NSW · Ballina Council
Fernleigh, 2479
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Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Fernleigh is a quieter smaller community in Ballina, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. 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. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 298
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $2,024
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 5 of 103
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,600
- Employment rate
- 60.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 5 / 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)
- $1,060
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 37
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)
- 7
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 23.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 149 residents
- State safety percentile
- 3.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -22%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling10
- Domestic Violence Related Assault15
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment13
- Malicious Damage To Property11
- Steal From Motor Vehicle14
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
- 1,032
- Fernleigh 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
25 public transport stops in this suburb
- 25 Nashua Rd
- 39 Nashua Rd
- Fernleigh Rd At Nashua Rd
- Nashua Rd Opp 25
- Tooheys Mill Rd At Nashua 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).
23 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
June 2026
- Subdivision178 KIRKLANDS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 417 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Demolition; Swimming pool415 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool663 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool609 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2024· 2 proposals
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure199 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Subdivision178 KIRKLANDS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2023· 3 proposals
November 2023
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support262 KIRKLANDS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
April 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing500/-/1260659Determined
March 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing199 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2022· 11 proposals
December 2022
- Shed264 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development40 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Other191 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
July 2022
- Dual occupancy399 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Withdrawn
June 2022
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Change of use199 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Withdrawn
May 2022
- Dual occupancy1 MAJORS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Shed1 MAJORS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development375 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
April 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development72 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition1 MAJORS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
January 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development146 KIRKLANDS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2021· 2 proposals
November 2021
- Shed72 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Shed1 MAJORS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
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
- Burnett 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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 40.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 49% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3314th in Australia
- State rank
- 1037th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #125 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #319 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
- Break And Enter Dwellingcrime10
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime15
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime13
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime11
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime14
- 25 Nashua Rdtransport
- 39 Nashua Rdtransport
- Fernleigh Rd At Nashua Rdtransport
- Nashua Rd Opp 25transport
- Tooheys Mill Rd At Nashua 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 Ballina Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.