NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Morton, 2538
Current weather
14.5°CClear sky
63% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 19.1° / 10.9° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Morton offers a slower smaller community life in Shoalhaven, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum the main drags compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 225
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,542
- Dwelling vacancy
- 15.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 13 of 82
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,453
- Employment rate
- 57%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 14 / 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)
- 7
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 31.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 112 residents
- State safety percentile
- 8.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +17%
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
28 public transport stops in this suburb
- 142F Woodburn Rd
- 249 Woodburn Rd
- 37 Woodburn Rd
- Clyde Ridge Rd At Woodburn Rd
- Woodstock Rd Opp Rainforest Access Rd
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).
12 planning-related records
2025· 2 proposals
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure291B BROOMAN ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure266 MIMOSA PARK ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
2024· 1 proposal
July 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool669 WOODBURN ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
2023· 3 proposals
October 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool669 WOODBURN ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing86 CLYDE RIDGE ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling142C WOODBURN ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
2022· 1 proposal
November 2022
- Dwelling; OtherWHEELBARROW ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
2021· 5 proposals
September 2021
- Dwelling37 WOODBURN ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
July 2021
- Other141C WOODBURN ROAD MORTON 2538Withdrawn
May 2021
- Dwelling; OtherWHEELBARROW ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development380 WOODBURN ROAD MORTON 2538Determined
March 2021
- Subdivision of land1 MIMOSA PARK ROAD MORTON 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)
- 6/10
- 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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 22.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6306th in Australia
- State rank
- 1963rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #502 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #927 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Fraudcrime6
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime8
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime9
- Motor Vehicle Theftcrime6
- Trespasscrime6
- 142F Woodburn Rdtransport
- 249 Woodburn Rdtransport
- 37 Woodburn Rdtransport
- Clyde Ridge Rd At Woodburn Rdtransport
- Woodstock Rd Opp Rainforest Access Rdtransport
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.