed since 2001, against 8,719 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 258 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
The separate First Home Buyer Duty Reduction (stamp-duty concession) runs alongside this grant.
16 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3875 in 2025-26, rank 59 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 191, in 2001-02.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
6 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb.
Land transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with State Revenue Office Victoria
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with State Revenue Office Victoria.
At $520,000 this is under the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with State Revenue Office Victoria.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Darren Chester The Nationals
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Darren Chester | 30.6% | 69.4% | +1.2 |
| 2022 | Darren Chester | 29.4% | 70.6% | +3.9 |
| 2019 | Darren Chester | 33.3% | 66.7% | -1.5 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Tim Bull The Nationals
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tim Bull NP | 63.3% | 26.1% | 73.9% |
| 2018 | Tim Bull NP | 56.7% | 32.4% | 67.6% |
| 2014 | Tim Bull NP | 60.4% | 32.1% | 67.9% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Bairnsdale?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 7,905 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Wy Yung VIC 3875
Lucknow VIC 3875
East Bairnsdale VIC 3875
Eagle Point VIC 3878
Forge Creek VIC 3875
Hillside VIC 3875
Compare Bairnsdale to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Bairnsdale
Is Bairnsdale a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Bairnsdale is high (95/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Bairnsdale?
Bairnsdale has a moderate recorded bushfire history (61/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a moderate share of it (69/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Bairnsdale a good place to live?
Bairnsdale has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (14/100), ranked against other VIC suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Bairnsdale?
Bairnsdale, VIC had a population of 7,905 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Bairnsdale, VIC?
The postcode for Bairnsdale, VIC is 3875.
How far is Bairnsdale from Melbourne?
Bairnsdale is 278 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 200 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Bairnsdale?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Bairnsdale was $57,252 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Bairnsdale?
The median advertised rent in Bairnsdale is $500 a week for houses (56 listings) and $415 a week for units (12 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Bairnsdale?
The median age of residents in Bairnsdale was 44 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Bairnsdale at risk of bushfire?
Bairnsdale has a moderate recorded bushfire history (61/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the suburb relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
How are the schools in Bairnsdale?
There are 9 schools inside the Bairnsdale boundary: 1 above, 3 at, and 3 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
What is the weather like in Bairnsdale?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Bairnsdale, Bairnsdale Airport (3.1 km away), summer days average 25.5°C, winter nights 4.5°C, 620 mm of rain a year over 82 rainy days, and 8 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Bairnsdale?
First-home buyers in VIC may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office Victoria; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Bairnsdale belong to?
Bairnsdale sits within the East Gippsland local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Bairnsdale?
The average residential rates bill through East Gippsland is $1,807 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Bairnsdale?
Across East Gippsland, 386 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 50.0% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Bairnsdale in?
Bairnsdale sits within the federal Division of Gippsland, currently held by Darren Chester (The Nationals).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2022
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.