NSW · Wollongong Council
Mount Saint Thomas, 2500
Current weather
10.1°CClear sky
67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 17.5° / 6° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Mount Saint Thomas sits up in the Wollongong hills, a smaller community where elevation and tree cover define the mood. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. Ridge-top pockets and tree cover give the area a cooler, greener hillside feel.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,449
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $1,835
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 13 of 568
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 59.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 21 / 36 / 7
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)
- $620
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 758
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)
- 246
- Against the person
- 36
- Against property
- 76
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 169.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 40 residents
- State safety percentile
- 94.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions1025
- Malicious Damage To Property396
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault312
- Steal From Retail Store502
- Transport Regulatory Offences1491
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
20 public transport stops in this suburb
- Gladstone Av At Prospect St
- Gladstone Av Before Mount St
- Taronga Av At Ocean St
- The Av After Taronga Av
- The Av At Masters 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).
50 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure56 THE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
2025· 10 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space63 THE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Access ramp; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah17 MORAN PARADE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 HILL STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (external)35 THE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia9 GRASMERE STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure42 WALDRON STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house42 WALDRON STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 HILL STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure96 THE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
January 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure248 GLADSTONE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Withdrawn
2024· 8 proposals
July 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space63 THE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation42 WALDRON STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
June 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)342 GLADSTONE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 PROSPECT STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
March 2024
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 GRASMERE STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah318-320 GLADSTONE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure1 JOHN STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 JOHN STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah80 OCEAN STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
September 2023
- Shed79 TARONGA AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
April 2023
- Stratum / community title subdivision248 GLADSTONE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Withdrawn
March 2023
- Shed22 HILL STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
2022· 6 proposals
December 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development65 THE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development74 OCEAN STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
September 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees23 PROSPECT STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Dual occupancy22 HILL STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Withdrawn
August 2022
- Dwelling8 HILL STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
June 2022
- Demolition8 HILL STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
2021· 11 proposals
November 2021
- Secondary dwelling13 MORAN PARADE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development14 JOHN STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
September 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development58 TARONGA AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
August 2021
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development71 THE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
July 2021
- Dwelling100 OCEAN STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Dwelling100 OCEAN STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development1A HICKMAN STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
May 2021
- Dual occupancy53 TARONGA AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing15 GRASMERE STREET MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
April 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing108 THE AVENUE MOUNT SAINT THOMAS 2500Determined
February 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces62 The Avenue Mount Saint Thomas 2500Determined
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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- The Av after Taronga AvBus stop
- The Av at Masters RdBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- EA Waldron ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- 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
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)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 27.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5699th in Australia
- State rank
- 1786th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #308 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #814 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- The Av after Taronga Avamenitiesbus_stop
- The Av at Masters Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime1025
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime396
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime312
- Steal From Retail Storecrime502
- Transport Regulatory Offencescrime1491
- Gladstone Av At Prospect Sttransport
- Gladstone Av Before Mount Sttransport
- Taronga Av At Ocean Sttransport
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)
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.