NSW · Gunnedah Council
Curlewis, 2381
Current weather
14.7°CClear sky
76% humidity · 11 km/h wind · 19.6° / 11.8° today · 10.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Curlewis offers a slower smaller community life in Gunnedah, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Distance from the capital is noticeable, but the trade-off is space, calm and a community that knows its neighbours. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, 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. 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 are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space and transport and access holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 779
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $1,403
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 43 of 323
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,000
- Employment rate
- 59.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 23 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 103
- Against the person
- 26
- Against property
- 43
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 132.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 86.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +75.1%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order12
- Break And Enter Dwelling11
- Domestic Violence Related Assault12
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment16
- Malicious Damage To Property12
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
- 833
- Curlewis Public SchoolPrimary
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
43 public transport stops in this suburb
- 1868 Pullaming Rd
- Goran St After Pike St
- Pullaming Rd Opp 1551
- Pullaming Rd Opp River Downs Property
- Wandobah Rd At Voca 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).
20 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
June 2026
- Signage; Advertising and signage21 MCCORMACK LANE CURLEWIS 2381On Exhibition
2025· 4 proposals
November 2025
- Poultry farm; Hours of operation and trading702 WATERMARK ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home42-44 PULLAMING STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space36-38 PARNELL STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 PULLAMING STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
2024· 5 proposals
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture331 CURLEWIS COMMON ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Extractive Industries (non-mining)THE DIP ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 GORAN STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
July 2024
- Subdivision8 GORAN STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
January 2024
- Subdivision2108 GORAN LAKE ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
2023· 4 proposals
September 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 GORAN STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
August 2023
- Other24 PULLAMING STREET CURLEWIS 2381Withdrawn
- Shed29 HENRY STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
February 2023
- Dwelling33 HENRY STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
2022· 4 proposals
November 2022
- Other702 WATERMARK ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
- Other702 WATERMARK ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
August 2022
- Dwelling30 - 50 old cemetery lane curlewis 2381Determined
February 2022
- Dwelling236 PRESTON ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
2021· 2 proposals
September 2021
- Dwelling30-50 OLD CEMETERY LANE CURLEWIS 2381Determined
August 2021
- Other702 WATERMARK ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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)
- 42
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- 27.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5741st in Australia
- State rank
- 1796th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #292 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #806 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
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 Ordercrime12
- Break And Enter Dwellingcrime11
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime12
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime16
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime12
- 1868 Pullaming Rdtransport
- Goran St After Pike Sttransport
- Pullaming Rd Opp 1551transport
- Pullaming Rd Opp River Downs Propertytransport
- Wandobah Rd At Voca 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 Gunnedah Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.