suburb.guide

NSW · Shoalhaven Council

Culburra Beach, 2540

Current weather

15.5°CClear sky

59% humidity · 12.4 km/h wind · 20.3° / 13.8° today · 2 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

40.2/100
Average

Top 49% of New South Wales' suburbs

82% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Coastal
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Culburra Beach is known for: Coastal, Green suburb, Excellent transport, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Life in Culburra Beach revolves around the coast, with the feel of a mid-sized suburb that never strays far from the water. Coastal living here comes with genuine distance from the capital, a self-contained pace with the sea at its heart. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.

An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.

Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.

The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker housing affordability and schools and education against similar coastal suburbs, even with parks and green space and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
2,946
Median age
54
Median household income / week
$1,247
Dwelling vacancy
40.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
880 of 2,159
Median monthly mortgage
$1,768
Employment rate
45.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
107 / 115 / 18

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
126
Against the person
46
Against property
51
Rate per 1,000 residents
42.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 64 residents
State safety percentile
18.1th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-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

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
952
  • Culburra Public SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

80 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Culburra Ambulance Station, Culburra Rd
  • Culburra Public School, Black Swan Way
  • Culburra Shops, Prince Edward Av
  • Penguin Head Rd At The Bowery
  • Prince Edward Av At Orient Point 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).

362 planning-related records

2026· 17 proposals

  • June 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    234 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    172 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Additional Information Requested

  • May 2026

  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport
    60 ORIENT POINT ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Withdrawn
  • Demolition; Subdivision
    87 ADDISON ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    180 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Additional Information Requested

  • April 2026

  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    151 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    78 WEST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined

  • March 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    18 PARK ROW CULBURRA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport
    60 ORIENT POINT ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Office Premise; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    1 WESTON STREET CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined

  • February 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    22 PRINCE EDWARD AVENUE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Infrastructure
    Culburra Rd CULBURRA BEACH - Lot 1 DP 1305809Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    151 THE MARINA CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    4 EASTBOURNE AVENUE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    101 GREENBANK GROVE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    78 WEST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined

  • January 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    71 GREENBANK GROVE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Additional Information Requested
2025· 23 proposals

  • December 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    50 ADDISON ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    180 MARINA LANE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Residential Accommodation
    60 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Additional Information Requested
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Minor building alterations (external)
    16 THE STRAND CULBURRA BEACH 2540Deferred Commencement
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    1 THE BOWERY CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined

  • November 2025

  • Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Take away food and drink
    159 PRINCE EDWARD AVENUE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    190 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined

  • October 2025

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    61 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure
    22 EAST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Infrastructure
    Canal St East CULBURRA BEACH - DP 12278Additional Information Requested
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    20 GREENBANK GROVE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Infrastructure
    CULBURRA ROAD CULBURRA BEACH Lot 1 DP 1305809Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    29 BRIGHTON PARADE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    10A WEST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined

  • September 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation
    5 THE MARINA CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Privacy screens; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    6 FARRANT AVENUE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Withdrawn
  • Erection of a new structure; Infrastructure
    Culburra Rd CULBURRA BEACH - Lot 1 DP 1279350Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)
    2 BRIGHTON PARADE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Withdrawn
  • Erection of a new structure; Environmental protection works; Sewage reticulation system; Water reticulation system; Sewerage system
    Culburra Road CULBURRA BEACH - Lot 1 DP 1305809Determined
  • Subdivision
    Culburra Road Culburra Beach – Lot 1 DP 1305809Under Assessment
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    58 EAST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    6 ADDISON ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space
    4 PLIMSOLL PLACE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

24 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Culburra BakeryBakery

    129 Prince Edward Avenue

  • Bench
  • Culburra Shops, Prince Edward AvBus stop
  • Penguin Head Rd at The BoweryBus stop
  • Penguin Head Rd at Woodland StBus stop
  • Prince Edward Av after Belgrave StBus stop
  • Prince Edward Av at Belgrave StBus stop
  • Prince Edward Av at Fairlands StBus stop
  • Prince Edward Av at Glenholme WayBus stop
  • Prince Edward Av opp Glenholme WayBus 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

Parks & reserves

4 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Fred Evans ParkPark
  • Lakeside ParkPark
  • Tilbury Cove ReservePark
  • Wheeler ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
1
Emergency department
Not in suburb
  • Culburra Beach Medical Centredoctor

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
4/10
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

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)
27
Parks (OSM)
8

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
40.2/100 — Average
State standing
Top 49% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
3294th in Australia
State rank
1046th in NSW
Peer rank
#44 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#108 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
82%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Benchamenitiesbench
  • Burra Beach Eatsamenitiescafe
  • Culburra Bakeryamenities129 Prince Edward Avenuebakery
  • Culburra Baptist Churchamenities33 Carlton Crescentplace_of_worship
  • Culburra Beach LPOamenities181 Prince Edward Avenuepost_office
  • Culburra Bowling Clubamenitiesplayground
  • Culburra Shops, Prince Edward Avamenitiesbus_stop
  • Frankies Coffee Vanamenitiescafe
  • Parkingamenitiesparking
  • Parkingamenitiesparking

Data sources & freshness

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.