NSW · Wollongong Council
Kembla Grange, 2526
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
Kembla Grange is a well-connected smaller community in Wollongong with everyday amenities close at hand. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. The community skews younger, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,452
- Median age
- 29
- Median household income / week
- $2,574
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 17 of 479
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,338
- Employment rate
- 73.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 30 / 93 / 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $460
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $760
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 82
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)
- 93
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 39
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 64
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 76 residents
- State safety percentile
- 42.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment71
- Malicious Damage To Property66
- Steal From Motor Vehicle71
- Transport Regulatory Offences121
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
41 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP West Dapto Rd
- Kembla Grange Station
- Kembla Grange Station, Platform 1
- Kembla Grange Station, West Dapto Rd
- Princes Hwy Opp Kembla Grange Station
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).
270 planning-related records
2026· 10 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development100 WYLLIE ROAD KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 ACREAGE STREET STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 RIVERSLEIGH STREET STREAM HILL 2526Determined
April 2026
- Industrial development; Hours of operation and trading1 CANTERBURY ROAD KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Determined
- Subdivision290 WEST DAPTO ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Under Assessment
- Subdivision636A NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation3 MAPLETON TERRACE STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)86 NEESON ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool46 EMILA ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (indoor)441 PRINCES HIGHWAY KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Under Assessment
2025· 21 proposals
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support45 PASTURELAND STREET STREAM HILL 2526Withdrawn
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Light industry10 CANTERBURY ROAD KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation20 BISHOP DRIVE STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool1 FARMSTEAD CLOSE STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)57 NEESON ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Determined
September 2025
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure; Light industry; Local distribution premise1 CANTERBURY ROAD KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool12 CLAYTON CLOSE STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure49 PASTURELAND STREET STREAM HILL 2526Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 DUFFY STREET STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces); Residential Accommodation1 LLOYD DAVIES AVENUE STREAM HILL 2526Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision141 DARKES ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool23 SANCTUARY STREET STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Subdivision141 DARKES ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Determined
April 2025
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure1 CANTERBURY ROAD KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space451 Princes Highway Kembla Grange 2526Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure45 PASTURELAND STREET STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care150 SHEAFFES ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Determined
March 2025
- Resource recovery facility; Hours of operation and trading; Waste or resource management facility132 West Dapto Road KEMBLA GRANGEDetermined
February 2025
- Subdivision105 DARKES ROAD KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure49 PASTURELAND STREET STREAM HILL 2526Withdrawn
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support68 NEESON ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Determined
2024· 9 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Light industry10 CANTERBURY ROAD KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureLot 52, 3 Springvale Street STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation86 NEESON ROAD STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 RIVERSLEIGH STREET STREAM HILL 2526Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 PHARLAP AVENUE KEMBLA GRANGE 2526Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool9 LEMON GROVE STREAM HILL 2526Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 MAPLETON TERRACE STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure47 PASTURELAND STREET STREAM HILL 2526Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development11 SPRINGVALE STREET STREAM HILL 2526Determined
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
7 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Princes Hwy at Kembla Grange PlBus stop
- Princes Hwy opp Kembla Grange PlBus stop
- Playground (2)
- Public toilets
- Wollongong Waste and Resource Recovery ParkRecycling
- Weighbridge
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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Ian McLennan ParkPark
- McPhail ReservePark
- Mogomorra ParkPark
- Stane Dyke ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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)
- 7
- 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
- 49.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 31% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2046th in Australia
- State rank
- 649th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #176 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #437 among Metro Sydney 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
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Princes Hwy at Kembla Grange Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Princes Hwy opp Kembla Grange Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Weighbridgeamenitiesweighbridge
- Wollongong Waste and Resource Recovery Parkamenitiesrecycling
- Fraudcrime78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime71
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime66
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- 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.