NSW · Shellharbour Council
Blackbutt, 2529
Current weather
13.5°CClear sky
66% humidity · 5.2 km/h wind · 20.2° / 9° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Shellharbour, Blackbutt is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, 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.
Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar metro suburbs, even with parks and green space and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Amenities
72 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 libraries · 8 playgrounds · 22 swimming pools
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 13 parks mapped in suburb, 8 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 45 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 30 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.95
Community(2)
- Shellharbour City LibraryLibrary
- Shellharbour City CouncilTownhall
Sport & outdoors(43)
- Blackbutt Forest ReservePark
- Collins ReservePark
- Conway ParkPark
- Glider Avenue ReservePark
- Hughes ParkPark
- Koala ParkPark
- Matthews ReservePark
- Park (3)
- Wentworth Cottage ParkPark
- William Carter ReservePark
- Yirran muruPark
67 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre
- Playground (8)
- Swimming pool (22)
Entertainment(1)
- Shellharbour City MuseumMuseum
Transport(15)
15 bus stops
Other(7)
- Bench (2)
- Drinking water
- Information
- Parking (3)
- Picnic Table
- Public toilets
- Shelter (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived from OpenStreetMap & Census) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Public transport
45 public transport stops in this suburb
- Glider Av At Kangaroo Dr
- Glider Av Opp Kangaroo Dr
- Glider Av Opp Palma Way
- Glider Av Opp Wallaby St
- New Lake Entrance Rd Before Pioneer Dr
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)
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $800
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $760
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 190
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
Parks & reserves
10 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Blackbutt Forest ReservePark
- Collins ReservePark
- Conway ParkPark
- Glider Avenue ReservePark
- Hughes ParkPark
- Koala ParkPark
- Matthews ReservePark
- Wentworth Cottage ParkPark
- William Carter ReservePark
- Yirran muruPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 18
- 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
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 267
- Against the person
- 47
- Against property
- 100
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 81.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 70 residents
- State safety percentile
- 57.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.7%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions667
- Fraud135
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment161
- Steal From Motor Vehicle128
- Steal From Retail Store211
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 47.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 33% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2247th in Australia
- State rank
- 704th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #236 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #470 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Population
- Population
- 3,291
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,604
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 45 of 1,260
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 55.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 101 / 346 / 18
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.
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
69 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers2 25 CYGNET AVENUE BLACKBUTT 2529Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support8 pinkwood place blackbutt 2529Determined
2025· 8 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Residential Accommodation31 WESTWOOD DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)6 POTAROO PLACE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation31 WESTWOOD DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure5A COCKATIEL COURT BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development26 MULGARA PLACE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision3 QUOKKA DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
June 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure5A COCKATIEL COURT BLACKBUTT 2529Withdrawn
April 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 HONEY EATER DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
2024· 9 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool17 WESTWOOD DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
July 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support5 BETTONG STREET BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 PINKWOOD PLACE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation50 COLLEGE AVENUE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
April 2024
- Advertising and signage; Public Reserve; Recreation area; Hours of operation and trading394 SHELLHARBOUR ROAD BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses21 ALBATROSS DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure109 PIONEER DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Subdivision; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Stormwater management system; Water Infrastructure5A COCKATIEL COURT BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 COCKATIEL COURT BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support5 BETTONG STREET BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 WALLABY STREET BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure7 ALBATROSS DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 RINGTAIL CIRCUIT BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 CHILLAWONG CIRCUIT BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Centre-based child care; Hours of operation and trading30 PIONEER DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development30 PIONEER DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
2022· 8 proposals
December 2022
- Retaining walls, protection of trees1 12-18 GLIDER AVENUE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition; Garages, carports and car parking spaces50 COLLEGE AVENUE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development30 PIONEER DRIVE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
July 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing4 KITE PLACE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
May 2022
- Retaining walls, protection of trees; Shed16 SPRINGDALE CLOSE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
April 2022
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development50 CYGNET AVENUE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
January 2022
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing14 NIGHTINGALE CLOSE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs1 FANTAIL COURT BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
2021· 6 proposals
December 2021
- Demolition; Retaining walls, protection of trees78 GLIDER AVENUE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development1 SPRINGDALE CLOSE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
November 2021
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision of land7 COCKATIEL COURT BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
- Subdivision of land6 NIGHTINGALE CLOSE BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
October 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development8 pinkwood place blackbutt 2529Determined
- Demolition; Other8 PENROSE STREET BLACKBUTT 2529Determined
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)
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
Recent changes
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Blackbutt Forest Reserveamenitiespark
- College Av opp Cygnet Avamenitiesbus_stop
- College Ave before Cygnet Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Collins Reserveamenitiespark
- Conway Parkamenitiespark
- Cygnet Av after Chillawong Cctamenitiesbus_stop
- Cygnet Av before Albatross Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Cygnet Av before College Avamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Shellharbour Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.