NSW · Wollongong Council
Darkes Forest, 2508
Current weather
16.5°CClear sky
46% humidity · 15.8 km/h wind · 20.5° / 12.8° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Darkes Forest is a residential smaller community in Wollongong with a familiar suburban feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Community life feels grounded and local, with residents who tend to know their neighbourhood well.
A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Population
- Population
- 95
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $2,624
- Dwelling vacancy
- 0%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 0 of 33
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,326
- Employment rate
- 79.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 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)
- 3
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 31.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 95 residents
- State safety percentile
- 8.5th (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
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- 574 Darkes Forest Rd
- 574 Darkes Forest 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· 2 proposals
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Bee keeping; Commercial livestock grazing23 PRINCES HIGHWAY DARKES FOREST 2508Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure128 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Extensive agriculture; Commercial livestock grazing; Agriculture458 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Withdrawn
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences128 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure582 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2024· 4 proposals
December 2024
- Animal boarding or training establishment; Hours of operation and trading210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
October 2024
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure128 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
August 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure342-356 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
January 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool582 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
August 2023
- Shed210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Shed572-574 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2022· 2 proposals
August 2022
- Other105 Darkes Road, Kembla GrangeDetermined
June 2022
- Dwelling210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2021· 4 proposals
October 2021
- Shed210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development92-117 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
July 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing342-356 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
February 2021
- Secondary dwelling430 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2020· 1 proposal
September 2020
- Secondary dwelling430 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 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
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
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Darks Forest ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime28
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime19
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime40
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime27
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime19
- 574 Darkes Forest Rdtransport
- 574 Darkes Forest Rdtransport
- Darks Forest Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning92-117 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Lodged 07 Oct 2021 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Shedplanning572-574 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Lodged 14 Jun 2023 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- 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 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.