NSW · Inner West Council
Balmain East, 2041
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
51% humidity · 17.1 km/h wind · 21.2° / 13.8° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Balmain East hums with inner-city energy, a smaller community where there is always something happening nearby. Neighbouring suburbs are within easy reach, so the wider metro area always feels accessible. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment and parks and green space holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 1,900
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $3,020
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 138 of 931
- Median monthly mortgage
- $4,333
- Employment rate
- 60.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 35 / 367 / 299
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)
- $800
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,210
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $900
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 173
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)
- 119
- Against the person
- 28
- Against property
- 37
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 62.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 68 residents
- State safety percentile
- 41.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions217
- Domestic Violence Related Assault55
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment68
- Malicious Damage To Property71
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault74
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
- 1,151
- Nicholson Street 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
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- Balmain East Wharf
- Balmain East Wharf, Darling St
- Darling St At Nicholson St
- Darling St Opp Ewenton St
- Darling Street Anglican Church, Darling 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).
186 planning-related records
2026· 10 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 DUKE STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 LITTLE EDWARD STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure132A DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 EDWARD STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Additional Information Requested
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation104 DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool18 PEARSON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition5 Duke Place Balmain East NSW 2041 Lot 2/DP 816580Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 SIMMONS STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Under Assessment
2025· 30 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition1A WILLIAM STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition2A DUKE PLACE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11 LOOKES AVENUE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 PAUL STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition4/125 Darling Street Balmain East NSW 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)3 NICHOLSON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 HART STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
October 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 CLIFTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 DUKE STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 DUKE STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 PEARSON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 ST MARYS STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Subdivision25 3 GALLIMORE AVENUE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 HART STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
August 2025
- Demolition10 37 NICHOLSON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house6 WILLIAM STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Horticulture6 DUKE STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure142A Darling St Balmain East NSW 2041Determined
- Demolition1 THE AVENUE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Horticulture10 ST MARYS STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation64A DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 SIMMONS STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 14 Hosking Street Balmain EastDetermined
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Neighbourhood shop; Hours of operation and trading53 DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 UNION STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
May 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 8 LOOKES AVENUE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 DATCHETT STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
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
49 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (3)
- Boat Storage (2)
- Balmain East Wharf, Darling StBus stop
- Darling St at Johnston StBus stop
- Darling St at Nicholson StBus stop
- Darling St opp Darling Street Anglican ChurchBus stop
- Darling St opp Ewenton StBus stop
- Darling Street Anglican Church, Darling StBus stop
- Fountain
- Picnic Table (6)
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
10 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Datchett Street ReservePark
- Gallimore ReservePark
- Hoskins Street ReservePark
- Illoura ReservePark
- Johnston Street ReservePark
- Origlass ParkPark
- Propeller ParkPark
- Simmons Point ReservePark
- The Zig ZagPark
- Thornton 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
4 state heritage places
- Fenwick & Co Boat Store2-8 Weston Street BalmainSHR
- Goat IslandPort JacksonSHR
- Illoura ReserveWeston StSHR
- Waterview Wharf Workshops37 Nicholson Street BalmainSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 12
- Parks (OSM)
- 11
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
- 45.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 39% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2616th in Australia
- State rank
- 824th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #46 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #523 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Balmain East Liquor & Deliamenities60 Darling Street, Balmain Eastsupermarket
- Balmain East Wharf, Darling Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Boat Storageamenitiesboat_storage
- Boat Storageamenitiesboat_storage
- Darling St at Johnston Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Darling St at Nicholson Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Darling St opp Darling Street Anglican Churchamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Inner West Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.