Waurn Ponds, Geelong Property Report 2025

Suburb background — why Waurn Ponds stays in buyer shortlists

Waurn Ponds sits on Geelong’s south-west side between Highton and Grovedale, right where people want to be if they work at Deakin Waurn Ponds, Epworth Geelong or commute to the Surf Coast. You get newer stock than Belmont, bigger blocks than central Grovedale, and far better freeway access than a lot of Geelong. It’s not a prestige play like Newtown — it’s the suburb that makes day-to-day life easier.

Because a lot of buyers coming here are younger families, med/uni staff or Melbourne relocators, we often pair this page with the First Home Buyer Guide so people can check VIC duty, grants and scheme rules before committing to a Waurn Ponds purchase.

How Waurn Ponds grew — and what that means for housing choice

Growth here has followed Deakin and the Ring Road. Earlier stock around the old shopping centre and Pioneer Road is established and typically on comfortable blocks. Later stages moving toward the Ring Road and Highton/Charlemont side brought in modern family homes with double garages, better energy ratings and low-maintenance yards — perfect for dual-income households and shift workers at Epworth.

That spread of ages means you can buy an older home and add value, or go for near-new and just move in. Investors like the low vacancy because of the university and hospital. To model rent vs price properly, run it through our property investment calculator — it’s built for Australian yields and lending settings.

Location, connections and real-world travel times

Geelong CBD: around 12–15 minutes by car depending on time of day. You’re still close enough for Waterfront weekends, Kardinia Park and shopping.

Melbourne CBD: go via the M1/Princes Freeway — allow about an hour. You can also drive 8–10 minutes to Marshall or South Geelong for V/Line if traffic is heavy.

Deakin Waurn Ponds & Epworth: 2–6 minutes depending on pocket. This is the big driver — staff want to live nearby.

Surf Coast / Torquay: jump on the Ring Road and you’re on your way in under 20 minutes.

Schools, colleges and zoning

Primary schooling is mainly via Grovedale West, Nazareth, nearby Highton / Belmont / Grovedale primaries and a short trip to Christian College (Highton) or Clairvaux. Secondary options include Grovedale College, Oberon High and the independent schools in Newtown/Highton reached via the Ring Road. As always, zones move — check the Department of Education map at the week of purchase.

Lifestyle, shops and weekend amenity

Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre covers a lot: supermarkets, discount department stores, cinema, gyms, food — so you don’t need to drive into central Geelong. Deakin and Epworth bring sport, pools, cafés and a steady population of tenants. And because you’re already on the southern side, it’s much easier to do regular Surf Coast weekends than if you lived north of the Barwon.

Market and housing in 2025

Most houses in Waurn Ponds trade in the high $700,000s to low-to-mid $800,000s depending on age, block and exact pocket. Newer stock near Deakin/Epworth or with good Ring Road access can push higher. Units and townhouses sit in the high $500,000s to low $600,000s, which is why first-home buyers often compare this suburb with Belmont and Grovedale.

Finance, deposits and lender appetite

At an $825,000 target, 10% deposit is $82,500. Add VIC costs and a sensible buffer and most buyers we see are landing between $110,000–$130,000 in total funds. That keeps LVR under 90% and opens more lenders. Anyone under that should confirm scheme/grant options via the VIC First Home Buyer Guide because duty concessions move and you don’t want to guess.

Because there’s a mix of owner-occupiers and investors, we “rate challenge” your bank across 35+ lenders, then test the structure against future borrowing — especially if you’re planning a Surf Coast, Armstrong Creek or Geelong West upgrade later.

Nearby suburbs to compare

Almost every Waurn Ponds buyer also looks at Belmont (family, slightly cheaper), Highton (views/elevation), Newtown (closer to CBD, prestige) and Grovedale/Armstrong Creek for newer stock. Link to them internally so buyers don’t bounce to realestate.com.au just to compare.