🔍

Mount Helen

VIC 3350 • Rest of VIC

3,011
Population (2021)
$107,952
Median Household Income
11.92 km²
Area
$345/wk
Median Rent
RegionalUniversity TownAffordableFamily-FriendlySemi-Rural

About Mount Helen

Mount Helen is a semi-rural suburb located approximately 10 kilometres south of the Ballarat CBD in regional Victoria. Home to around 3,000 residents with a median age of 36, the suburb is best known as the location of Federation University Australia's main campus. Situated at an elevation of 500 metres, the area features a mix of residential properties set among bushland and open farmland.

The suburb offers a quiet, spacious lifestyle popular with university staff, students, and families who appreciate the affordable housing and generous block sizes compared to central Ballarat. Local amenities include the university's public facilities, nearby Buninyong village for shopping, and access to walking trails through the surrounding bushland. Mount Helen is well-suited for those seeking a peaceful regional lifestyle within easy reach of Ballarat's services.

Mount Helen falls under postcode 3350 and is governed by Ballarat Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Eureka (Western Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3350
Urban Area
Ballarat
LGA / Council
Ballarat
Federal Electorate
Ballarat
State Electorate
Eureka (Western Victoria)
Type
Urban
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.63°, 143.89°
Statistical Area
Rest of VIC
Area
11.92 km²
Elevation
500m

🏷️ Property Prices June quarter 2025

Median sale prices in Mount Helen for the June quarter 2025. Median sale prices published by the Valuer-General Victoria.

🏡House
$598K
22 sales · ▼ 5.7% YoY

Source: Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report. Medians are for the latest quarter; the change shown is the official 12-month movement. Suburbs with very few sales in a quarter can be volatile.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$345
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,600
Avg Household Size
2.8 people
Median Age
36 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
0.3%

3 state housing + 0 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Ballarat
10 km
N/A (drive required)

Bus Services

  • 20, 21 — Ballarat CBD / Federation University 20-25 min

Commute to Ballarat CBD

Distance
10 km
By Train
N/A (bus to Ballarat station)
By Bus
20-25 min
By Car (Peak)
15 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
12 min

🛣️ Melbourne CBD is 115 km east; V/Line train from Ballarat station takes ~1 hr 20 min

Walkability Car-Dependent

Mount Helen is a semi-rural suburb with limited footpaths and services spread out. A car is essential for daily living.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Ballarat Local Government Area, which contains Mount Helen. Rates are per 100,000 residents for the year ending September 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
467.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 46.3%
Motor vehicle theft
449.8 / 100k
2yr Up 23.3% 10yr Up 11.4%
Non-FV assault
395.7 / 100k
2yr Up 38.7% 10yr Up 20.1%
Robbery (unarmed)
1.6 / 100k
2yr Down 52.3% 10yr Up 67.2%
Steal from vehicle
1,167 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 27.0%
View all offence subgroups for Ballarat →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,975
Census 2021
3,011
▲ 1.2% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$29,536
Personal Income 2021
$42,016
▲ 42.3% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$42,016 / yr
$808/wk
Household
$107,952 / yr
$2076/wk
Family
$121,680 / yr
$2340/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,537
Born Overseas 331

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 96
  • 2. New Zealand 28
  • 3. India 24
  • 4. China 17
  • 5. South Africa 17
  • 6. Netherlands 13
  • 7. United States 12
  • 8. Italy 11
  • 9. Scotland 10
  • 10. Philippines 9

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 1,306
Australian 1,250
Irish 448
Scottish 395
German 124
Dutch 89
Italian 83
Chinese 63
Australian Aboriginal 34
Croatian 33

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,093
Both parents born in Australia
428
Both parents born overseas
338
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
54.0%
Christianity
36.4%
Hinduism
0.7%
Islam
0.5%
Sikhism
0.3%
Buddhism
0.3%
Judaism
0.2%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
170 (5.6%)
5-14 years
445 (14.8%)
15-19 years
262 (8.7%)
20-24 years
253 (8.4%)
25-34 years
306 (10.2%)
35-44 years
378 (12.6%)
45-54 years
384 (12.8%)
55-64 years
379 (12.6%)
65-74 years
290 (9.6%)
75-84 years
112 (3.7%)
85+ years
18 (0.6%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mount Helen known for? +

Mount Helen is best known as the home of Federation University Australia's main Ballarat campus (formerly University of Ballarat), set on a large bushland campus south of Ballarat. The suburb attracts students, academics, and families seeking a semi-rural setting.

How far is Mount Helen from Ballarat CBD? +

Mount Helen is approximately 10 kilometres south of Ballarat city centre, around a 15-20 minute drive. Melbourne is approximately 115 kilometres east via the Western Freeway.

Does Mount Helen have public transport? +

Mount Helen is served by local Ballarat bus routes connecting to Ballarat CBD and station. Ballarat station on the V/Line Ballarat Line provides train services to Melbourne Southern Cross in approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

What is the population of Mount Helen? +

According to the 2021 Census, Mount Helen has a population of approximately 3,011 residents, with a median age of 36 reflecting the influence of the university population.

Is Mount Helen a good place to live? +

Mount Helen suits students and academics at Federation University, as well as families seeking affordable semi-rural living south of Ballarat. The bushland setting, affordable housing, and proximity to Ballarat's amenities are its main attractions.

What is the postcode for Mount Helen? +

The postcode for Mount Helen is 3350.

What is the average income in Mount Helen? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Mount Helen is about $808 per week (around $42,000 per year). The median household income is $2,076 per week and the median family income is $2,340 per week.

What is the median house price in Mount Helen? +

As of June quarter 2025, the median house price is $597,500, down 5.7% year-on-year. Figures are based on Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report.

What is the age profile of Mount Helen? +

The median age in Mount Helen is 36. The largest age group is 5–14 (445 residents, around 15%). Around 29% of residents are under 20 and about 14% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Mount Helen a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Mount Helen is part of the Ballarat LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Mount Helen? +

In Mount Helen, the median weekly rent is $345, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,600 (2021 Census).