NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Far Meadow, 2535
Current weather
14.9°CClear sky
55% humidity · 10.8 km/h wind · 20.7° / 12° today · 1.9 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Shoalhaven, Far Meadow 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. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and parks and green space lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 209
- Median age
- 60
- Median household income / week
- $1,930
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 10 of 97
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 50.5%
- 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)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 33
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)
- 6
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 28.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 104 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -14.1%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault18
- Fraud21
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment22
- Malicious Damage To Property31
- 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
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- 435 Coolangatta Rd
- 47 Bryces Rd
- 498 Back Forest Rd
- 520 Coolangatta Rd
- 539 Coolangatta 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).
18 planning-related records
2025· 2 proposals
July 2025
- Demolition511C COOLANGATTA ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure422 BACK FOREST ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
2024· 1 proposal
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool309 BRYCES ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
2023· 5 proposals
October 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)140B BRYCES ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development535B BACK FOREST ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
July 2023
- Earthworks / change in levels439 COOLANGATTA ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Withdrawn
June 2023
- OtherBRYCES ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
March 2023
- Home business39 ROXBROUGH ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Withdrawn
2022· 5 proposals
December 2022
- Other417A BACK FOREST ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
July 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing25 ROXBROUGH ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition; Shed420 BACK FOREST ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Other15 BRYCES ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
March 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing417A BACK FOREST ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
2021· 5 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development535B BACK FOREST ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Withdrawn
August 2021
- Other323 BRYCES ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
- Other25 ROXBROUGH ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
April 2021
- Subdivision of landBRYCES ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
January 2021
- Dwelling; Demolition; Shed420 BACK FOREST ROAD FAR MEADOW 2535Determined
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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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)
- 2
- 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
- 30.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5266th in Australia
- State rank
- 1675th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #372 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #723 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime18
- Fraudcrime21
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime22
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime31
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime19
- 435 Coolangatta Rdtransport
- 47 Bryces Rdtransport
- 498 Back Forest Rdtransport
- 520 Coolangatta Rdtransport
- 539 Coolangatta 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 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.