NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Kioloa, 2539
Current weather
14.9°CClear sky
57% humidity · 12.3 km/h wind · 19.1° / 11.3° today · 4.9 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
As a regional hub in Shoalhaven, Kioloa combines local convenience with the appeal of a smaller community that feels genuinely its own. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally.
Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker housing affordability and community and employment relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 292
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $989
- Dwelling vacancy
- 59%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 177 of 300
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,517
- Employment rate
- 39.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 15 / 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)
- $440
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 113
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)
- 13
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 44.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 73 residents
- State safety percentile
- 20.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +8.6%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault75
- Fraud69
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment89
- Malicious Damage To Property84
- Trespass59
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
10 public transport stops in this suburb
- Forest Rd At Golden Beaches Dr
- Murramarang Rd After Dawson St
- Murramarang Rd After O'Brien St
- Murramarang Rd Opp Merry St
- Northwood Dr At Glasford Cres
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).
50 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 FOREST ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 GLASFORD CRESCENT KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Other InfrastructureMerry Beach Rd KIOLOA - Lot 143 DP 1241147Withdrawn
2025· 4 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 SCERRI DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Under Assessment
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7 SCERRI DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Caravan park635 MURRAMARANG ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 KURRAWA DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Subdivision of land; Stormwater management systems33 FOREST ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
October 2024
- Health consulting room; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia3 MERRY STREET KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Caravan park635 MURRAMARANG ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation19 FOREST ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
September 2024
- Demolition; Caravan park635 MURRAMARANG ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah42 KURRAWA DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
May 2024
- Commercial development; Erection of a new structure36 BUTLER STREET KIOLOA 2539Withdrawn
March 2024
- Health consulting room; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia3 MERRY STREET KIOLOA 2539Determined
2023· 11 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 BRACE CLOSE KIOLOA 2539Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 GLASFORD CRESCENT KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Caravan park46 MERRY BEACH ROAD KIOLOA 2539Withdrawn
October 2023
- Other35 SCERRI DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs3 PANAMUNA PLACE KIOLOA 2539Determined
July 2023
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees3 PANAMUNA PLACE KIOLOA 2539Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling13 FOREST ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Shed35 SCERRI DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Withdrawn
- Alterations and additions to residential development8 MERRY STREET KIOLOA 2539Determined
February 2023
- Dwelling33 GLASFORD CRESCENT KIOLOA 2539Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling18 GLASFORD CRESCENT KIOLOA 2539Withdrawn
2022· 9 proposals
May 2022
- Dwelling18 KURRAWA DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition3 PANAMUNA PLACE KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Dwelling21 FOREST ROAD KIOLOA LOT 3 DP 1282007Determined
- Dwelling61 KURRAWA DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
April 2022
- Recreational Uses; Shed35 SCERRI DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
March 2022
- Demolition; Shed20 KURRAWA DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
February 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development27 KURRAWA DRIVE KIOLOA 2539Determined
January 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development2 PANAMUNA PLACE KIOLOA 2539Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces2 PANAMUNA PLACE KIOLOA 2539Determined
2021· 5 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling; Shed17 Forest Road, Kioloa, 2539Determined
- Shed7 GLASFORD CRESCENT KIOLOA 2539Determined
November 2021
- Other46 MERRY BEACH ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
October 2021
- Other46 MERRY BEACH ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
September 2021
- Subdivision of land17 FOREST ROAD KIOLOA 2539Determined
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
22 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- Florence & Peter CurtisBench
- Ross and Watson memorialBench
- Forest Rd at Golden Beaches DrBus stop
- Murramarang Rd after Dawson StBus stop
- Murramarang Rd after O'Brien StBus stop
- Saltwood Cafe and LifestyleCafe
636 Murramarang Road, Kioloa
- Merry Beach General Store and TakeawayFast food
- Merry Beach General Store and TakeawayGeneral
- Picnic Table (2)
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Belowla Island Nature ReserveNature reserve
- Forest Road ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
- Overlay applies
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)
- 2
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
- 21.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6472nd in Australia
- State rank
- 2022nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #537 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #970 among Country & regional 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
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Australian National University Kioloa Coastal Campusamenitiesuniversity
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Florence & Peter Curtisamenitiesbench
- Forest Rd at Golden Beaches Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Merry Beach General Store and Takeawayamenitiesfast_food
- Merry Beach General Store and Takeawayamenitiesgeneral
- Merry Street Restaurant and Baramenitiesrestaurant
- Murramarang Rd after Dawson Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Murramarang Rd after O'Brien Stamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Shoalhaven Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.