NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Callala Beach, 2540
Current weather
12.7°CClear sky
63% humidity · 12.1 km/h wind · 19.6° / 11.1° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Callala Beach is a coastal smaller community where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. Coastal living here comes with genuine distance from the capital, a self-contained pace with the sea at its heart. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
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 housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 777
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $1,146
- Dwelling vacancy
- 66.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 647 of 979
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 42.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 38 / 0 / 0
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)
- $465
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $571
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 300
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)
- 33
- Against the person
- 12
- Against property
- 13
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 42.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 65 residents
- State safety percentile
- 17.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order135
- Domestic Violence Related Assault174
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment283
- Malicious Damage To Property261
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault146
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
36 public transport stops in this suburb
- Callala Beach Rd Opp Callala RSL Country Club
- Callala Beach Rd Opp Club Callala
- Callala RSL Country Club, Callala Beach Rd
- King George St Before Princess St
- Queen Mary St At Parkes Cres
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).
203 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure72 WATTS ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 CALLALA BEACH ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation40 CALLALA BEACH ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)80 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure101 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure144 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure7 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure60 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure72 WATTS ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia111 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Deferred Commencement
- Shed; Erection of a new structure69 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 SILKWOOD WALK CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition8 PARKES CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 SIR HENRY CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 PARKES CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)16 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)73 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 GREENWAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Subdivision68A QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external); Supporting Development114A Quay Rd CALLALA BEACH - Lot CP SP 80080Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation35 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 SILKWOOD WALK CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 PARKES CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodation1 58 GREENWAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure60 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool116A QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies57 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure48 GREENWAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Deferred Commencement
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation86 WATTS ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure137 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Operational consent issued
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
23 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 27 Lennox RdBus stop
- Callala Beach Post Office, Parkes CresBus stop
- Callala Beach Rd opp Callala RSL Country ClubBus stop
- Callala Beach Rd opp Verge RdBus stop
- Callala RSL Country Club, Callala Beach RdBus stop
- Lennox Rd opp Lewis RdBus stop
- Queen Mary St at Centre StBus stop
- Queen Mary St at Parkes CresBus stop
- Queen Mary St before Sir Henry CresBus stop
- Sir Henry Cres at Quay RdBus stop
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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
- 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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 32.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4896th in Australia
- State rank
- 1569th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #83 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #154 among Coastal & beach 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
- 27 Lennox Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Calabrisellaamenitiescafe
- Callala Beach Post Office, Parkes Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Callala Beach RSLamenitiespub
- Callala Beach Rd opp Callala RSL Country Clubamenitiesbus_stop
- Callala Beach Rd opp Verge Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Callala RSL Country Club, Callala Beach Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Coffee and Churros at Callala Beachamenities38 Callala Beach Roadcafe
- Lennox Rd opp Lewis Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Parkingamenitiesparking
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Shoalhaven Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.