NSW · Cowra Council
Darbys Falls, 2793
Current weather
11.6°CClear sky
70% humidity · 17.4 km/h wind · 14.8° / 8.2° today · 5.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Cowra, Darbys Falls keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing is well-priced for what you get: space, location and everyday convenience. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 243
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $845
- Dwelling vacancy
- 19.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 23 of 120
- Median monthly mortgage
- $979
- Employment rate
- 38%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 3 / 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)
- 10
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 41.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 81 residents
- State safety percentile
- 16th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +25.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order9
- Domestic Violence Related Assault6
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment5
- Malicious Damage To Property5
- Motor Vehicle Theft3
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
29 public transport stops in this suburb
- 74 Main St
- Darby Falls Rd At Glen Avon Rd
- Darbys Falls Rd At Mt McDonald Rd
- Main St After Church St
- Winter Hill Property, Darbys Falls 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).
8 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
May 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (outdoor)2089 DARBYS FALLS ROAD DARBYS FALLS 2793Under Assessment
2025· 1 proposal
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1223 KANGAROO FLAT ROAD DARBYS FALLS 2793Determined
2023· 1 proposal
October 2023
- Subdivision; Commercial livestock grazing; Crop or fodder production; Agriculture1153 KANGAROO FLAT ROAD DARBYS FALLS 2793Determined
2022· 3 proposals
November 2022
- Farm buildings21 OBSERVATORY ROAD DARBYS FALLS 2793Determined
September 2022
- Shed2102C DARBYS FALLS ROAD DARBYS FALLS 2793Determined
April 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development60 CLEARVIEW ROAD DARBYS FALLS 2793Determined
2021· 2 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling39 MAIN STREET DARBYS FALLS 2793Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling55 MOUNT MCDONALD ROAD DARBYS FALLS 2793Determined
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)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
- No overlay at centroid
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 20.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6530th in Australia
- State rank
- 2038th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #542 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #982 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
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 Ordercrime9
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime6
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime5
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime5
- Motor Vehicle Theftcrime3
- 74 Main Sttransport
- Darby Falls Rd At Glen Avon Rdtransport
- Darbys Falls Rd At Mt McDonald Rdtransport
- Main St After Church Sttransport
- Winter Hill Property, Darbys Falls 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 Cowra Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.