NSW · Tamworth Regional Council
Calala, 2340
Current weather
14.1°CClear sky
80% humidity · 8.7 km/h wind · 18.8° / 11.4° today · 9 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Calala offers a slower mid-sized suburb life in Tamworth Regional, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
The community skews younger, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 4,577
- Median age
- 33
- Median household income / week
- $1,863
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 69 of 1,590
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,600
- Employment rate
- 63.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 111 / 53 / 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)
- $390
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $525
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $490
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 551
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)
- 716
- Against the person
- 187
- Against property
- 283
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 156.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 24 residents
- State safety percentile
- 92.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.6%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order550
- Breach Bail Conditions1095
- Domestic Violence Related Assault695
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment697
- Malicious Damage To Property790
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,025
- Farrer Memorial Agricultural High SchoolSecondary
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
203 public transport stops in this suburb
- Calala Lane Opp Inala Cres
- Osprey Way After Harrier Pde
- Panorama Rd After Finch Pl
- Panorama Rd At Karenvar Av
- Panorama Rd At Mountain Gum Rd
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).
186 planning-related records
2026· 14 proposals
June 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)9 MYRL STREET CALALA 2340Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 HEREFORD CRESCENT CALALA 2340Determined
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport8 HIBISCUS WAY CALALA 2340Determined
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure81 ONSLOW THOMPSON ROAD CALALA 2340Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah41 WARRAH DRIVE CALALA 2340Determined
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Temporary building, structure or use17 MCDONALD CRESCENT CALALA 2340Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure91 WARRAH DRIVE CALALA 2340Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure95 WARRAH DRIVE CALALA 2340Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure57 FALCON DRIVE CALALA 2340Under Assessment
- Subdivision81 ONSLOW THOMPSON ROAD CALALA 2340Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah41 WARRAH DRIVE CALALA 2340Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure89 PANORAMA ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah27 FALCON DRIVE CALALA 2340Withdrawn
January 2026
- Temporary building, structure or use; ShopLot 9 Scott Road, TAMWORTHDetermined
2025· 26 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space52 MYRL STREET CALALA 2340Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure152 WARRAH DRIVE CALALA 2340Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport80 CALALA LANE CALALA 2340Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport80 CALALA LANE CALALA 2340Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Temporary building, structure or use17 MCDONALD CRESCENT CALALA 2340Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support39 FALCON DRIVE CALALA 2340Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure46A DARRELL ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16 HEREFORD CRESCENT CALALA 2340Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport80 CALALA LANE CALALA 2340Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure40 BURGESS LANE CALALA 2340Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing30 DARRELL ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
June 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development68 CURRAWONG DRIVE CALALA 2340Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure37 PANORAMA ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure14 WINDHOVER CRESCENT CALALA 2340Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure10 DARRELL ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
May 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure46A DARRELL ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing30 DARRELL ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure20 DARRELL ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure68 FALCON DRIVE CALALA 2340Determined
March 2025
- Attached dwelling; Dwelling house; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation129 WARRAH DRIVE CALALA 2340-Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation348 LOOMBERAH ROAD CALALA 2340Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport41 MYRL STREET CALALA 2340Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; ShopLot 9 Scott Road, TAMWORTHDetermined
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies53 CALALA LANE CALALA 2340Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)17 EAGLE AVENUE CALALA 2340Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport8 HIBISCUS WAY CALALA 2340Determined
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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Harrier Parade ParkPark
- Lampada ParkPark
- Monk ParkPark
- Myrl ParkPark
- Village ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Goodstart Early Learningkindergarten
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)
- 10
- Parks (OSM)
- 10
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
- 46.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 35% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2378th in Australia
- State rank
- 739th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #37 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #169 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
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 Ordercrime550
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime1095
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime695
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime697
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime790
- Calala Lane Opp Inala Crestransport
- Osprey Way After Harrier Pdetransport
- Panorama Rd After Finch Pltransport
- Panorama Rd At Karenvar Avtransport
- Panorama Rd At Mountain Gum Rdtransport
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 Tamworth Regional Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.