NSW · Wollongong Council
Austinmer, 2515
Current weather
16.6°CClear sky
57% humidity · 10.9 km/h wind · 21° / 12.7° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Austinmer revolves around the coast, with the feel of a mid-sized suburb that never strays far from the water. The beach sets the tone, while nearby towns and coastal pockets add variety without a long journey. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar coastal suburbs, even with community and employment and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,725
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $2,586
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 126 of 1,079
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,726
- Employment rate
- 60.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 50 / 91 / 73
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $675
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,063
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $900
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 69
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 131
- Against the person
- 27
- Against property
- 51
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 48.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 101 residents
- State safety percentile
- 25.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +26.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment36
- Malicious Damage To Property48
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault28
- Steal From Motor Vehicle36
- Transport Regulatory Offences137
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,132
- Austinmer Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
34 public transport stops in this suburb
- Austinmer Station
- Austinmer Station, Platform 1
- Austinmer Station, Platform 2
- Kirton Rd Bridge E
- Kirton Rd Bridge W
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
181 planning-related records
2026· 8 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 THE GROVE AUSTINMER 2515Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure67 BUTTENSHAW DRIVE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport8 ALLEN STREET AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 HILLCREST ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Swimming pool67 BUTTENSHAW DRIVE AUSTINMER 2515Withdrawn
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation4 MOUNTAIN ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 MOORE STREET AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia28 Mountain Road AUSTINMER NSW 2515Withdrawn
2025· 21 proposals
December 2025
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2B HEADLAND AVENUE AUSTINMER 2515Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 MOUNTAIN ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
September 2025
- Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation15 THE GROVE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)3 HEADLAND AVENUE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 HEADLAND AVENUE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure11 ALLEN STREET AUSTINMER 2515Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space46 BALFOUR ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 KENNEDY ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 HILL STREET AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool72 MOUNTAIN ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure111 BUTTENSHAW DRIVE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 BALFOUR ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Demolition106 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7 BOYCE AVENUE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure50 THE GROVE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 MAXWELL ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
February 2025
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation54 MOUNTAIN ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure143 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Landscaping structures12 LITTLE AUSTINMER LANE AUSTINMER 2515Withdrawn
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 WIGRAM ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation3 BOYCE AVENUE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
2024· 11 proposals
December 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Privacy screens; Rainwater tanks; Shade structures of canvas, fabric, mesh or the like21 THE GROVE AUSTINMER 2515Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 46 THE GROVE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 MOORE STREET AUSTINMER 2515Determined
November 2024
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia42A MOUNTAIN ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 HILLCREST ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation4 MOUNTAIN ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space12 BALFOUR ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2B KENNEDY ROAD AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)30 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 MOORE STREET AUSTINMER 2515Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space13 HEADLAND AVENUE AUSTINMER 2515Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
111 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (31)
- Austinmer Beach, Lawrence Hargrave DrBus stop
- Austinmer Station, Moore StBus stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr after Headland AvBus stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr after Mountain RdBus stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr at Boyce AvBus stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr at Headland AvBus stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr at Kennedy RdBus stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr at Little Austinmer LaneBus stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr opp Austinmer BeachBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Clowes ParkPark
- Felix Ryan ParkPark
- Glastonbury GardensPark
- L B Kelly ParkPark
- Pinecourt ParkPark
- Slade ParkPark
- Tuckerman ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Austinmer Railway Station groupRailway Avenue, AustinmerSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 14
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 45.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 38% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2565th in Australia
- State rank
- 810th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #42 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #86 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Austinmeramenitiestrain_station
- Austinmer 1amenitiestrain_station
- Austinmer 2amenitiestrain_station
- Austinmer Beach, Lawrence Hargrave Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Austinmer Rock Poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Austinmer Station, Moore Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.