NSW · Nambucca Valley Council
Bowraville, 2449
Current weather
15.5°CClear sky
95% humidity · 4.6 km/h wind · 21.1° / 10.2° today · 0.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Bowraville offers a slower smaller community life in Nambucca Valley, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. 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 local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in transport and access. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,157
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $947
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 50 of 493
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,040
- Employment rate
- 39.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 48 / 19 / 11
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 99
- Against the person
- 42
- Against property
- 29
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 85.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 28 residents
- State safety percentile
- 60.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -0.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order17
- Domestic Violence Related Assault16
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment27
- Malicious Damage To Property27
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault21
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 861
- Bowraville Central SchoolCombined
- St Mary's Primary SchoolPrimary
- Tallowood Steiner 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
41 public transport stops in this suburb
- 55 Lower Buckra Bendinni Rd
- Bellingen Rd Opp 122
- Bellingen Rd Opp Blackberry Lane
- Lower Buckra Bendinni After North Arm Rd
- Lower Buckra Bendinni Rd Opp 55
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).
77 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Multi-dwelling housing; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home14 ADAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Additional Information Requested
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Garage, carport or carparking space19 CONEN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Deferred Commencement
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool16 KOOKABURRA LANE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Farm building13 BALANCE TANK ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)3 PAULOWNIA PLACE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure101 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure78 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home14 ADAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Shipping containers; Portable offices53 BOREFIELD ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
August 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure17 GEORGE STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Carport; Swimming pool16 CONEN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
April 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool16 CONEN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Subdivision44 KOOKABURRA LANE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space24 GEORGE STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; School220 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises994/-/861788Determined
September 2024
- Educational establishment; 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 Australia188 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Withdrawn
August 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure78 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
May 2024
- Subdivision220 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)1065 RODEO DRIVE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Registered club57 HIGH STREET, BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Subdivision122 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
2023· 15 proposals
November 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Car park31 ADAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
September 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool32 NORTH ARM ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2 WILLIAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
August 2023
- Shed2 SOUTH ARM ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
June 2023
- Other5 Young street, Bowraville, 2449Determined
May 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs84 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
April 2023
- Secondary dwelling270 NORTH ARM ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Educational establishment; Change of use188 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces6C COOK STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Subdivision of land24 BOWRA STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces16 KOOKABURRA LANE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Other48 COOK STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
February 2023
- Retaining walls, protection of trees10 GEORGE STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Food and drink premises57 HIGH STREET, BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
January 2023
- Educational establishment220 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
2022· 3 proposals
December 2022
- Shed126 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
November 2022
- Secondary dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed7 SOUTH ARM ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Shed10 GEORGE STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
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
3 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bus stop
- Nambucca Valley Farmers MarketsMarketplace
- Bowraville RacecourseSports centre
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
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
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 37.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3960th in Australia
- State rank
- 1250th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #189 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #442 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 68%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bowraville Racecourseamenitiessports_centre
- Bus stopamenitiesbus_stop
- Nambucca Valley Farmers Marketsamenitiesmarketplace
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime17
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime16
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime27
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime27
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime21
- 55 Lower Buckra Bendinni Rdtransport
- Bellingen Rd Opp 122transport
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)
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Nambucca Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.