NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Little Forest, 2538
Current weather
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56% humidity · 11.6 km/h wind · 18.1° / 12.1° today · 4.4 mm rain
Updated
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Little Forest is a residential smaller community in Shoalhaven with a familiar suburban feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 185
- Median age
- 59
- Median household income / week
- $1,218
- Dwelling vacancy
- 18.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 15 of 80
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,434
- Employment rate
- 42.7%
- 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 6
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 32.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 92 residents
- State safety percentile
- 8.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +20.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud6
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment8
- Malicious Damage To Property9
- Motor Vehicle Theft6
- Trespass6
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
26 public transport stops in this suburb
- 35 Little Forest Rd
- Little Forest Rd At Coral Tree Lane
- Little Forest Rd Opp Coral Tree Lane
- Pottery Princes Hwy
- Pottery Princes 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)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
39 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structureLittle Forest Rd, LITTLE FOREST - Lot 51 DP 806274Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation; Farm stay accommodation143 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Under Assessment
May 2026
- Subdivision184 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool267 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
2025· 4 proposals
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah541 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22A WOORAWA LANE LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure607 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure315 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
2024· 4 proposals
September 2024
- Subdivision315 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure121 Little Forest Rd -Lot 51 DP 1162122Determined
May 2024
- Subdivision; Residential Accommodation317A LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Operational consent issued
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure563 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structureLITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
November 2023
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure89 Spring Valley Way LITTLE FORESTDetermined
July 2023
- Dwelling563 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
May 2023
- Other305 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
April 2023
- Other206 PRINCES HIGHWAY MILTON 2538Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development45 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
- Dwelling305 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
2022· 11 proposals
December 2022
- Other206 PRINCES HIGHWAY MILTON 2538Determined
- Secondary dwelling128 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
August 2022
- Dual occupancy; ShedLITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
June 2022
- Dwelling563 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
May 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development; Shed315 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing22D WOORAWA LANE LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development529 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
April 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces267 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
- Dwelling; Shed4 SPRING VALLEY WAY LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development22C WOORAWA LANE LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
January 2022
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy; Alterations and additions to residential development206 PRINCES HIGHWAY MILTON 2538Determined
2021· 9 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed34 WOORAWA LANE LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
November 2021
- Change of use7 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
October 2021
- Attached dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Shed45 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
August 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces40 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
July 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs589 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
April 2021
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Farm buildings111 LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs632A LITTLE FOREST ROAD LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
March 2021
- Dwelling22B WOORAWA LANE LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
February 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development22C WOORAWA LANE LITTLE FOREST 2538Determined
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)
- 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
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)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
Recent changes
- Fraudcrime6
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime8
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime9
- Motor Vehicle Theftcrime6
- Trespasscrime6
- 35 Little Forest Rdtransport
- Little Forest Rd At Coral Tree Lanetransport
- Little Forest Rd Opp Coral Tree Lanetransport
- Pottery Princes Hwytransport
- Pottery Princes 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)
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.