NSW · Wagga Wagga Council
Mount Austin, 2650
Current weather
12.7°CClear sky
66% humidity · 18.6 km/h wind · 15° / 8.4° today · 0.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Wagga Wagga, Mount Austin is a mid-sized suburb with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Ridge-top pockets and tree cover give the area a cooler, greener hillside feel.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and schools and education lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability.
Population
- Population
- 4,035
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $1,124
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 137 of 1,704
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,148
- Employment rate
- 46.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 155 / 106 / 47
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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $400
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $570
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $540
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 656
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)
- 493
- Against the person
- 122
- Against property
- 186
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 122.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 33 residents
- State safety percentile
- 83.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +1.1%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions975
- Domestic Violence Related Assault436
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment655
- Malicious Damage To Property675
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault433
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 824
- Mount Austin 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
39 public transport stops in this suburb
- Mitchelmore St At Bolger Av
- Mitchelmore St Before Fernleigh Rd
- Mount Austin Public School, Bourke St
- Northcott Pde Opp Ceduna St
- Turvey Tops Shops, Fernleigh 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).
72 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space101 LEAVENWORTH DRIVE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Under Assessment
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure38 CASTLEREAGH AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport2 BOLGER AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure13 GILMORE AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
2025· 13 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure152 BOURKE STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 ADJIN STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation16 GILMORE AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development66 MIMOSA DRIVE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah48 GILMORE AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah4 MIMOSA DRIVE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space27 HUNTER STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 FERNLEIGH ROAD MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
April 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure90 BOLGER AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 NILMA AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure64 MIMOSA DRIVE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Withdrawn
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 MARAMA PARADE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Supporting Development66 ADJIN STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
2024· 18 proposals
December 2024
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport34 CONDON AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
November 2024
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia7 WARANGA AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)5 BUNGOWN PLACE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space26 BOLGER AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool147 BOURKE STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
September 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure2 MANOORA AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 SPOONER AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
July 2024
- Shed; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia78 FERNLEIGH ROAD MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
May 2024
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure48 GILMORE AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure18 SPOONER AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Residential Accommodation1 MEADS PLACE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure2 MANOORA AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah7 COOGAN STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
March 2024
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)206 BOURKE STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
February 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 CASTLEREAGH AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure13 MARAMA PARADE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Demolition42 CASTLEREAGH AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
January 2024
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure71 BOLGER AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
2023· 5 proposals
October 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)4 FERNLEIGH ROAD MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)89 BOLGER AVENUE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development8 QUAIL STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
May 2023
- Shed64 MIMOSA DRIVE MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces35 ADJIN STREET MOUNT AUSTIN 2650Determined
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
29 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bourke St opp Mount Austin Public SchoolBus stop
- Bus stop
- Fernleigh Rd opp Henschke Primary SchoolBus stop
- Hunter St at Dove St WalkwayBus stop
- Huthwaite St after Bourke StBus stop
- Huthwaite St at Hopkins StBus stop
- Huthwaite St before Bourke StBus stop
- McKell Ave opp Meads PlBus stop
- Mount Austin Public School, Bourke StBus stop
- Northcott Pde at Leavenworth DrBus 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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Anderson ParkPark
- Finger ParkPark
- Ken Schultz ParkPark
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
- Soul Pattinson ChemistFernleigh Roadpharmacy
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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
- 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)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 38.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3797th in Australia
- State rank
- 1195th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #67 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #409 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Australia Post - Mount Austin LPOamenitiesUnit 1 68 Fernleigh Road, Mount Austinpost_office
- Bourke St opp Mount Austin Public Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Bus stopamenitiesbus_stop
- Explorenamenitiescharging_station
- Fernleigh Rd opp Henschke Primary Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Hunter St at Dove St Walkwayamenitiesbus_stop
- Huthwaite St after Bourke Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Huthwaite St at Hopkins Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Huthwaite St before Bourke Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Maher Street Playgroundamenitiesplayground
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wagga Wagga Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.