Moving to Smythesdale VIC 3351
What the official numbers say about living in Smythesdale — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Budget around $520,000 for a median house (based on 2024 sales). Sale prices moved up about 151% between 2014 and 2024.
Renting? The census median is $300 a week, against a median household income of $1,656 a week.
About 94% of homes are owner-occupied and 5% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Smythesdale grew 40% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (849 → 1,189 people).
Around 80% of households are families, averaging 2.7 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, Netherlands, China; most spoken languages besides English: Afrikaans, Cantonese, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Smythesdale sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (83% of workers), while 16% work from home.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 114 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 school · 2 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 3 parks — see them all on the Smythesdale profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Woady Yaloak Primary School - Smythesdale Campus 250 m
Groceries: IGA 550 m
Parks and reserves: Koala Bend 200 m · Koala Bend Picnic area 300 m · Smythesdale Gardens 500 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Smythesdale, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Crimson Rosella · Little Raven · Superb Fairy-wren · White-throated Treecreeper · Grey Shrike-thrush.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Smythesdale, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smythesdale here | 1,189 | $520,000 | 4/10 | 69% |
| Haddon | 1,276 | — | 5/10 | 19% |
| Ross Creek | 1,221 | — | 7/10 | 22% |
| Snake Valley | 820 | — | 2/10 | 34% |
| Smythes Creek | 1,762 | $525,000 | 7/10 | 22% |
| Winter Valley | 3,440 | $553,000 | 6/10 | 2% |
| Lucas | 2,994 | $635,000 | 7/10 | 0% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Golden Plains — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Ballarat — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3351 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Smythesdale profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
A house in Smythesdale has a median sale price of $520,000 (2024 sales). Renters pay a median $300 a week, and about 5% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 40% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 849 people to 1,189. It sits about 114 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line. Local government is Golden Plains council, and the federal seat is Ballarat.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Smythesdale vs Haddon · Smythesdale vs Ross Creek.
Nearby guides: Haddon · Ross Creek · Snake Valley · Smythes Creek · Winter Valley · Lucas.
Keep an eye on Smythesdale
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