🔍

St Leonards

VIC 3223 • Rest of VIC

3,542
Population (2021)
$61,516
Median Household Income
29.25 km²
Area
$350/wk
Median Rent
CoastalRetirementHoliday TownScenicQuiet

About St Leonards

St Leonards is a charming coastal township on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, approximately 33 kilometres east of Geelong and 95 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. With a population of around 3,540, the town sits on the northern shore of the peninsula overlooking Port Phillip Bay. It is part of the City of Greater Geelong and has a distinct holiday-village character, with the population swelling significantly during summer months.

The town offers a quintessential seaside lifestyle with calm bay beaches, a historic pier popular for fishing, and scenic walking trails along the foreshore. St Leonards has a small shopping strip with cafes, a general store, and essential services. The area is popular with retirees and holidaymakers, with many properties serving as weekenders for Melbourne and Geelong residents. The nearby Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve provides excellent birdwatching opportunities, and the town serves as a gateway to the broader Bellarine Peninsula wine region.

St Leonards falls under postcode 3223 and is governed by Greater Geelong Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Bellarine (Western Victoria) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3223
Urban Area
Geelong - Queenscliff
LGA / Council
Greater Geelong
Federal Electorate
Corangamite
State Electorate
Bellarine (Western Victoria)
Type
Urban
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-38.18°, 144.68°
Statistical Area
Rest of VIC
Area
29.25 km²
Elevation
23m

🏷️ Property Prices June quarter 2025

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

🏡House
$650K
31 sales · ▼ 7.8% 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)
$350
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,654
Avg Household Size
2.1 people
Median Age
56 years

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • PTV bus services — Geelong CBD 10-30 min

Commute to Geelong CBD

Distance
35 km
By Train
V/Line train service to Melbourne CBD (~60 min from Geelong Station)
By Bus
55-60 min to Geelong
By Car (Peak)
40 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
35 min

🛣️ Melbourne is ~95 km; most residents drive to Geelong for major services

Walkability Car-Dependent

Small township centre is walkable but a car is essential for most needs

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
357.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 56.6%
Motor vehicle theft
236.5 / 100k
2yr Up 57.4% 10yr Down 43.2%
Non-FV assault
291.6 / 100k
2yr Up 10.1% 10yr Up 20.2%
Robbery (unarmed)
1.4 / 100k
2yr Down 65.3% 10yr Down 53.8%
Steal from vehicle
772.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 42.4%
View all offence subgroups for Greater Geelong →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,480
Census 2021
3,542
▲ 42.8% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$25,532
Personal Income 2021
$32,708
▲ 28.1% 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
$32,708 / yr
$629/wk
Household
$61,516 / yr
$1183/wk
Family
$74,152 / yr
$1426/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,695
Born Overseas 613

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 161
  • 2. New Zealand 58
  • 3. Italy 57
  • 4. Greece 50
  • 5. Malta 35
  • 6. Scotland 27
  • 7. Croatia 21
  • 8. Germany 16
  • 9. Netherlands 16
  • 10. India 13

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 1,411
Australian 1,255
Irish 463
Scottish 417
Italian 201
German 137
Greek 118
Maltese 118
Dutch 84
Australian Aboriginal 40

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,061
Both parents born in Australia
872
Both parents born overseas
377
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
46.3%
No Religion
45.1%
Buddhism
0.7%
Hinduism
0.1%
Judaism
0.1%
Islam
0.1%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
131 (3.7%)
5-14 years
266 (7.5%)
15-19 years
112 (3.2%)
20-24 years
108 (3.0%)
25-34 years
318 (9.0%)
35-44 years
308 (8.7%)
45-54 years
458 (12.9%)
55-64 years
675 (19.1%)
65-74 years
759 (21.4%)
75-84 years
328 (9.3%)
85+ years
81 (2.3%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is St Leonards known for? +

St Leonards is known for its charming bay beach, popular fishing pier, beachside cafes, and a relaxed community atmosphere on the Bellarine Peninsula. The town attracts day-trippers and holidaymakers from Geelong and Melbourne.

How far is St Leonards from Melbourne? +

St Leonards is approximately 100 kilometres south-west of Melbourne CBD, around a 1 hour 20-30 minute drive via the Princes Freeway and Bellarine Highway.

Does St Leonards have public transport? +

St Leonards is served by bus routes connecting to Geelong and other Bellarine Peninsula towns. There is no train service to the town; connections to Geelong station for V/Line services are available.

What is the population of St Leonards? +

According to the 2021 Census, St Leonards has a population of approximately 3,542 residents, growing steadily as the Bellarine Peninsula attracts sea-change residents from Melbourne and Geelong.

Is St Leonards a good place to live? +

St Leonards is excellent for those seeking a relaxed Bellarine Peninsula lifestyle with bay beach access, local cafes, and a strong community. It suits retirees and families who can work remotely or locally in the growing Bellarine tourism economy.

What is the postcode for St Leonards? +

The postcode for St Leonards is 3223.

What is the average income in St Leonards? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in St Leonards is about $629 per week (around $32,700 per year). The median household income is $1,183 per week and the median family income is $1,426 per week.

What is the median house price in St Leonards? +

As of June quarter 2025, the median house price is $650,000, down 7.8% year-on-year. Figures are based on Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report.

What is the age profile of St Leonards? +

The median age in St Leonards is 56. The largest age group is 65–74 (759 residents, around 21%). Around 14% of residents are under 20 and about 33% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is St Leonards a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. St Leonards is part of the Greater Geelong 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 St Leonards? +

In St Leonards, the median weekly rent is $350, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,654 (2021 Census).