NSW · Wollongong Council
Coalcliff, 2508
Current weather
16.5°CClear sky
46% humidity · 15.8 km/h wind · 20.5° / 12.8° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Coalcliff revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Coastal character runs through daily life, with the wider region offering extra trips and outings when you want them. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar coastal suburbs, even with community and employment and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 212
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $3,299
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 15 of 86
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,000
- Employment rate
- 57.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 6 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $795
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)
- 7
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 2
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 33
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 106 residents
- State safety percentile
- 9.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Reported offences are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault19
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property27
- Steal From Motor Vehicle19
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
15 public transport stops in this suburb
- Coalcliff Station
- Coalcliff Station, Lawrence Hargrave Dr
- Coalcliff Station, Platform 1
- Coalcliff Station, Platform 2
- FTB Law Har 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).
30 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation220 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Under Assessment
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool241 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 PATERSON ROAD COALCLIFF 2508Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces232 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space225 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces220 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
2025· 3 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure237 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation279 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Withdrawn
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)27 PATERSON ROAD COALCLIFF 2508Determined
2024· 7 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure252 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation241 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation221 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure211 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure252 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Stairway; Swimming pool209 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
January 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation223 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
2023· 2 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure279 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
May 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development252 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
2022· 3 proposals
October 2022
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces21 PATERSON ROAD COALCLIFF 2508Determined
September 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development26 PATERSON ROAD COALCLIFF 2508Determined
April 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition241 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
2021· 5 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development44 PATERSON ROAD COALCLIFF 2508Determined
September 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development26 PATERSON ROAD COALCLIFF 2508Determined
August 2021
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing221 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
July 2021
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling231 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
June 2021
- Dwelling217 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
2020· 4 proposals
October 2020
- Dwelling217 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
- Dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development213 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Withdrawn
- Alterations and additions to residential development44 PATERSON ROAD COALCLIFF 2508Determined
- Other237 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE COALCLIFF 2508Determined
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
18 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (2)
- 75-77 Lawrence Hargrave DrBus stop
- Coalcliff Station, Lawrence Hargrave DrBus stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr opp Coalcliff StationBus stop
- Paterson Rd after Lawrence Hargrave DrBus stop
- Paterson Rd at Lawrence Hargrave DrBus stop
- Paterson Rd before Lawrence Hargrave DrBus stop
- Picnic Table
- Playground
- Shower
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Leeder ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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)
- 12
- 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
- 36.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4061st in Australia
- State rank
- 1277th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #62 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #130 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
- 75-77 Lawrence Hargrave Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Coalcliffamenitiestrain_station
- Coalcliff 1amenitiestrain_station
- Coalcliff 2amenitiestrain_station
- Coalcliff Rock Poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Coalcliff Station, Lawrence Hargrave Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Lawrence Hargrave Dr opp Coalcliff Stationamenitiesbus_stop
- Paterson Rd after Lawrence Hargrave Dramenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- 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.