NSW · Wollongong Council
Kanahooka, 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
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Kanahooka is a practical mid-sized suburb in Wollongong, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. 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. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and schools and education against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and parks and green space holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 5,698
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,399
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 91 of 2,280
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 47.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 144 / 322 / 27
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)
- 307
- Against the person
- 83
- Against property
- 118
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 53.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 69 residents
- State safety percentile
- 31.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.5%
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 942
- Hayes Park Public SchoolPrimary
- Kanahooka High SchoolSecondary
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
64 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kanahooka Rd After Lakeside Dr
- Kanahooka Rd Before Hoyt St
- Kanahooka Rd Before Thirroul Rd
- Lakeside Dr After Edgeworth Av
- Lakeside Dr At Edgeworth Av
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).
151 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure19 JINDALEE AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation6 MURRA MURRA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool105 TAIT AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Supporting Development5 LINTON COURT KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading1 RUSHTON DRIVE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
2025· 18 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure90 EDGEWORTH AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 HAYWARD STREET KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation54 LAKESIDE DRIVE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 WILLIAM BEACH ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 THE ARCHES KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation153 KANAHOOKA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure153-155 KANAHOOKA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool66 RONDANELLA DRIVE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation54 MURRA MURRA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation11 MURRA MURRA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11 DARLY AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house13 WILLIAM BEACH ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 EXMOUTH ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space34 KATHRYN STREET KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation54 MURRA MURRA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation54 MURRA MURRA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 ROBERT STREET KANAHOOKA 2530Additional Information Requested
February 2025
- Demolition50 PALMER AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
2024· 17 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Swimming pool65 EDGEWORTH AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)1 ELOUERA CRESCENT KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
October 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure24 PALMER AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)23 BROOKS TERRACE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
August 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure79 KANAHOOKA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 CLEARY AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure46 MORSE AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation28 LAKESIDE DRIVE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure66 RONDANELLA DRIVE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
June 2024
- Demolition; Swimming pool95 TAIT AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah206G KANAHOOKA ROAD KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah42 TAIT AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure23 HOWELL AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool8 RONDANELLA DRIVE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool12 THE ARCHES KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure24 PALMER AVENUE KANAHOOKA 2530Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)22 THIRROUL ROAD KANAHOOKA 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
60 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (3)
- Exmouth Rd after Thirroul RdBus stop
- Exmouth Rd at Darly AveBus stop
- Exmouth Rd at Jindalee AveBus stop
- Exmouth Rd before Thirroul RdBus stop
- Exmouth Rd opp Darly AvBus stop
- Exmouth Rd opp Jindalee AveBus stop
- Hayes Park Public School, Kanahooka RdBus stop
- Kanahooka High School, Thirroul RdBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Lakeside Drive ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Kanahooka PharmacyLakeside Drivepharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
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
- 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)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 51.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 27% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1813th in Australia
- State rank
- 576th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #32 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #395 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
- Exmouth Rd after Thirroul Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Exmouth Rd at Darly Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Exmouth Rd at Jindalee Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Exmouth Rd before Thirroul Rdamenitiesbus_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.