Leongatha South VIC 3953
Leongatha South is a rural locality in Victoria, 137 km from Melbourne CBD, around 1 hour 50 minutes by car. Population is 616; the median age is 44 and the median household income is $93,184 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 40% nationally. Population fell 1.9% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $240 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,521. Walkability is low.
Is Leongatha South a good place to live?
Leongatha South scores a B (55/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on safety and community, weaker on transit.
Car-dependent
Walkability 0/100 · 137.3 km · 109 min drive to Melbourne
Median available
Median $1.02M
Low all-round risk
Fire 12/100 · Crime 29/100 · Flood 33/100
Advantaged
SEIFA decile 7/10 · median age 44 · 616 residents
Liveability Rating
55 / 100 · Ranked #354 in VICEach bar is Leongatha South's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
How do you rate the liveability in Leongatha South?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
55 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataThe median house sale price in Leongatha South sits at $1.02 million, broadly flat year-on-year. That said, only nine sales settled in the quarter, so the median is a noisy signal — treat it as a direction rather than a level.
$1,025,000
Based on only 9 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
By bedrooms
- 3 bed 5 sales $1.02M
Rental Market
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025109 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 28% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3953.
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.
Is Leongatha South safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Leongatha South sits in the low band, with 12 incidents recorded in 2026 — down roughly 61% on the prior year.
12 offences
61.3% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–20257 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Walkability
Leongatha South is very car-dependent on foot — at 0/100, nearly all errands require a car.
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.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Leongatha South.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 270
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
South Gippsland: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Leongatha South is home to 616 residents, with a median age of 44, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $93,000 a year, with unemployment at 1.2%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
616
Median Age
44
Median Household Income
$93,184/yr
Census Median Rent
$240/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,521/mo
Avg Household Size
2.8
Median Personal Income
$38,948/yr
Unemployment Rate
1.2%
Unoccupied Dwellings
15.3%
Total Dwellings
203
Owner-Occupier Rate
85.6%
Houses
99.0%
Rental Stress
13.4%
Mortgage Stress
19.6%
Work From Home
23.5%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 82.6%
- English Spoken at Home
- 91.6%
- Employment Rate
- 68.5%
- Completed Year 12
- 35.1%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
6.9% of residents (41) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (41).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 593 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
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $2,282 a year through South Gippsland based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 98%
- Infrastructure and transport 1%
- 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 locality around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: South Gippsland
In the year to August 2026, 170 new dwellings were approved across South Gippsland. That mix is 154 houses and 16 units. Approvals are up 21.1% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Bunurong Land Council 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 Wonthaggi, 25.4 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 41 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 12.7 km
- Annual rainfall
- 906 mm
- 119 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 24.6°C
- 6 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 6.9°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the locality 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
2 facilities within 5 km- 3.0 kmGravel and Sand QuarryingTop reported: Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10) · Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide
- 4.8 kmWaste Treatment and Disposal ServicesTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Carbon monoxide · Chlorine & compounds
EV adoption
In postcode 3953, 34 of 8,064 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.1% (169 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.5%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3953, 1,566 rooftop-solar systems totalling 11.0 MW have been installed since 2001, against 3,571 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 87 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.
11 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3953 in 2025-26, rank 82 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 63, in 2009-10.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
3 mortgage brokers are registered in postcode 3953.
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 $1,025,000 this is $275,000 above 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 Mary Aldred Liberal
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mary Aldred | 45.9% | 54.1% | -1.2 |
| 2022 | Russell Broadbent | 47.1% | 52.9% | -4.0 |
| 2019 | Russell Broadbent | 42.6% | 57.4% | -0.1 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Danny O'Brien The Nationals
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Danny O'Brien NP | 53.3% | 34.8% | 65.2% |
| 2018 | Danny O'Brien NP | 61.9% | 34.7% | 65.3% |
| 2014 | Peter Ryan NP | 57.3% | 34.3% | 65.7% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Leongatha South?
Every figure above is a locality 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 616 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
Inverloch VIC 3996
Leongatha VIC 3953
Koonwarra VIC 3954
Outtrim VIC 3951
Nerrena VIC 3953
Pound Creek VIC 3996
Compare Leongatha South to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Leongatha South
Is Leongatha South a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Leongatha South is low (29/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Leongatha South?
Leongatha South has a low recorded bushfire history (12/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a low share of it (33/100). These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Leongatha South a good place to live?
Leongatha South has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of B (55/100), 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 Leongatha South?
Leongatha South, VIC had a population of 616 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Leongatha South, VIC?
The postcode for Leongatha South, VIC is 3953.
How far is Leongatha South from Melbourne?
Leongatha South is 137 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 109 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Leongatha South?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Leongatha South was $93,184 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 Leongatha South?
There are too few current rental listings in Leongatha South for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $240, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Leongatha South?
The median age of residents in Leongatha South was 44 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Leongatha South at risk of bushfire?
Leongatha South has a low recorded bushfire history (12/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the locality 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.
What is the weather like in Leongatha South?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Leongatha South, Wonthaggi (25.4 km away), summer days average 24.6°C, winter nights 6.9°C, 906 mm of rain a year over 119 rainy days, and 6 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Leongatha South?
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 Leongatha South belong to?
Leongatha South sits within the South Gippsland local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Leongatha South?
The average residential rates bill through South Gippsland is $2,282 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Leongatha South?
Across South Gippsland, 170 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 21.1% 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 Leongatha South in?
Leongatha South sits within the federal Division of Monash, currently held by Mary Aldred (Liberal).
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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
- 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.