NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Falls Creek, 2540
Current weather
12.7°CClear sky
63% humidity · 12.1 km/h wind · 19.6° / 11.1° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Shoalhaven, Falls Creek 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. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and schools and education against similar regional towns, even with transport and access and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 939
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,508
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 32 of 353
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,199
- Employment rate
- 53.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 24 / 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)
- $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
- 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)
- 40
- Against the person
- 15
- Against property
- 16
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 42.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 63 residents
- State safety percentile
- 17.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.5%
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
- 921
- Falls Creek 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
80 public transport stops in this suburb
- 36 Gardner Rd
- Fairfax Rd At Jervis Bay Rd
- Jervis Bay Rd Opp Fairfax Rd
- Woollamia Rd At Fall Rd
- Woollamia Rd Opp Old Woollamia 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
- RoadworksPrinces Highway, Jervis Bay Road11 Feb 2024 – 29 Feb 2028
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).
68 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 WATT ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house88 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 MCARTHUR DRIVE FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
2025· 8 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Supporting Development34 MCARTHUR DRIVE FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Animal boarding or training establishment8C PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Under Assessment
October 2025
- Subdivision53 WOOLLAMIA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
August 2025
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structureD 981 PRINCES HIGHWAY FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
July 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 LINNANE STREET FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation142 BLACKBUTT RANGE ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation39 MCARTHUR DRIVE FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 HART ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Withdrawn
2024· 10 proposals
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development264 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Moveable dwelling88 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Fences36 JERVIS BAY ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development264 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation4 LINNANE STREET FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
May 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation33 GARDNER ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool49 WOOLLAMIA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
April 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation34 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
March 2024
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure52 JERVIS BAY ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
2023· 14 proposals
November 2023
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Tourist and visitor accommodation747 FALLS ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure142 BLACKBUTT RANGE ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support88 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
August 2023
- Secondary dwelling21 WILLOWGREEN ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
July 2023
- DwellingD 953 PRINCES HIGHWAY FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
June 2023
- Dual occupancy150 WOOLLAMIA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development25B PEPPER ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development8 MCARTHUR DRIVE FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
April 2023
- Dual occupancy88 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Shed139 WOOLLAMIA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
March 2023
- ShedD 1005 PRINCES HIGHWAY FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
February 2023
- Shed34 PARMA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
January 2023
- Subdivision of land49 WOOLLAMIA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Dwelling99 FALLS ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
2022· 5 proposals
December 2022
- Secondary dwelling20 WILLOWGREEN RD FALLS CREEK 2540 Lot 1 DP 587300Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling19 GARDNER ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; ShedDOWLING STREET FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Subdivision of land50 COMBERTON GRANGE ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
- Subdivision of land120 WOOLLAMIA ROAD FALLS CREEK 2540Determined
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
3 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 1024 Princes HwyBus stop
- 1033 Princes HwyBus stop
- Jervis Bay Rd at Gardner RdBus 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
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
- 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)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- 35.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4258th in Australia
- State rank
- 1352nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #231 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #512 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
- 1024 Princes Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- 1033 Princes Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Jervis Bay Rd at Gardner Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime135
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime174
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime283
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime261
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime146
- 36 Gardner Rdtransport
- Fairfax Rd At Jervis Bay 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)
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
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.