NSW · Shellharbour Council

Calderwood, 2527

Current weather

13.5°CClear sky

66% humidity · 5.2 km/h wind · 20.2° / 9° today · 2.1 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

48.3/100
Average

Top 32% of New South Wales' suburbs

70% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
What Calderwood is known for: Green suburb, Excellent transport, High desirability

Suburb profile

Calderwood is a practical mid-sized suburb in Shellharbour, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.

A younger crowd gives the area energy, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.

Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum and parks and green space. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
3,013
Median age
30
Median household income / week
$2,431
Dwelling vacancy
3.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
33 of 1,007
Median monthly mortgage
$2,470
Employment rate
77.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
60 / 13 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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)
$550
Houses (January to March 2026)
$750
All types (January to March 2026)
$710
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
130

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
127
Against the person
42
Against property
56
Rate per 1,000 residents
42.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 72 residents
State safety percentile
17.1th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-14.5%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order58
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault93
  • Fraud123
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment117
  • Malicious Damage To Property104

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW 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

33 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Calderwood Christian School, Access Rd, Calderwood Rd
  • Calderwood Christian School, Access Rd, Calderwood Rd
  • Calderwood Rd At Causeway
  • Calderwood Rd Opp Marshall Mount Rd
  • Escarpment Dr At Meander Dr

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).

701 planning-related records

2026· 40 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    38 BRISTLEBIRD DRIVE CALDERWOOD 2527Additional Information Requested
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    27 DOLLY CIRCUIT CALDERWOOD 2527Additional Information Requested
  • Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    59 CONNECTION ROAD CALDERWOOD 2527Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    1 Escarpment Drive Calderwood NSW 2527Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    17 AMY PLACE CALDERWOOD 2527Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    2 Sunflower Boulevard CALDERWOOD NSW 2527Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    23 Hatter Circuit CALDERWOOD NSW 2527Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    128 NORTH MACQUARIE ROAD CALDERWOOD 2527Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    51 DOLLY CIRCUIT CALDERWOOD 2527Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    6 HATTER CIRCUIT CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    LOT 6009 DP 1296458,18 EXCELSIOR DRIVE CALDERWOODAdditional Information Requested
  • May 2026

  • Subdivision
    11 AMY PLACE CALDERWOOD 2527Under Assessment
  • Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
    13 COCKATOO CRESCENT CALDERWOOD 2527Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    379 CALDERWOOD ROAD CALDERWOOD 2527Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    75 ANGEL VIEW CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Subdivision
    129 NORTH MACQUARIE ROAD CALDERWOOD 2527Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    LOT 113, NO.28 Josephine Circuit, CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    LOT 114, NO.30 Josephine Circuit, CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    35 HONEYBEE CRESCENT CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    62 HATTER CIRCUIT CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 6130, 60 Excelsior Drive, Calderwood NSW 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    52 Excelsior Drive Calderwood NSW 2527Determined
  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    44 Hatter Circuit Calderwood NSW 2527Withdrawn
  • Demolition
    1 Escarpment Drive, Calderwood. NSWDetermined
  • April 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    118 Brotheridge Avenue, Calderwood NSW 2527Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    13 Hatter Circuit Calderwood NSW 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    15 BRISTLEBIRD DRIVE CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 6079, 32 Hatter Circuit CALDERWOOD NSW 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    32 Excelsior Drive, Calderwood NSW 2527Determined
  • Demolition; Flood mitigation work
    40 Illawarra Highway, CalderwoodUnder Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    207 North Macquarie Road Calderwood NSW 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    122 Brotheridge Avenue Calderwood NSW 2527Determined
  • Subdivision
    179 Calderwood Road, CalderwoodAdditional Information Requested
  • March 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 6138, 96 Brotheridge Avenue CALDERWOODDetermined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 6050, 58 Hatter Circuit CALDERWOOD NSW 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    28 EXCELSIOR DRIVE CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    27 AMY PLACE CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    31 AMY PLACE CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    33 AMY PLACE CALDERWOOD 2527Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    23 AMY PLACE CALDERWOOD 2527Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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 amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Brotheridge ParkPark
  • District Park LowerPark
  • Meander ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

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

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
11
Parks (OSM)
9

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 featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability Index

Desirability score
48.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 32% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
2146th in Australia
State rank
676th in NSW
Peer rank
#185 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#455 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime58
  • Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime93
  • Fraudcrime123
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime117
  • Malicious Damage To Propertycrime104
  • Calderwood Christian School, Access Rd, Calderwood Rdtransport
  • Calderwood Christian School, Access Rd, Calderwood Rdtransport
  • Calderwood Rd At Causewaytransport
  • Calderwood Rd Opp Marshall Mount Rdtransport
  • Escarpment Dr At Meander Drtransport

Data sources & freshness

More in Shellharbour Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.