NSW · Wollongong Council
Horsley, 2530
Current weather
10.1°CClear sky
67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 17.5° / 6° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Horsley is a practical established suburb in Wollongong, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar metro suburbs, even with parks and green space and growth momentum holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 9,437
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $2,164
- Dwelling vacancy
- 1.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 47 of 3,109
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 66.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 209 / 127 / 10
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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $730
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 156
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)
- 508
- Against the person
- 137
- Against property
- 196
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 53.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 69 residents
- State safety percentile
- 30.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
- Domestic Violence Related Assault129
- Fraud127
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
- Malicious Damage To Property153
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
- 1,006
- Dapto 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
140 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bong Bong Rd Opp Horsley Dr
- Bong Bong Rd Opp Parkdale Av
- Denham Dr At Timms Pl
- Reed Park, Bong Bong Rd
- Throsby Av Before Lucas Dr
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).
229 planning-related records
2026· 19 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool38 BONG BONG ROAD HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
- Subdivision21 BARHAM PLACE HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah11 OMAROO PLACE HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
May 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Bee keeping21 BARHAM PLACE HORSLEY 2530Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 BARLYN COURT HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 HOPBUSH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool34 ACLAND DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision18 SUNDEW STREET HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11 EUODIA STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 AMANDA PLACE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development14 BRINDABELLA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Subdivision144 HORSLEY DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Additional Information Requested
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 HONEYCOMB STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool64 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure66 HONEYCOMB STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 WARRIGAL STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WOLLONYUH CRESCENT HORSLEY 2530Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 AYSHIRE STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development17 ALKIRA CIRCUIT HORSLEY 2530Determined
2025· 21 proposals
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 HOPBUSH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool5 PAROO STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah10 HOMESTEAD DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool49 ACLAND DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure37 MALLON AVENUE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation305 BONG BONG ROAD HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WOLLONYUH CRESCENT HORSLEY 2530Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision2 LUKE PLACE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12 SIERRA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure64 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces5 PAROO STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space31 BRINDABELLA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 WARRIGAL STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation61 SIERRA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)13 GREYLEIGH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)54 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
April 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling9 GREYLEIGH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Air-conditioning units; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Hot water systems; Letterboxes; Rainwater tanks29 BLUEGUM STREET HORSLEY 2530Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures64 Shone Avenue and 20 Iredell Road, HorsleyDetermined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure24 PASTURE WAY HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure48 ROBINS CREEK DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
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
62 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Horsley CellarsAlcohol
Unit 1 84 Bong Bong Road, Horsley
- Bong Bong Rd after Glenlee DrBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd after Parkdale AvBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd at Denham DrBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd at Mallon AveBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd at Robins Creek DrBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Glenlee DrBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Horsley DrBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Iredell RdBus stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Mallon AveBus stop
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
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Dimond Brothers ParkPark
- Emu ParkPark
- Gerringulli ParkPark
- Horsley Drive ParkPark
- Karrara ParkPark
- Reed ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Horsley HomesteadBong Bong Road, DaptoSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Sierra VIllage Early Learning CentreBong Bong Roadkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 15
- Parks (OSM)
- 11
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
- 44.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 40% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2661st in Australia
- State rank
- 846th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #221 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #535 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bong Bong Rd after Glenlee Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd after Parkdale Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd at Denham Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd at Mallon Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd at Robins Creek Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Glenlee Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Horsley Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Iredell Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Mallon Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Bong Bong Rd opp Parkdale Avamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.