NSW · Council TBC
Fingal Head
Current weather
19.9°CMainly clear
78% humidity · 18.6 km/h wind · 20.7° / 17.7° today · 0.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Fingal Head is a coastal smaller community where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. The coast is the anchor, with regional towns nearby for markets, dining and weekend exploring. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because transport and access and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in safety and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 615
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,614
- Dwelling vacancy
- 15.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 42 of 269
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,350
- Employment rate
- 56.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 11 / 17 / 18
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.
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 934
- Fingal Head 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
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- Fingal Head Public School, Prince St
- Fingal Head Public School, Prince St
- Fingal Rd Before Wommin Lake Cres
- Fingal Rd Opp Wommin Lake Cres
- Queen St Before Lighthouse Pde
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).
54 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Fences2 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses2A CHITTICKS LANE FINGAL HEAD 2487Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Fences28 MAIN ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool28 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation32 QUEEN STREET FINGAL HEAD 2487Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool46 MAIN ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Under Assessment
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)10 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Under Assessment
2025· 7 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 LAGOON ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool28 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 MAIN ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12A QUEEN STREET FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure32 QUEEN STREET FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool32 LAGOON ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool46 MAIN ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
2024· 6 proposals
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)12 MAIN ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 LAGOON ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure56 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
June 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool27 QUEEN STREET FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 CHITTICKS LANE FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)3 KING STREET FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
2023· 10 proposals
November 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1A LETITIA ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition32 LAGOON ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing2 LAGOON ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
August 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development24 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
May 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Other20 LAGOON ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Earthworks / change in levels; Other46 MAIN ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
April 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces22 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development1 WOMMIN LAKE CRESCENT FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
- Secondary dwelling8A CHITTICKS LANE FINGAL HEAD 2487Withdrawn
January 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development36 MAIN ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
2022· 10 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing8A CHITTICKS LANE FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development50 MAIN ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
November 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs24 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
October 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development24 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
September 2022
- Dwelling; Shed15 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
August 2022
- Dwelling9 QUEEN STREET FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing9 QUEEN STREET FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
June 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing24 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development1 WOMMIN LAKE CRESCENT FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition46 FINGAL ROAD FINGAL HEAD 2487Determined
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
13 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Fingal Head Public School, Prince StBus stop
- Sheoak Shack Gallery CafeCafe
- Parking (2)
- Picnic Table (2)
- Playground (2)
- Australia PostPost Box
- Public toilets
- Shower
- Slipway
- TelstraTelephone
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Cook Island Nature ReserveNature reserve
- Everson ParkPark
- Old Boat Harbour ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
- No overlay at centroid
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)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 34.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4522nd in Australia
- State rank
- 1444th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #74 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #142 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 65%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Fingal Head Public School, Prince Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Sheoak Shack Gallery Cafeamenitiescafe
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.