NSW · Wollongong Council
Koonawarra, 2530
Current weather
13.5°CClear sky
66% humidity · 5.2 km/h wind · 20.2° / 9° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Koonawarra is a practical mid-sized suburb in Wollongong, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 3,732
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $1,258
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 50 of 1,386
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 47.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 156 / 61 / 26
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)
- 201
- Against the person
- 54
- Against property
- 77
- 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)
- +6.1%
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
Public transport
60 public transport stops in this suburb
- Byamee St Opp Aldinga Rd
- Fowlers Rd Before Lakeside Dr
- Fowlers Rd Opp Gilba Rd
- Koonawarra Community Centre, Fowlers Rd
- Koonawarra Public School, Byamee 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).
62 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure1 FOWLERS ROAD KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation21 GALONG CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
April 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)5 GOWRIE STREET KOONAWARRA 2530Under Assessment
March 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure47 ILLABUNDA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure8 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
September 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure5 KARINGAL CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Mooring; Water reticulation system120 Wharparilla Drive, EchucaAdditional Information Requested
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation9 CALOOLA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Place of public worship; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care35 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 WYBALENA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
June 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 ILLABUNDA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space5 WALLABAH WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Access ramp; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation2 ELEEBANA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure39 CULGOA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah24 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah127 WYNDARRA WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation30 ECHUCA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation15 Karingal Avenue Koonawarra NSW 2530Determined
2024· 10 proposals
November 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Temporary building, structure or use; Manufactured home15 ELEEBANA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty; Mooring; Water reticulation system; Water supply system74 Wharparilla Drive Echuca Vic 354Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 ILLABUNDA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool17 KARINGAL CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Mooring101 Ogilvie Avenue, Echuca VICDetermined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 ALCOOMIE CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure49 FOWLERS ROAD KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure100 LAKESIDE DRIVE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation193 WYNDARRA WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
January 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 INGLEBAR CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
2023· 5 proposals
December 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Temporary building, structure or use; Manufactured home15 ELEEBANA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia4 GAREEMA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling15 MARY DAVIS AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
May 2023
- Demolition14 WILLAWA PLACE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
April 2023
- Dwelling15 MARY DAVIS AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
2022· 6 proposals
December 2022
- Shed2 WYBALENA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces6 WILLAROO PLACE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
September 2022
- Dwelling15 MARY DAVIS AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
August 2022
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees28 MARY DAVIS AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
June 2022
- Secondary dwelling5 KYEEMA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs27 WYNDARRA WAY KOONAWARRA 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
31 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (2)
- Byamee St opp Aldinga RdBus stop
- Byamee St opp Koonawarra Public SchoolBus stop
- Fowlers Rd after Gilba RdBus stop
- Fowlers Rd after Gowrie StBus stop
- Fowlers Rd after Lakeside DrBus stop
- Fowlers Rd before Lakeside DrBus stop
- Fowlers Rd opp Gilba RdBus stop
- Fowlers Rd opp Gowrie StBus stop
- Fowlers Rd opp Koonawarra Community CentreBus 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
- Gilba Road ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 39.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3520th in Australia
- State rank
- 1104th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #253 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #640 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
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Byamee St opp Aldinga Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Byamee St opp Koonawarra Public Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Fowlers Rd after Gilba Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Fowlers Rd after Gowrie Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Fowlers Rd after Lakeside Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Fowlers Rd before Lakeside Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Fowlers Rd opp Gilba Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Fowlers Rd opp Gowrie Stamenitiesbus_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.