NSW · Bellingen Council
Fernbrook, 2453
Current weather
13°CClear sky
80% humidity · 7.8 km/h wind · 20.2° / 10.4° today · 2.4 mm rain
Updated
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Fernbrook is a residential smaller community in Bellingen with a familiar suburban feel. Distance from the capital is noticeable, but the trade-off is space, calm and a community that knows its neighbours. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield. The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area.
The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Population
- Population
- 131
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $1,271
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 11 of 64
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,107
- Employment rate
- 57.5%
- 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 7
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 53.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 66 residents
- State safety percentile
- 30.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Arson12
- Break And Enter Dwelling12
- Domestic Violence Related Assault13
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment13
- Malicious Damage To Property15
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
16 public transport stops in this suburb
- 4563 Waterfall Way
- 4680 Waterfall Way
- 4690 Waterfall Way
- Deer Vale Rd Opp Borra Creek Rd
- Waterfall Way At Fernbrook Loop 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).
5 planning-related records
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia5070 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Determined
2023· 1 proposal
May 2023
- Farm buildings; Change of use201 FERNBROOK LOOP ROAD FERNBROOK 2453Determined
2021· 1 proposal
October 2021
- Farm buildings5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Determined
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)
- 5/10
- 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
Recent changes
- Arsoncrime12
- Break And Enter Dwellingcrime12
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime13
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime13
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime15
- 4563 Waterfall Waytransport
- 4680 Waterfall Waytransport
- 4690 Waterfall Waytransport
- Deer Vale Rd Opp Borra Creek Rdtransport
- Waterfall Way At Fernbrook Loop 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 Bellingen Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.