NSW · Kempsey Council
Dondingalong, 2440
Current weather
17°CClear sky
92% humidity · 11 km/h wind · 23.3° / 12.1° today · 0.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Dondingalong offers a slower smaller community life in Kempsey, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, 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. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 712
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,164
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 284
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,225
- Employment rate
- 49.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 12 / 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $380
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $490
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $480
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 112
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)
- 125
- Against the person
- 33
- Against property
- 48
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 175.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 95.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order264
- Breach Bail Conditions556
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment411
- Malicious Damage To Property362
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
28 public transport stops in this suburb
- Church Davy Lane
- Dondingalong Rd At Gowings Hill Rd
- Mary's Bay / Gowings Hill
- Marys Bay Rd At Gowings Hill Rd
- Pipers Creek Rd Opp Ballengara 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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Follow directions on site. Exercise caution. <strong>Unsealed Roads - Maintenance Grading Program</strong>To StartPipers Creek Road24 May 2026 – 03 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
76 planning-related records
2026· 10 proposals
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal)103 WIRRANG DRIVE DONDINGALONG 2440Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure459 GOWINGS HILL ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure11 FRASER CLOSE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure61 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureOAKLAND ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah59 SEAM MILL PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space17 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space40 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation40 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
2025· 8 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 MEREWETHER LANE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure408 MARYS BAY ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure42 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah59 SEAM MILL PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation63 SEAM MILL PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure152 DONDINGALONG ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
January 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure75 SEAM MILL PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
2024· 18 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11 MEREWETHER LANE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure459 GOWINGS HILL ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation86 SEAM MILL PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure58 SPRING HILL ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure62 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)690 GOWINGS HILL ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space90 SEAM MILL PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure126 DONDINGALONG ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
February 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure14 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation21 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)63 OAKLAND ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure398 GOWINGS HILL ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure44 OLD PIPERS CREEK ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)212 DONDINGALONG ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Deferred Commencement
- Shed; Erection of a new structure94 SEAM MILL PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation56 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure400 GOWINGS HILL ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia1026 GOWINGS HILL ROAD DONDINGALONG 2440Deferred Commencement
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 MASSIE PLACE DONDINGALONG 2440Determined
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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Pipers Creek Lime KilnsKumbatine National Park Bonnie Corner Road DondingalongSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 28.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5502nd in Australia
- State rank
- 1735th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #398 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #762 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 Ordercrime264
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime556
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime411
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime362
- Church Davy Lanetransport
- Dondingalong Rd At Gowings Hill Rdtransport
- Mary's Bay / Gowings Hilltransport
- Marys Bay Rd At Gowings Hill Rdtransport
- Pipers Creek Rd Opp Ballengara 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 Kempsey Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.