NSW · Wingecarribee Council
Bowral, 2576
Current weather
11.7°CClear sky
58% humidity · 20.3 km/h wind · 15.8° / 8.5° today · 2.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Café precinct
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- National parks
Suburb profile
Bowral is a regional centre in Wingecarribee that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with schools and childcare nearby. Food and coffee are a real part of local identity, with plenty of places to meet and linger. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates excellent overall, led by parks and green space and growth momentum, while housing affordability and community and employment sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar regional towns.
Population
- Population
- 10,764
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $1,535
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 485 of 5,008
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 47.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 275 / 727 / 130
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)
- $485
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $910
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $850
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 81
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)
- 316
- Against the person
- 97
- Against property
- 113
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 29.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 111 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud34
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment43
- Malicious Damage To Property47
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault45
- Other Offences25
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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,068
- Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner SchoolCombined
- Bowral High SchoolSecondary
- Bowral Public SchoolPrimary
- Southern Highlands Christian SchoolCombined
- St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
372 public transport stops in this suburb
- Acc To P1 Stairs
- Bowral Station
- ENT Station St
- STR/LFT Wingecarri E
- Wingecarri Bridge
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).
745 planning-related records
2026· 40 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation57 ISABELLA WAY BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development8 QUEEN STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure76 MERRIGANG STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 HAMILTON AVENUE BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Swimming pool7 HARLEY STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation26 BORONIA STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport70 KANGALOON ROAD BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Subdivision127 MERRIGANG STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure22 ASCOT ROAD BOWRAL 2576Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation22 SOMA AVENUE BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Carport142C MERRIGANG STREET BOWRAL 2576Additional Information Requested
- Temporary building, structure or use; Market47 BENDOOLEY STREET BOWRAL 2576Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 78 BENDOOLEY STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Demolition; Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia255-261 BONG BONG STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 SHEPHERD STREET BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure69 SHEPHERD STREET BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Demolition; Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation74 KANGALOON ROAD BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure150 HORDERNS ROAD BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development32B CENTENNIAL ROAD BOWRAL 2576Determined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 LILAC AVENUE BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13B HAMILTON AVENUE BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Subdivision156-158 OLD SOUTH ROAD BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Subdivision17 PRICE STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Subdivision209 MERRIGANG STREET BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 AITKEN ROAD BOWRAL 2576Determined
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)29 SHEPHERD STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure452 MOSS VALE ROAD BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 MERILBAH ROAD BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care26 OLD SOUTH ROAD BOWRAL 2576Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 ROSE STREET BOWRAL 2576Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Residential Accommodation16 ST CLAIR STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure126 BOWRAL STREET BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development4 FAIRWAY DRIVE BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure122 OLD SOUTH ROAD BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport21 MYRTLE STREET BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)9 CAROLINE AVENUE BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure154 MERRIGANG STREET BOWRAL 2576Determined
- Home business; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure53 ISABELLA WAY BOWRAL 2576Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)29 CLEARVIEW STREET BOWRAL 2576Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces1325 OLD SOUTH ROAD BOWRAL 2576Additional Information Requested
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
214 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Chambers CellarsAlcohol
- Liquor StaxAlcohol
- Dirty JanesAntiques
- BDCUATM
- Commonwealth BankATM
- IMBATM
- NABATM
- St GeorgeATM
- WestpacATM
- Gumnut PattiserieBakery
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
17 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Apex ParkPark
- Centennial ParkPark
- Corbett GardensPark
- David Wood Playing FieldsPark
- Foley ParkPark
- Glebe ParkPark
- Hammock Hill ReservePark
- Lions ParkPark
- Loseby ParkPark
- Mansfield ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 16
- Emergency department
- On site
- Back In Action Physiotherapyphysiotherapist
- Bowral and District HospitalMona Roadhospital
- Darryl Flegg Optometristoptometrist
- Dr Joon Kim Surgeondoctor
- Highlands Family Chiropracticalternative
- Highlands Skin Cancer ClinicBelmore Streetclinic
- Illawarra Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryBowral Streetdentist
- Priceline Pharmacypharmacy
- Resonant Ultrasound and Women's Imagingmedical_imaging
- Smile Team Orthodonticsdentist
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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
3 state heritage places
- Bradman Oval and Collection of Cricket MemorabiliaGlebe Street, BowralSHR
- KurkullaEvans Lane, BowralSHR
- Milton Park Cultural LandscapeHorderns Road, BowralSHR
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)
- 37
- Parks (OSM)
- 21
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
- 78.1/100 — Excellent
- State standing
- Top 1% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 24th in Australia
- State rank
- 9th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #1 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #1 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 25mamenitiesswimming_pool
- 4 Brothers Cafeamenitiescafe
- 50mamenitiesOxley Drive, Bowralswimming_pool
- A & P Locksmithsamenitieslocksmith
- A Touch of Teaamenitiestea
- Akira Sushiamenitiesrestaurant
- Allumer Coffee & Eateryamenitiescafe
- Anytime Fitnessamenitiesfitness_centre
- Apex Park, Sheaffe Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Ascot Rd at Old South Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wingecarribee Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.