NSW · Sutherland Shire Council
Kurnell, 2231
Current weather
17°CClear sky
58% humidity · 15.5 km/h wind · 21.4° / 13.9° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Kurnell wears its coastal identity openly, a mid-sized suburb built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Beach mornings and city evenings are both realistic here, with neighbouring suburbs adding even more choice. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Getting around the metro area is straightforward, with transport tying neighbouring communities together.
The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar coastal suburbs, even with housing affordability and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,528
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $2,161
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 38 of 831
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,600
- Employment rate
- 62.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 57 / 22 / 3
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 168
- Against the person
- 38
- Against property
- 49
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 67 residents
- State safety percentile
- 44.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -19.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order13
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment15
- Malicious Damage To Property21
- Other Offences50
- Other Theft12
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,030
- Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education CentreCombined
- Kurnell 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
73 public transport stops in this suburb
- 251 Captain Cook Dr
- Captain Cook Dr Opp 330
- Captain Cook Dr Opp Boat Harbour Park
- Captain Cook Dr Opp Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant, Gate 1
- Captain Cook Dr Opp Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant, Gate 2
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).
211 planning-related records
2026· 11 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space80 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 DAMPIER STREET KURNELL 2231Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure156 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool7 SILVER BEACH ROAD KURNELL 2231Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Health consulting room; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Health services facility; Health Infrastructure6-8 Torres Street, KurnellWithdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space80 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Withdrawn
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure51 TASMAN STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool113 BRIDGES STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure146 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Heavy Industrial Storage Establishment; Liquid fuel depot160-166 CAPTAIN COOK DRIVE KURNELL 2231Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Food and drink premise306 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Withdrawn
2025· 19 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Animal care premises; Animal boarding or training establishment69-83 SIR JOSEPH BANKS DRIVE KURNELL 2231Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool55 CAPTAIN COOK DRIVE KURNELL 2231Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure73 TORRES STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 TASMAN STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure58 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Deferred Commencement
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 SILVER BEACH ROAD KURNELL 2231Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool65 TASMAN STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 Silver Beach Road Kurnell NSW 2231Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool12 MAGELLAN WAY KURNELL 2231Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 GANNON STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development28 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16 CAPTAIN COOK DRIVE KURNELL 2231Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space148 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 TASMAN STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
March 2025
- Demolition44 HORNING STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 JEFFREY STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Shade structures of canvas, fabric, mesh or the like160-166 CAPTAIN COOK DRIVE KURNELL 2231Determined
January 2025
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure108-110 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure156 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Determined
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure97A TORRES STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 TASMAN STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 GANNON STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure58 PRINCE CHARLES PARADE KURNELL 2231Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 DAMPIER STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 COOK STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure75 TORRES STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure51 TASMAN STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
- Business premises; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry76 TASMAN STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure74 BRIDGES STREET KURNELL 2231Determined
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
23 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (3)
- 238-258 Captain Cook DrBus stop
- 251 Captain Cook DrBus stop
- 280-282 Captain Cook DrBus stop
- Boat Harbour Park, Captain Cook DrBus stop
- Captain Cook Dr after Sir Joseph Banks DrBus stop
- Captain Cook Dr opp 238-258Bus stop
- Captain Cook Dr opp 251Bus stop
- Captain Cook Dr opp 280-282Bus stop
- Captain Cook Dr opp Boat Harbour ParkBus 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
8 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bonna ReservePark
- Charlotte Breen Memorial ParkNature reserve
- Commemoration FlatPark
- Cronulla State ParkNature reserve
- Don Lucas ReservePark
- John Weir ReservePark
- Marton ParkPark
- Silver Beach ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Kurnell Pharmacypharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
- Cronulla Sand Dune and Wanda Beach Coastal LandscapeCaptain Cook Drive, CronullaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 71
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
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
- 56.0/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 19% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1260th in Australia
- State rank
- 408th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #29 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #48 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 238-258 Captain Cook Dramenitiesbus_stop
- 251 Captain Cook Dramenitiesbus_stop
- 280-282 Captain Cook Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Archie Rose Distillery Warehouseamenitieswholesale
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Boat Harbour Park, Captain Cook Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Captain Cook Dr after Sir Joseph Banks Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Captain Cook Dr opp 238-258amenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Sutherland Shire Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.