NSW · Balranald Council
Balranald, 2715
Current weather
14.4°CPartly cloudy
74% humidity · 25.4 km/h wind · 16.7° / 9.4° today · 2.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Balranald offers a slower smaller community life in Balranald, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Remote from the metro area in the best sense: quiet streets, big skies and a town that runs on its own timetable. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. 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. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in parks and green space and transport and access. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,240
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,197
- Dwelling vacancy
- 24.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 150 of 606
- Median monthly mortgage
- $893
- Employment rate
- 51.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 40 / 25 / 3
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 113
- Against the person
- 31
- Against property
- 43
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 91.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 40 residents
- State safety percentile
- 64.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -3.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault12
- Fraud10
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment8
- Malicious Damage To Property11
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault10
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 883.5
- Balranald Central SchoolCombined
- St Joseph's Parish 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
76 public transport stops in this suburb
- 4639 Yanga Way
- Balranald Central School, Jones Lane
- Dargin St At Malcolm St
- Market St After Mayall St
- St Joseph's Parish School, Church 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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Allow extra travel time. Check signage. Follow directions on site.MR 514 Oxley Rd, MR 514 Oxley Rd30 Jun 2026 – 23 Dec 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
99 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure134 BOYNTON STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia908 Ivanhoe Road BALRANALD NSW 2715Determined
2025· 17 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Fences23 MOA STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure200 MARKET STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation156-158 BALLANDELLA STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)178 LILY STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure157 TURANDUREY STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia908 Ivanhoe Road BALRANALD NSW 2715Determined
August 2025
- Commercial development; Erection of a new structure95 COURT STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home80 PIPER STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space47 YURANIGH STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
June 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 MOA STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Subdivision157 TURANDUREY STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Residential care facility; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 MAYALL STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
May 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure95 MAYALL STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Moveable dwelling144 BALLANDELLA STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure152 BOYNTON STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies144 MARKET STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure135 BOYNTON STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
2024· 21 proposals
December 2024
- Subdivision891 TILLARA ROAD BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Demolition157 TURANDUREY STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
October 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure140 CHURCH STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structureMARKET STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool200 O'CONNOR STREET WEST BALRANALD 2715Determined
September 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation122 HARBEN STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
August 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure136 BALLANDELLA STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Subdivision161 CHURCH STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
June 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation122 HARBEN STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structureSYDNEY STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structureSTURT HIGHWAY BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure153 MARKET STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure91 COOK STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home91 COOK STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure124 BOYNTON STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
March 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Manufactured home; Moveable dwelling147 BOYNTON STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4639 YANGA WAY BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home195 CHURCH STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Service station45 We Street Balranald 2715Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure177 MARKET STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Shipping containers153 MARKET STREET BALRANALD 2715Determined
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
- Greenham ParkPark
- Lions ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- On site
- Balranald Multi-Purpose ServiceCourt Streethospital
- Balranald Pharmacypharmacy
- Maari Ma Health Balranaldyes
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Balranald Early Learning Centrechildcare
- Little Bunyip Childcarechildcare
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)
- 102
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 33.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4658th in Australia
- State rank
- 1489th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #289 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #601 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime12
- Fraudcrime10
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime8
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime11
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime10
- 4639 Yanga Waytransport
- Balranald Central School, Jones Lanetransport
- Dargin St At Malcolm Sttransport
- Market St After Mayall Sttransport
- St Joseph's Parish School, Church Sttransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Balranald Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.