NSW · Kempsey Council
Kundabung, 2441
Current weather
17°CClear sky
92% humidity · 11 km/h wind · 23.3° / 12.1° today · 0.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Kempsey, Kundabung keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 616
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,448
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 17 of 227
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,670
- Employment rate
- 56.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 22 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $528
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)
- 47
- Against the person
- 17
- Against property
- 20
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 76.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 36 residents
- State safety percentile
- 54.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault40
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment41
- Malicious Damage To Property39
- Motor Vehicle Theft19
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault25
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
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kundabung Post Office, Ravenswood Rd
- Kundabung Rd Turnaround
- Rodeo Dr At Smiths Creek Rd
- Upper Smiths Creek Rd At Pacific Hwy
- Wharf Rd Before Pacific Hwy
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
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Follow directions on site. Exercise caution. Unsealed Roads - Resheeting ProgramTo continueOld Coast Rd12 Jun 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).
27 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
June 2026
- Temporary building, structure or use; Entertainment associated with existing premisesRIVER ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Under Assessment
2025· 4 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure617 OLD COAST ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)273 CROWTHER DRIVE KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
January 2025
- Subdivision14 RAVENSWOOD ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
- Subdivision90 KUNDABUNG ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
2024· 4 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure92 KUNDABUNG ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure65 AMBER WAY KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
August 2024
- Subdivision14 RAVENSWOOD ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 FRANKS LANE KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
2023· 9 proposals
November 2023
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport92 WHARF ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah146 UPPER SMITHS CREEK ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool146 UPPER SMITHS CREEK ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Withdrawn
September 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs26 WHARF ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Shed659 OLD COAST ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling26E RODEO DRIVE KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
May 2023
- Dual occupancy5 APPLE TREE DRIVE KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
March 2023
- Dwelling152 MINGALETTA ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
February 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Garages, carports and car parking spaces92 WHARF ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
2022· 5 proposals
August 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Garages, carports and car parking spaces92 WHARF ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
July 2022
- Dwelling54 WINSTEAD ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
April 2022
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development125 SMITHS CREEK ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
January 2022
- Demolition92 WHARF ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
- Dwelling34 KUNDABUNG ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
2021· 4 proposals
November 2021
- Shed54 WINSTEAD ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
October 2021
- Home business; Other97 CARLYLE ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
August 2021
- Dwelling; Demolition560 WINSTEAD ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
- Subdivision of land14 RAVENSWOOD ROAD KUNDABUNG 2441Determined
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Shelter
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
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
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)
- 3
- 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
- 29.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5468th in Australia
- State rank
- 1725th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #394 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #755 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
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime40
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime41
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime39
- Motor Vehicle Theftcrime19
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime25
- Kundabung Post Office, Ravenswood Rdtransport
- Kundabung Rd Turnaroundtransport
- Rodeo Dr At Smiths Creek Rdtransport
- Upper Smiths Creek Rd At Pacific Hwytransport
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)
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
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.