Sebastopol VIC 3356
Sebastopol is a suburb in Victoria, 120 km from Melbourne CBD, around 1 hour 35 minutes by car. Population is 10,194; the median age is 39 and the median household income is $52,676 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the bottom 20% nationally. The suburb grew 1.6% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $270 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,133. Sebastopol is characterised by high crime risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. 6 schools sit within the suburb boundary, and walkability is high.
Is Sebastopol a good suburb?
Sebastopol scores a C (41/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit, weaker on schools, safety, and community.
Below the state average
6 schools · Bottom 25% in VIC
Very walkable
Walkability 82/100 · 119.8 km · 93 min drive to Melbourne
Around the state median
Median $488K · Cheaper than 88% of VIC
High crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 87/100 · Flood 0/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 1/10 · median age 39 · 10,194 residents
Liveability Rating
41 / 100 · Ranked #557 in VICEach bar is Sebastopol's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
How do you rate the liveability in Sebastopol?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
41 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataSebastopol's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $488,000, roughly 20% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$488,000
15% below its 5 neighbours (median $575,000)
Based on 328 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 27 days — median across 106 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 38 sales $395K
- 3 bed 217 sales $480K
- 4 bed 67 sales $560K
Units
$390,000
In line with its 3 neighbours (median $397,500)
Based on 71 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 22 days — median across 32 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 54 sales $385K
- 3 bed 13 sales $431K
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Sebastopol are currently listed at around $550,000 on average. Based on 89 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$550K
89 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$400K
17 units listed in the last 6 months.
106 of the suburb's 4,402 dwellings (2.4%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Sebastopol rent for around $440 a week on average, based on 66 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$440/wk
8% below its 4 neighbours (median $480/wk)
66 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$390/wk
17 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
83 rentals advertised against an estimated 1,849 rented homes (4.5%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025124 Acceptable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 24% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3356.
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$440/week ($23,000 a year) on a $550,000 median
$390/week ($20,000 a year) on a $400,000 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 Sebastopol safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Sebastopol sits in the high band, with 1,098 incidents recorded in 2026 — up about 5% on the prior year.
1,098 offences
5.0% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–202550 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
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
Six schools serve Sebastopol, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 2,143 students across 4 schools (avg 536)
- • Sectors: 3 Government, 2 Independent, 1 Catholic
- • ICSEA 901-1058, median 990 (around the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Phoenix P-12 Community College (1,473 students)
Primary
Secondary
Combined
Universities nearby
1.1% of residents here are full-time university students aged 15–24.
Distance is measured to the suburb centre. A campus nearby does not by itself mean a student rental market — most suburbs within a few kilometres of one have a student share close to the national norm, and the figure above is what tells them apart.
Walkability
Sebastopol is very walkable on foot — at 82/100, most daily errands can be done on foot.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Sebastopol.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 58.8 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 63.9 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 59.1 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 1 min
- Span of service
- 16.4 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 Sebastopol.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 45%
- Premises covered
- 5,983
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
Ballarat: 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 22 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 4 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Sebastopol is home to about 10,200 residents, with a median age of 39, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $53,000 a year, with unemployment at 6.9%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
10,194
Median Age
39
Median Household Income
$52,676/yr
Census Median Rent
$270/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,133/mo
Avg Household Size
2.1
Median Personal Income
$31,512/yr
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Unoccupied Dwellings
8.0%
Total Dwellings
4,402
Owner-Occupier Rate
58.0%
Houses
72.8%
Rental Stress
26.7%
Mortgage Stress
25.8%
Work From Home
10.2%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
238 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 52 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 1,777 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 83.0%
- English Spoken at Home
- 87.9%
- Employment Rate
- 47.9%
- Completed Year 12
- 30.8%
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.
167 residents (1.6%) 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.
6.0% of residents (577) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (481).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 9,620 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
1% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (49 of 4,053).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 2,539 people work here; 4,053 employed residents live here.
Mostly a place people commute from: 0.6 jobs per working resident. At least 37% of employed residents must work outside the suburb.
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 $2,086 a year through Ballarat based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Residential 73%
- Parks and recreation 11%
- Infrastructure and transport 8%
- Industrial 3%
- Rural and farming 3%
- Commercial 2%
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: Ballarat
In the year to August 2026, 1,451 new dwellings were approved across Ballarat. That mix is 1,134 houses and 317 units. Approvals are up 41.8% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this suburb: 1,930 homes
- Lots in approved subdivisions, not yet titled 55 homes
- Land zoned for housing, not yet subdivided 1,875 homes
From the Victorian Government's Urban Development Program: growth-area land and approved lots (metropolitan 2025, regional June 2024) and projects of 10 or more homes in Melbourne (2025), by stage. Lots and homes are counted as published; a lot usually becomes one home.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2009).
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 Ballarat Aerodrome, 10.5 kmModerate rainfall — warm summers, cold winters with occasional frost.
- Elevation
- 421 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Annual rainfall
- 605 mm
- 97 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 25.7°C
- 6 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 3.5°C
- 17 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
8 facilities within 5 km- 2.3 kmGold Ore MiningTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
- 2.9 kmLaundry and Dry-Cleaning ServicesTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5)
- 3.4 kmGrain Mill Product ManufacturingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10) · Carbon monoxide
- 3.9 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Total Nitrogen · Ammonia (total) · Total Phosphorus
- 4.0 kmHospitals (Except Psychiatric Hospitals)Top reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5)
EV adoption
In postcode 3356, 47 of 12,809 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.3% (161 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.6%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3356, 2,150 rooftop-solar systems totalling 14.2 MW have been installed since 2001, against 6,890 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 107 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.
12 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3356 in 2025-26, rank 77 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 206, in 2009-10.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
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 $488,000 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 Catherine King Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Catherine King | 60.7% | 39.3% | -2.3 |
| 2022 | Catherine King | 63.0% | 37.0% | -2.7 |
| 2019 | Catherine King | 61.0% | 39.0% | -3.6 |
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 Juliana Addison Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Juliana Addison ALP | 50.8% | 63.5% | 36.5% |
| 2018 | Juliana Addison ALP | 51.2% | 60.3% | 39.7% |
| 2014 | Sharon Knight ALP | 55.8% | 55.8% | 44.2% |
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 Sebastopol?
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 10,194 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.
Featured in
- #1 in Highest-yielding Ballarat suburbs (houses)
- #1 in Highest-yielding Ballarat suburbs (units)
- #2 in Best Ballarat suburbs for good public primary schools
- #2 in Best Ballarat suburbs for good public high schools
- #2 in Best Ballarat suburbs for first-home buyers (units)
- #2 in Most walkable suburbs in Ballarat
- #3 in Best Ballarat suburbs to rent in
- #3 in Best Ballarat suburbs for good private primary schools
- #3 in Best Ballarat suburbs for good private high schools
- #4 in Best Ballarat suburbs for first-home buyers (houses)
- #4 in Ballarat suburbs where the most Punjabi is spoken at home
- #4 in Ballarat suburbs with the most rooftop solar
- #5 in Ballarat suburbs with the deepest rental markets
- #5 in Ballarat suburbs where seniors live
- #6 in Ballarat suburbs with the fastest EV adoption growth
- #6 in Ballarat suburbs with the highest EV adoption today
- #7 in Ballarat suburbs with the most parkland nearby
- #7 in Ballarat suburbs with the largest Muslim community
- #7 in Ballarat suburbs with the largest Sikh community
- #7 in Ballarat suburbs with the best public transport
- #8 in Where the Indian community lives in Ballarat
- #9 in Ballarat suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- #9 in Ballarat suburbs that suit young professionals
- #10 in Ballarat suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021
- #12 in Ballarat suburbs with the largest Hindu community
- #13 in Ballarat suburbs where young families live
- #14 in Ballarat suburbs with the biggest house blocks
- #15 in Ballarat suburbs where the most homes are owned outright
Nearby suburbs
Delacombe VIC 3356
Mount Clear VIC 3350
Redan VIC 3350
Mount Pleasant VIC 3350
Bonshaw VIC 3352
Magpie VIC 3352
Compare Sebastopol to another suburb
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Common questions about Sebastopol
Is Sebastopol a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Sebastopol is high (87/100, 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 Sebastopol?
Sebastopol has no recorded bushfire history. No mapped flood overlay applies. These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Sebastopol a good place to live?
Sebastopol has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of C (41/100), 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 Sebastopol?
Sebastopol, VIC had a population of 10,194 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Sebastopol, VIC?
The postcode for Sebastopol, VIC is 3356.
How far is Sebastopol from Melbourne?
Sebastopol is 120 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 93 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Sebastopol?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Sebastopol was $52,676 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 Sebastopol?
The median advertised rent in Sebastopol is $440 a week for houses (66 listings) and $390 a week for units (17 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Sebastopol?
The median age of residents in Sebastopol was 39 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Sebastopol?
There are 6 schools inside the Sebastopol boundary: 2 at and 2 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Sebastopol walkable?
Sebastopol scores 82/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very walkable. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the weather like in Sebastopol?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Sebastopol, Ballarat Aerodrome (10.5 km away), summer days average 25.7°C, winter nights 3.5°C, 605 mm of rain a year over 97 rainy days, and 6 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Sebastopol?
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 Sebastopol belong to?
Sebastopol sits within the Ballarat local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Sebastopol?
The average residential rates bill through Ballarat is $2,086 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Sebastopol?
Across Ballarat, 1,451 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 41.8% 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 Sebastopol in?
Sebastopol sits within the federal Division of Ballarat, currently held by Catherine King (Australian Labor Party).
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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.