NSW · Sutherland Shire Council
Kareela, 2232
Current weather
15.7°CClear sky
59% humidity · 11.9 km/h wind · 21.1° / 12.6° today · 2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- National parks
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
In Sutherland Shire, Kareela is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by community and employment and parks and green space, while local dining and lifestyle amenities sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 3,572
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $2,765
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 29 of 1,184
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,000
- Employment rate
- 60.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 53 / 129 / 7
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)
- $698
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $950
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 259
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)
- 262
- Against the person
- 41
- Against property
- 57
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 73.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 87 residents
- State safety percentile
- 51.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions516
- Domestic Violence Related Assault117
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment132
- Malicious Damage To Property146
- Transport Regulatory Offences748
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)
- 1,060
- Bates Drive SchoolSpecial
- Kareela 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
47 public transport stops in this suburb
- 106 Siandra Dr
- Siandra Dr After Freya St
- Siandra Dr Before Struen Marie St
- Siandra Dr Opp Freya St
- Siandra Dr Opp Struen Marie 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)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
103 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure88 INGRID ROAD KAREELA 2232Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 DRYSDALE PLACE KAREELA 2232Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support7 MORNA PLACE KAREELA 2232Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation45 BANDAIN AVENUE KAREELA 2232Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation36 SIANDRA DRIVE KAREELA 2232Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure67 STRUEN MARIE STREET KAREELA 2232Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation18 INGRID ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 ULLADULLA PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers96 INGRID ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
2025· 10 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation199 GARNET ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 STRUEN MARIE STREET KAREELA 2232Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 ULLADULLA PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers96 INGRID ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 BULIMBA AVENUE KAREELA 2232Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 MANOOKA PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support7 MORNA PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation36 SIANDRA DRIVE KAREELA 2232Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development32 DRYSDALE PLACE KAREELA 2232Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9A ANEMONE PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
2024· 8 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure88 INGRID ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 BULIMBA AVENUE KAREELA 2232Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (outdoor)421 PRINCES HIGHWAY KAREELA 2232Operational consent issued
April 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation37 BUDERIM AVENUE KAREELA 2232Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure106 INGRID ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation36 SIANDRA DRIVE KAREELA 2232Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 BANDAIN AVENUE KAREELA 2232Determined
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia14 SELWA PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
2023· 13 proposals
November 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 BULIMBA AVENUE KAREELA 2232Withdrawn
October 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9A MANOOKA PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 BATH ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling31 BUDERIM AVENUE KAREELA 2232Determined
- Retaining walls, protection of trees7 MORNA PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
July 2023
- Dwelling35 SOLVEIG CRESCENT KAREELA 2232Determined
June 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs12 MOONBI PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development20 MOONBI PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs22 INGRID ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
- Dwelling18 FREYA STREET KAREELA 2232Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs31 DRYSDALE PLACE KAREELA 2232Determined
April 2023
- Dwelling113 Siandra Drive, Kareela NSW 2232Determined
March 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs203 GARNET ROAD KAREELA 2232Determined
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
49 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- redibankATM
- Bench (14)
- 106 Siandra DrBus stop
- 16 Ingrid RdBus stop
- Bandain Av after Garnet RdBus stop
- Bandain Av at Box RdBus stop
- Bandain Av before Box RdBus stop
- Bandain Av before Garnet RdBus stop
- Bates Dr at Box RdBus stop
- Freya St opp Kareela VillageBus 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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bumble Bee ParkPark
- Freya Street ReserveNature reserve
- Ingrid Road ReservePark
- Kareela Playing FieldsPark
- Struen Marie ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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)
- 22
- 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
- 59.6/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 14% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 894th in Australia
- State rank
- 299th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #115 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #212 among Metro Sydney 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
- 106 Siandra Dramenitiesbus_stop
- 16 Ingrid Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- A. R. Hurst Reserveamenities1R The Promenadepitch
- Bandain Av after Garnet Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bandain Av at Box Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bandain Av before Box Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bandain Av before Garnet Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bates Dr at Box Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Sutherland Shire Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.