NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Berrara, 2540
Current weather
15.8°CClear sky
55% humidity · 15.6 km/h wind · 19.4° / 13.1° today · 1.9 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Berrara wears its coastal identity openly, a smaller community built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Coastal living here comes with genuine distance from the capital, a self-contained pace with the sea at its heart. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in safety and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 333
- Median age
- 59
- Median household income / week
- $1,269
- Dwelling vacancy
- 62.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 216 of 345
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,684
- Employment rate
- 45.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 9 / 0 / 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $465
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $571
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 300
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)
- 14
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 42
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 67 residents
- State safety percentile
- 16.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order135
- Domestic Violence Related Assault174
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment283
- Malicious Damage To Property261
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault146
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
Public transport
18 public transport stops in this suburb
- Beachway Av Before Surfway Av
- Berrara Rd Opp Kirpson St
- Myrniong Gr After Collier Dr
- Silver Sands Dr At Myrniong Gr
- Silver Sands Dr Before Beachway Av
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).
47 planning-related records
2025· 11 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Signage; Dwelling house; Advertising and signage; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Aerials, antennae and communication dishes; Air-conditioning units; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Hot water systems; Landscaping structures; Letterboxes; Rainwater tanks; Business identification sign; Depot; Car park; Storage premises31 Berrara Rd, BERRARA - Lot 11 DP 837426Additional Information Requested
November 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation22 KIRPSON STREET BERRARA 2540Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation17 POPE AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 WATERHAVEN AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
September 2025
- Subdivision19 SUNDOWNER AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation19 MOOLIANGA ROAD BERRARA 2540Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation15 WIRREECOO ROAD BERRARA 2540Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 MYRNIONG GROVE BERRARA 2540Determined
- Demolition19 MOOLIANGA ROAD BERRARA 2540Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool18 MYRNIONG GROVE BERRARA 2540Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation17 POPE AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
2024· 4 proposals
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Supporting Development8 KIRPSON STREET BERRARA 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 LAKELAND AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
April 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 BERRARA CRESCENT BERRARA 2540Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 POPE AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
2023· 8 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 KIRPSON STREET BERRARA 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation28 POPE AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool18 MYRNIONG GROVE BERRARA 2540Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development19 SUNDOWNER AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
July 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs9 33 BERRARA ROAD BERRARA 2540Determined
June 2023
- Change of use28 POPE AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling20 KIRPSON STREET BERRARA 2540Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development12 MOOLIANGA ROAD BERRARA 2540Determined
2022· 13 proposals
December 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces19 LAKELAND AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces13 BEACHWAY AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
November 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development16 SIXTH AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
October 2022
- Secondary dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces113 COLLIER DRIVE BERRARA 2540Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development19 SUNDOWNER AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
August 2022
- Dual occupancy; Alterations and additions to residential development; Shed79 BERRARA ROAD BERRARA 2540Determined
- Dwelling6 BEACHWAY AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
July 2022
- Dwelling59 BERRARA ROAD BERRARA 2540Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition11 BEACHVIEW AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
- Dwelling4 BERRARA CRESCENT BERRARA 2540Determined
June 2022
- Subdivision of land13 SILVER SANDS DRIVE BERRARA 2540Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling29-33 Berrara Road, BerraraDetermined
February 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development10 BEACHVIEW AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
2021· 4 proposals
November 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development8 LAKEWAY AVENUE BERRARA 2540Withdrawn
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development9 SURFWAY AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
September 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development20 SURFWAY AVENUE BERRARA 2540Determined
July 2021
- Dwelling59 BERRARA ROAD BERRARA 2540Determined
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
8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Berrara Rd opp Kirpson StBus stop
- Myrniong Gr after Collier DrBus stop
- Pope Av before Collier DrBus stop
- Silver Sands Dr at Myrniong GrBus stop
- Parking
- Playground
- Public toilets
- TelstraTelephone
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
- Berrara Cove ReservePark
- Waterhen Avenue ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 30.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5281st in Australia
- State rank
- 1677th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #97 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #169 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Berrara Rd opp Kirpson Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Myrniong Gr after Collier Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Pope Av before Collier Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Silver Sands Dr at Myrniong Gramenitiesbus_stop
- Telstraamenitiestelephone
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime135
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime174
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Shoalhaven Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.