suburb.guide

NSW · Bellingen Council

Fernmount, 2454

Current weather

14.7°CClear sky

94% humidity · 7.1 km/h wind · 20.4° / 11.4° today · 5.6 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

34.4/100
Below average

1434th in NSW

70% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • High desirability
  • Green suburb
What Fernmount is known for: High desirability, Green suburb

Suburb profile

Fernmount is a hillside smaller community in Bellingen, with elevated streets and a greener, quieter pace. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Ridge-top pockets and tree cover give the area a cooler, greener hillside feel.

The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally.

Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. Infill and new builds are slowly updating the area without overwhelming its existing character.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
444
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$1,784
Dwelling vacancy
5.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
8 of 152
Median monthly mortgage
$1,833
Employment rate
54.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
10 / 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)
$630
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
39

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
27
Against the person
9
Against property
11
Rate per 1,000 residents
60.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 49 residents
State safety percentile
38.6th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-6.6%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Domestic Violence Related Assault39
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment53
  • Malicious Damage To Property66
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault42
  • Other Offences62

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

  • Fernmount Rural Fire Brigade, Hyde St
  • Hyde St Before Waterfall Way
  • Mount St Before Henry Boultwood Dr
  • Mount St Opp McDougall Pl
  • Waterfall Way At Maydwell St

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

2 active roadworks / incidents

  • RoadworksWaterfall Way, Nicholson Street19 Apr 2026 – 30 Nov 2026
  • RoadworksWaterfall Way, Nicholson Street19 Apr 2026 – 30 Nov 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).

33 planning-related records

2026· 1 proposal

  • March 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 71 Cross Street Fernmount NSW 2454Additional Information Requested
2025· 3 proposals

  • September 2025

  • Subdivision
    23 OLD BRIERFIELD ROAD FERNMOUNT 2454Under Assessment

  • April 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    383 WATERFALL WAY FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • February 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    54 MCDOUGALL PLACE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
2024· 9 proposals

  • October 2024

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Tourist and visitor accommodation
    221 OLD BRIERFIELD ROAD FERNMOUNT 2454Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    34 SHERIDAN CLOSE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • July 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Rural industry; Agricultural produce industry
    383 WATERFALL WAY FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    54 MCDOUGALL PLACE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    171 MOUNT STREET FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • June 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    49 HENRY BOULTWOOD DRIVE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • April 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    383 WATERFALL WAY FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
  • Subdivision
    70 HENRY BOULTWOOD DRIVE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • February 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    52 MOUNT STREET FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
2023· 5 proposals

  • May 2023

  • Dwelling
    21 BAKER STREET FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • March 2023

  • Subdivision of land
    864 WATERFALL WAY FERNMOUNT 2454Under Assessment
  • Secondary dwelling
    169 MOUNT STREET FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • January 2023

  • Dwelling
    21 SHERIDAN CLOSE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
  • Shed
    34 Sheridan Close, Fernmount 2454Determined
2022· 11 proposals

  • October 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    211 MAYDWELL STREET FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • August 2022

  • Farm buildings
    9 Old Brierfield RoadDetermined
  • Dwelling
    69A PULSFORD PLACE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
  • Pools / decks / fencing
    208 MOUNT STREET FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • July 2022

  • Dwelling
    31 SHERIDAN CLOSE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    57 SWEEDMANS LANE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • June 2022

  • Dwelling
    15 HYDE STREET FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • May 2022

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    57 MCDOUGALL PLACE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • March 2022

  • Secondary dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed
    45 HENRY BOULTWOOD DRIVE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
  • Dwelling; Shed
    32 SHERIDAN CLOSE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • January 2022

  • Dwelling
    180 MOUNT STREET FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
2021· 4 proposals

  • December 2021

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    57 MCDOUGALL PLACE FERNMOUNT 2454Withdrawn

  • November 2021

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    22 BENNETT ROAD FERNMOUNT 2454Determined

  • July 2021

  • Dwelling
    69A PULSFORD PLACE FERNMOUNT 2454Determined
  • Secondary dwelling
    91 OLD BRIERFIELD ROAD FERNMOUNT 2454Under Assessment

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bellingen Canoe AdventuresBoat Rental

    4 Tyson Street

  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (5)
  • Telephone

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

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Burdett ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
7/10
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

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
34.4/100 — Below average
National rank
4498th in Australia
State rank
1434th in NSW
Peer rank
#265 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#564 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

  • Bellingen Canoe Adventuresamenities4 Tyson Streetboat_rental
  • Sports fieldamenitiespitch
  • Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
  • Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
  • Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
  • Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
  • Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
  • Telephoneamenitiestelephone
  • Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime39
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime53

Data sources & freshness

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.