NSW · Inner West Council
Birchgrove, 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
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Birchgrove is a practical mid-sized suburb in Inner West, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Its inner position means surrounding suburbs are never far away, whether for a meal out or a change of scene. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, 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. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
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 housing affordability and transport and access lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in parks and green space and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 3,228
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $3,603
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 175 of 1,452
- Median monthly mortgage
- $4,000
- Employment rate
- 63.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 59 / 681 / 233
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)
- 202
- Against the person
- 47
- Against property
- 63
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 62.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 69 residents
- State safety percentile
- 41.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.7%
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
Public transport
11 public transport stops in this suburb
- Birchgrove Oval, Grove St
- Birchgrove Wharf
- Grove St Opp Bay St
- Grove St Opp Birchgrove Oval
- Rowntree St At Cameron 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).
366 planning-related records
2026· 19 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure87 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 GROVE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Maintenance of buildings in draft heritage conservation areas6 WHARF ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure50 CAMERON STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Under Assessment
April 2026
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 Grove Street Birchgrove 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 LOUISA ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 CHALLENGER PLACE BIRCHGROVE 2041Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 BALLAST POINT ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation52 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure58 LOUISA ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition110 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure86 SHORT STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Withdrawn
February 2026
- Demolition43 SHORT STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition8 GIPPS STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition136 SHORT STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 LOUISA ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition; Residential Accommodation54A CHURCH STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house15 SPRING STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation111D Louisa Road Birchgrove 2041Determined
2025· 21 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 BALLAST POINT ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Stairway45 WHARF ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Residential Accommodation29 GROVE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 BALLAST POINT ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- DemolitionMort Bay Park BirchgroveWithdrawn
- Demolition28 ROSE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
November 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation83 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure88 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation34 BALLAST POINT ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool128 SHORT STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 WHARF ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool40 COVE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition9 REUSS STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12 YEEND STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure105 BIRCHGROVE ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation52 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling57 GIPPS STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12 LOUISA ROAD BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
- Demolition25 GIPPS STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures33 COVE STREET BIRCHGROVE 2041Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure160 ROWNTREE STREET BIRCHGROVE 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
59 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (11)
- Bicycle Parking
- Boat Storage (2)
- Mort Bay Park Dingy Storage RacksBoat Storage
- Birchgrove Oval, Grove StBus stop
- Grove St at Bay StBus stop
- Grove St opp Bay StBus stop
- Grove St opp Birchgrove OvalBus stop
- Rowntree St at Cameron 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
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- "Park with No Name"Park
- Ballast Point ParkPark
- Ballast Point ReservePark
- Brownlee ReservePark
- College Street PlaygroundPark
- Miklouho-Maclay ParkPark
- Yurulbin 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
- Ballast Point ParkBallast Point Road and Ronald Street, BirchgroveSHR
- Raywell144 Louisa Road BirchgroveSHR
- Wyoming25 Wharf Road BirchgroveSHR
- Yurulbin Park and ForeshoreLouisa Road, BirchgroveSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Bichgrove Preschoolkindergarten
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)
- 14
- Parks (OSM)
- 13
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
- 41.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 47% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3146th in Australia
- State rank
- 1000th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #66 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #604 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 76%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
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- Benchamenitiesbench
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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.