NSW · Kempsey Council
Kinchela, 2440
Current weather
18.4°CClear sky
83% humidity · 12.1 km/h wind · 22.9° / 15.6° today · 1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Kinchela offers a slower smaller community life in Kempsey, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 286
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,437
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 4 of 115
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,343
- Employment rate
- 52.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 8 / 0 / 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)
- $380
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $490
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $480
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 112
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)
- 50
- Against the person
- 13
- Against property
- 19
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 174.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 94.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +4.5%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order264
- Breach Bail Conditions556
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment411
- Malicious Damage To Property362
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
- 951
- Kinchela 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
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- 385 Hat Head Rd
- Hat Head Rd At South West Rocks Rd
- Kinchela Public School, Kinchela Creek Right Bank Rd
- South West Rocks Rd Before Hat Head Rd
- South West Rocks Rd Opp Hat Head Rd
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)
Roadworks & transport
2 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Follow directions on site. Exercise caution. <strong>Rural Local Roads - Construction, Rehabilitation & Maintenance Program</strong>Drainage works - On HoldPavement Widening - On HoldHat Head Rd24 Apr 2026 – 03 Jul 2026
- Exercise caution. Follow directions on site. Check signage. <strong>Regional Roads - Construction, Rehabilitation & Maintenance Program</strong><span class="ql-cursor"></span>Guardrail - LinemarkingSouth West Rocks Road24 Apr 2026 – 03 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
19 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Pathways and paving; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation2226 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)32 RIVERSIDE DRIVE KINCHELA 2440Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool18-20 RIVERSIDE DRIVE KINCHELA 2440Additional Information Requested
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah250 KINCHELA CREEK LEFT BANK ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
2025· 1 proposal
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool2192 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
2024· 1 proposal
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Pathways and paving; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation2226 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
2023· 2 proposals
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development5 HAT HEAD ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
March 2023
- Earthworks / change in levels29 KINCHELA CREEK RIGHT BANK ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
2022· 9 proposals
November 2022
- Educational establishment5 KINCHELA CREEK RIGHT BANK ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
October 2022
- Dwelling2250 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
- Dwelling2266 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
August 2022
- Flood mitigation work146 FAIRWEATHERS LANE KINCHELA 2440Determined
June 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing742 HAT HEAD ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
April 2022
- Flood mitigation work330 KINCHELA CREEK LEFT BANK ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development2466 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
March 2022
- Farm buildings2266 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
February 2022
- Farm buildings94 KINCHELA CREEK LEFT BANK ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
2021· 2 proposals
November 2021
- Farm buildings742 HAT HEAD ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development796 KINCHELA CREEK LEFT BANK ROAD KINCHELA 2440Determined
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
- Kinchela Aboriginal Boys' Training Home2054 South West Rocks Road KinchelaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 31.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5121st in Australia
- State rank
- 1623rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #348 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #689 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 68%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime264
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime556
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime411
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime362
- 385 Hat Head Rdtransport
- Hat Head Rd At South West Rocks Rdtransport
- Kinchela Public School, Kinchela Creek Right Bank Rdtransport
- South West Rocks Rd Before Hat Head Rdtransport
- South West Rocks Rd Opp Hat Head Rdtransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Kempsey Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.