NSW · Wollongong Council
Brownsville, 2530
Current weather
10.1°CClear sky
67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 17.5° / 6° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Brownsville is a practical smaller community in Wollongong, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with transport and access and local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drags compared with similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 524
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,160
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 258
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 49.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 21 / 39 / 64
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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $730
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 156
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)
- 28
- Against the person
- 8
- Against property
- 11
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 53.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 66 residents
- State safety percentile
- 30.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
- Domestic Violence Related Assault129
- Fraud127
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
- Malicious Damage To Property153
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
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kanahooka Rd After Prince Edward Dr
- Kanahooka Rd After Prince Edward Dr
- Kanahooka Rd After St Lukes Av
- Kanahooka Rd After St Lukes 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).
13 planning-related records
2025· 2 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 HORE STREET BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation17 HORE STREET BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
2024· 1 proposal
January 2024
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia3 Regal Place BrownsvilleDetermined
2023· 1 proposal
August 2023
- Demolition3 Regal Place Brownsville 2530Determined
2022· 5 proposals
November 2022
- Telecommunications and communication facilities328 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
September 2022
- Shed19 REGAL PLACE BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
- Shed9 PRINCE EDWARD DRIVE BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development342 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
April 2022
- Telecommunications and communication facilities328 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
2021· 3 proposals
October 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed25 BROWNSVILLE AVENUE BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
July 2021
- Signage; Other342 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
May 2021
- Shed19 REGAL PLACE BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
2020· 1 proposal
November 2020
- Pools / decks / fencing15 WINDSOR CRESCENT BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
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
9 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Kanahooka Rd after Prince Edward DrBus stop
- Kanahooka Rd after St Lukes AveBus stop
- AmpChargeEV charging
- Playground
- Brownsville Licensed Post OfficePost office
- Dandaloo Hotel MotelPub
- Public toilets
- Dandaloo Sports GroundSports field
- Sports field
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- St Lukes ParkPark
- William Beach Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 22.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6315th in Australia
- State rank
- 1965th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #408 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #849 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
Recent changes
- AmpChargeamenitiescharging_station
- Brownsville Licensed Post Officeamenitiespost_office
- Dandaloo Hotel Motelamenitiespub
- Dandaloo Sports Groundamenitiespitch
- Kanahooka Rd after Prince Edward Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Kanahooka Rd after St Lukes Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime123
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.