NSW · Council TBC
Malabar
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
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
Malabar is a coastal mid-sized suburb where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. Beach mornings and city evenings are both realistic here, with neighbouring suburbs adding even more choice. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by transport and access and housing affordability, while local dining and lifestyle amenities sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 4,714
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,790
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 106 of 1,443
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,900
- Employment rate
- 37.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 123 / 161 / 340
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.
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,068
- Chifley Public SchoolPrimary
- Malabar Public SchoolPrimary
- St Andrew's Catholic Primary 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
69 public transport stops in this suburb
- Anzac Pde After Franklin St
- Anzac Pde After Mitchell St
- Anzac Pde Opp Matraville Sports HS
- Long Bay Correctional Complex, Anzac Pde
- Pioneers Park, Anzac Pde
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).
168 planning-related records
2026· 15 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 BAY PARADE MALABAR 2036Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure70 VICTORIA STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 NAPIER STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation49 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 BAY PARADE MALABAR 2036Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure134 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure134 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Place of public worship; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2A VICTORIA STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1-3 IRETON STREET MALABAR 2036Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (attached)13 NAPIER STREET MALABAR 2036Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool95 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Under Assessment
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool16-18 IRETON STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure79 AUSTRAL STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)138 BILGA CRESCENT MALABAR 2036Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Access ramp; Driveways and hard stand spaces41 DACRE STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
2025· 18 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool46 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Under Assessment
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development3 HERBERT STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces96 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Withdrawn
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation35 ADAMS AVENUE MALABAR 2036Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool46 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development3 HERBERT STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure70 VICTORIA STREET MALABAR 2036Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 BAY PARADE MALABAR 2036Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure71 VICTORIA STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure126-128 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure136 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35 ADAMS AVENUE MALABAR 2036Under Assessment
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool95 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 ZIONS AVENUE MALABAR 2036Determined
March 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)9 LUCAS AVENUE MALABAR 2036Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space113 AUSTRAL STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation28 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
February 2025
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation52 VICTORIA STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
2024· 7 proposals
December 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation35 ADAMS AVENUE MALABAR 2036Determined
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School10-14 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
November 2024
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 IRETON STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure52 RAGLAN STREET MALABAR 2036Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences; Supporting Development4 LUCAS AVENUE MALABAR 2036Determined
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)134 PRINCE EDWARD STREET MALABAR 2036Withdrawn
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 BAY PARADE MALABAR 2036Determined
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
90 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (14)
- Anzac Pde after Bilga CresBus stop
- Anzac Pde after Franklin StBus stop
- Anzac Pde after Mitchell StBus stop
- Anzac Pde before Franklin StBus stop
- Anzac Pde opp Matraville Sports HSBus stop
- Bilga Cres after Anzac PdeBus stop
- Bilga Cres after Calga AvBus stop
- Bilga Cres after Eucla CresBus 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
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Boulevarde ReservePark
- Duri ReservePark
- Gabee ReservePark
- Kooloora ReservePark
- Lucas ReservePark
- Rubie ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 4
- Emergency department
- On site
- Justice Health Serviceshospital
- Malabar Medical CentreAnzac Paradedoctor
- Malabar Midwivesmidwife
- Sydney Sports RecoveryRaglan Streetclinic
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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
2 state heritage places
- Long Bay Correctional Centre1250 Anzac Parade MalabarSHR
- Malabar HeadlandFranklin Street, MalabarSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- 123four Early Learning Centre MalabarAnzac Paradechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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
- 62.5/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 12% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 639th in Australia
- State rank
- 239th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #9 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #35 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 76%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 25m Zero Rangeamenitiespitch
- ANZAC Rifle Rangeamenitiespitch
- Anzac Pde after Bilga Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Anzac Pde after Franklin Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Anzac Pde after Mitchell Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Anzac Pde before Franklin Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Anzac Pde opp Matraville Sports HSamenitiesbus_stop
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.