Question 1

Is Brown Hill a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Brown Hill is an established eastern suburb of Ballarat set around the low volcanic rise that gives it its name. Rolling streets, reserves and walking tracks give a semi-rural feel close to the city, and housing ranges from older weatherboard and brick homes to more recent suburban lots often on sloping blocks with elevated outlooks. It suits people who want space and easy access to Ballarat’s services while keeping a quieter, community-minded lifestyle.

Home to about 4,500 people with a median age of 36, Brown Hill is weighted towards families: couple families (with and without children) make up 85.1% of reported families, and most homes are owner-occupied (75.0%). Day-to-day needs are met by local shops, parks and community sporting facilities, with regular road and bus links into the city. Local upgrades are under way or planned, including a kindergarten expansion to increase capacity, a draft master plan proposing a splash park and other precinct upgrades, a council allocation for a reserve pool and splashpark, an active local area plan and some recently completed playspace works.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Brown Hill?

Accepted Answer

Buying a house in Brown Hill works out to about 6.9 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census. That calculation uses the median house price of $632,500 and an annual household income based on the Census weekly figure ($91,364), so on these figures buying sits well above what a typical local household earned at the last Census.

Renting looks more moderate. A house at $430 a week would take about 24.5% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and a unit at $370 a week would take about 21.1%, both in the moderate share band. Whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Brown Hill a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

House values in Brown Hill rose 7.1% over the past 12 months, a solid increase in what houses are worth. Over the same period house rents climbed 3.6% and unit rents rose 2.8%, so rental income growth has been more modest than the capital growth recorded for houses this year. If rental yield is your focus, note that house rents grew slightly faster than unit rents; if capital growth matters more, the house value change is the stronger movement. Whether that pattern suits your investment goals depends on your own objectives and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$633K	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	7.1%	N/A
Sold Past 3 months	20	7
Median days on market Past 12 months	39	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$430	$370
Change in rent Past 12 months	3.6%	2.8%

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