NSW · Sutherland Shire Council
Barden Ridge, 2234
Current weather
15.7°CClear sky
59% humidity · 11.9 km/h wind · 21.1° / 12.6° today · 2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Dog friendly
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Sutherland Shire, Barden Ridge is a mid-sized suburb with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Connections to the wider metro area are straightforward, with neighbouring communities close at hand. Fresh country air and elevated outlooks are part of the appeal up here among the hills.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. 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.
Getting around the metro area is straightforward, with transport tying neighbouring communities together. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 4,129
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $3,134
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 25 of 1,252
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,641
- Employment rate
- 68.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 40 / 95 / 0
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,300
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 42
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)
- 85
- Against the person
- 29
- Against property
- 33
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 20.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 142 residents
- State safety percentile
- 2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.1%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions33
- Domestic Violence Related Assault60
- Fraud72
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment86
- Malicious Damage To Property62
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)
- 1,077
- Lucas Heights Community SchoolCombined
- Shire Christian SchoolCombined
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
54 public transport stops in this suburb
- Australia Rd At Barden Rd
- Australia Rd Opp Marsden Rd
- Marsden Rd At Bella Pl
- Marsden Rd At Caley Pl
- Shire Christian School, School Grounds, Allies Rd
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).
269 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure51 BARDEN ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure72 AUSTRALIA ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Under Assessment
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Attached dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 NAMATJIRA STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development10 BAIN PLACE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Under Assessment
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool1 BARRETT STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation3 NAMATJIRA STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure29 UNAIPON STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50-68 DAVID ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure67A BARDEN ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Under Assessment
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Signage; Advertising and signage1 LAWSON PLACE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool5 ORTON STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool17 UNAIPON STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35 WARDELL DRIVE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool10 GURRUMUL STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 GURRUMUL STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure71 BARDEN ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Subdivision18 BROUGHTON PLACE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure71A BARDEN ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 GURRUMUL STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 FAWKNER PLACE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool10 GURRUMUL STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
2024· 16 proposals
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure71A BARDEN ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation5 DYNEVOR STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
October 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Attached dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 NAMATJIRA STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 SUTCLIFFE PLACE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 UNAIPON STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure71 BARDEN ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Attached dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 NAMATJIRA STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool42 NAMATJIRA STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 NAMATJIRA STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 KELSALL PLACE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation25 NAMATJIRA STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 RANOLD STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Withdrawn
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah13 LANDOR ROAD BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 MULLAGH STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 SUTCLIFFE PLACE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 JOE CLOSE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
2023· 3 proposals
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool24 NAMATJIRA STREET BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation35 WARDELL DRIVE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Withdrawn
- Centre-based child care; Hours of operation and trading1 LAWSON PLACE BARDEN RIDGE 2234Determined
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
64 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- Bench (14)
- Australia Rd at Barden RdBus stop
- Australia Rd at Imlay PlBus stop
- Australia Rd at Marsden RdBus stop
- Australia Rd at Wardell DrBus stop
- Australia Rd opp Marsden RdBus stop
- Australia Rd opp Melville PlBus stop
- David Rd at Dawes PlBus stop
- David Rd at Hatton PlBus 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
- Australia Road ReservePark
- Len Waters 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
- Lucas Watermills Archaeological SitesCreekwood Reserve, Voyager Point and Woronora Reserve, EngadineSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- 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
- 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)
- 11
- 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
- 55.6/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 20% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1295th in Australia
- State rank
- 422nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #157 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #298 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
- Australia Rd at Barden Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Rd at Imlay Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Rd at Marsden Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Rd at Wardell Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Rd opp Marsden Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Rd opp Melville Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Barden Ridge BMX Pump Trackamenitiestrack
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Sutherland Shire Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.