suburb.guide

NSW · Wollongong Council

Berkeley, 2506

Current weather

10.1°CClear sky

67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 17.5° / 6° today · 2.3 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

50.8/100
Average

Top 27% of New South Wales' suburbs

78% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • Cycling
  • High desirability
What Berkeley is known for: Green suburb, Excellent transport, Cycling, High desirability

Suburb profile

Berkeley is a practical mid-sized suburb in Wollongong, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.

Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.

Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because community and employment and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
7,798
Median age
40
Median household income / week
$1,217
Dwelling vacancy
4.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
124 of 2,993
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
45.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
280 / 79 / 243

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)
$670
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
33

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
694
Against the person
188
Against property
275
Rate per 1,000 residents
89
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 41 residents
State safety percentile
62.3th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-5.6%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order68
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault55
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment84
  • Malicious Damage To Property69
  • Steal From Retail Store48

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
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
926
  • Berkeley Public SchoolPrimary
  • Berkeley West Public SchoolPrimary
  • Illawarra Sports High SchoolSecondary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

112 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Hopman Cres After Warwick St
  • Hopman Cres At Newcombe St
  • Nan Tien Temple, Nolan St
  • Warwick St After Hunt Pl
  • Warwick St At Newcombe 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

  • RoadworksM1 Princes Motorway, Northcliffe Drive12 Jul 2026 – 16 Jul 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).

211 planning-related records

2026· 13 proposals

  • May 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    508/-/DP1322305Determined

  • April 2026

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    2 STAFFORD STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • March 2026

  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation
    11 GALLOP STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    4 NORFOLK STREET BERKELEY 2506Under Assessment
  • Demolition
    4 NORFOLK STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • February 2026

  • Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure
    448 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Agriculture
    26 WAREHOUSE PLACE BERKELEY 2506Additional Information Requested

  • January 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)
    47 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    19 WOLLAMAI CRESCENT BERKELEY 2506Withdrawn
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    24 PENNANT CRESCENT BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
    2 WIRRI PLACE BERKELEY 2506Withdrawn
  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    24 GANNET AVENUE BERKELEY 2506Deferred Commencement
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    109 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined
2025· 27 proposals

  • December 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
    10 DUCHESS COURT BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    592 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • November 2025

  • Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure
    15 BRISTOL STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    2506/-/DP1313419Determined
  • Demolition; Subdivision
    7 GEORGE STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • October 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development
    78 NOTTINGHAM STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    626 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure
    18 CAROONA STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • September 2025

  • Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure
    1 ELEBAN PLACE BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    4 GILLARD PLACE BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility
    40 Winnima Way Berkeley 2506 NSWDetermined

  • August 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
    10 LEICESTER STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    32 PENNANT CRESCENT BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    78 NOTTINGHAM STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • July 2025

  • Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure
    3 ESSEX STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    31 DERBY STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    109 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • June 2025

  • Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure
    27 BERKELEY ROAD BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    26 KENT STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • May 2025

  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation
    2 CUMBERLAND STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    100 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Withdrawn

  • April 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    7 NARRIAH PLACE BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    4 COVENTRY STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Subdivision
    6 EMPEROR COURT BERKELEY 2506Determined

  • March 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    31 DERBY STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure
    1 ELEBAN PLACE BERKELEY 2506Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation
    20 PENNANT CRESCENT BERKELEY 2506Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

83 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bell
  • Nan Tien Gratitude BellBell
  • Bench (4)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • 237 Northcliffe DrBus stop
  • 534 Northcliffe DrBus stop
  • Barnes St at Gura StBus stop
  • Barnes St at Massey StBus stop
  • Barnes St before Nannawilli StBus stop
  • Barnes St opp Karmal 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

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Gladstone ParkPark
  • Macedonia ParkPark
  • West Berkeley ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
1/10
IRSD decile (2021)
1/10

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

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • Nan Tien Buddhist Temple and Monastery180 Berkeley Road, Berkeley SHR

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
13
Parks (OSM)
3

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
50.8/100 — Average
State standing
Top 27% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
1828th in Australia
State rank
579th in NSW
Peer rank
#208 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#398 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

  • 237 Northcliffe Dramenitiesbus_stop
  • 534 Northcliffe Dramenitiesbus_stop
  • Australia Postamenitiespost_office
  • Barnes St at Gura Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Barnes St at Massey Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Barnes St before Nannawilli Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Barnes St opp Karmal Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Barnes St opp Massey Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Bekerley Public School, George Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Bekerley West Public School, Gallop Stamenitiesbus_stop

Data sources & freshness

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.