NSW · Wollongong Council
Balgownie, 2519
Current weather
10.1°CClear sky
67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 17.5° / 6° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Wollongong, Balgownie is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. 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 metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 5,722
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,912
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 104 of 2,233
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,383
- Employment rate
- 56.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 112 / 557 / 35
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)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $825
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 140
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)
- 348
- Against the person
- 73
- Against property
- 135
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 60.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 78 residents
- State safety percentile
- 38.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +10.8%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud68
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment70
- Malicious Damage To Property81
- Steal From Retail Store61
- Transport Regulatory Offences163
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
- 1,076
- Balgownie 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
95 public transport stops in this suburb
- Balmoral St After Kembla St
- Balmoral St At Kembla St
- Dawson St Before Dymock St
- Dymock St Before Ryan St
- Dymock St Opp Russel St
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).
210 planning-related records
2026· 15 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 HUTCHINSON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 MARGARET STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development56 WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 NAPIER STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 BLANCHARD CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55A WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support53B WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
March 2026
- Educational establishment; Hours of operation and trading21A RYAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 RHODES AVENUE BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation38 RAE CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation85 BALGOWNIE ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure6 BLANCHARD CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)26 RYAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Under Assessment
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 KEMBLA STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 RYAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
2025· 25 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision26 RYAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 NEW MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 SHERWOOD DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
November 2025
- Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support53B WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Supporting Development12 NAPIER STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation52 WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 BRYNYMOR PLACE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 ELSIE COURT BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool59 WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 CAMDEN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development16 LANG STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 NEW MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)55B WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 NEW MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
May 2025
- Home business; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 20 RUSSELL STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure4 SPROULE CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 FROST PARADE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 HUNTER STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool15 FARRELL STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Demolition; Swimming pool7 GOWNIE PLACE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)55B WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station99-101 BALGOWNIE ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space13 PARA STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure6 BLANCHARD CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
- Home occupation; Hours of operation and trading4 51-53 DYMOCK STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
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
50 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Balgownie Public School, Chalmers StBus stop
- Balgownie Rd after Kembla StBus stop
- Balgownie Rd at Foothills RdBus stop
- Balgownie Rd before Church StBus stop
- Balgownie Rd opp James Pearson ParkBus stop
- Balmoral St after Kembla StBus stop
- Balmoral St at Kembla StBus stop
- Brokers Rd before Duncan StBus stop
- Brokers Rd opp Frost StBus stop
- Chalmers St at Margaret StBus 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Judy Masters ParkPark
- War Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- 50.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 28% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1850th in Australia
- State rank
- 589th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #211 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #406 among Metro Sydney 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
- Balgownie Post Officeamenities158 Balgownie Roadpost_office
- Balgownie Public School, Chalmers Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Balgownie Rd after Kembla Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Balgownie Rd at Foothills Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Balgownie Rd before Church Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Balgownie Rd opp James Pearson Parkamenitiesbus_stop
- Bally Hotelamenities141 Balgownie Roadpub
- Balmoral St after Kembla Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Balmoral St at Kembla Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Brokers Rd before Duncan Stamenitiesbus_stop
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.