NSW · Lithgow Council
Bowenfels, 2790
Current weather
7.5°CClear sky
70% humidity · 27.2 km/h wind · 11.6° / 5.9° today · 11 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lithgow, Bowenfels keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,049
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $917
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 63 of 818
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,560
- Employment rate
- 36%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 76 / 55 / 6
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)
- $335
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $450
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $450
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 114
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)
- 221
- Against the person
- 63
- Against property
- 79
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 107.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 33 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order115
- Breach Bail Conditions121
- Domestic Violence Related Assault131
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
- Malicious Damage To Property160
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
93 public transport stops in this suburb
- 24 Hillcrest Av
- Hillcrest Av After Robertson St
- Landa St At Tweed Rd
- Lockyer St After Stewart St
- Thornton Av At Hillcrest 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).
59 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
April 2026
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development86 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Under Assessment
2025· 4 proposals
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces19 LOCKYER STREET BOWENFELS 2790Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space19 INNER CRESCENT BOWENFELS 2790Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space21B HEPBURN STREET BOWENFELS 2790Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development2 ADINA CRESCENT BOWENFELS 2790Determined
2024· 10 proposals
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1045 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space3 EVANS CLOSE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
July 2024
- Subdivision43 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 SHAWCROSS CLOSE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation59 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Subdivision998 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facility35-43 COOERWULL ROAD BOWENFELS 2790Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure998 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure1A CAROLINE AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses64 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
2023· 14 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 ADINA CRESCENT BOWENFELS 2790Determined
August 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development2 KIRBY AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
July 2023
- Dwelling; Shed1012 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Subdivision of landGREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces35 STEWART STREET BOWENFELS 2790Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces64 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Shed1012 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Withdrawn
- Residential care facility2A COL DREWE DRIVE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
April 2023
- Other1D HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling4 JAMES O'DONNELL DRIVE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
February 2023
- Retaining walls, protection of trees19 THORNTON AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Withdrawn
- Dwelling24 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling29 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees1F JAMES O'DONNELL DRIVE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
2022· 10 proposals
December 2022
- Subdivision of landGREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Subdivision of land; Stormwater management systems; Earthworks / change in levels994 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Dwelling; ShedGREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY BOWENFELS 2790Determined
October 2022
- Subdivision of land43 HILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
September 2022
- Dual occupancyHILLCREST AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
August 2022
- Shed15 THORNTON AVENUE BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces18 LOCKYER STREET BOWENFELS 2790Determined
July 2022
- Other68 GEORDIE STREET BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 BUTTRESS PLACE BOWENFELS 2790Withdrawn
June 2022
- Shed11 TWEED ROAD BOWENFELS 2790Determined
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
8 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Emora ParkPark
- Outer Crescent ParkPark
- Page Street ReservePark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
- Quota ParkPark
- Stewart Street ParkPark
- Thompson Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- On site
- Lithgow Hospitalhospital
- Lithgow Private Hospitalhospital
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- Bowenfels Rail ViaductsMain Western Railway BowenfelsSHR
- Bowenfels Railway Station and Stationmaster's HouseMain Western railway, BowenfelsSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Gowrie NSW Lithgow Early Education and CareLanda Streetchildcare
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)
- 30
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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
- 37.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3835th in Australia
- State rank
- 1208th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #176 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #417 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime115
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime121
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime131
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime178
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime160
- 24 Hillcrest Avtransport
- Hillcrest Av After Robertson Sttransport
- Landa St At Tweed Rdtransport
- Lockyer St After Stewart Sttransport
- Thornton Av At Hillcrest Avtransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Lithgow Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.