NSW · Council TBC
Palm Beach
Current weather
16.5°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 22.1° / 14° today · 3.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Palm Beach revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Coastal character runs through daily life, with the wider region offering extra trips and outings when you want them. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum and parks and green space. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,652
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $2,807
- Dwelling vacancy
- 38.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 415 of 1,077
- Median monthly mortgage
- $4,000
- Employment rate
- 50.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 27 / 8 / 63
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.
Public transport
57 public transport stops in this suburb
- 965 Barrenjoey Rd
- 981 Barrenjoey Rd
- Barrenjoey Rd At Iluka Rd
- Barrenjoey Rd Before Currawong Av
- Barrenjoey Rd Opp Surf 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).
501 planning-related records
2026· 31 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 WARATAH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24-26 Sunrise Road, Palm BeachAdditional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10A BEACH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1005 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation411 WHALE BEACH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 PALM BEACH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Temporary building, structure or use27 FLORIDA ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure100 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure1112-1116 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision1176 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation18 PALM BEACH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure989 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure136 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1110 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure325 WHALE BEACH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 THYRA ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure85 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 NORMA ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 THYRA ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure46 SUNRISE ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool61 BYNYA ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12-14 ROCK BATH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure1112-1116 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 SUNRISE ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation14 WARATAH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure134 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 EBOR ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure1102 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 NORMA ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Landscaping structures25 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 WARATAH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
2025· 9 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure153 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Subdivision826 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 WARATAH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)1169 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 OCEAN ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 BYNYA ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure316 WHALE BEACH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure1112-1116 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Pathways and paving885 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
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
97 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Barrenjoey wineryAlcohol
- Bbq (3)
- Bench (19)
- 944 Barrenjoey RdBus stop
- 965 Barrenjoey RdBus stop
- 972 Barrenjoey RdBus stop
- 981 Barrenjoey RdBus stop
- Barrenjoey Rd after Illuka RdBus stop
- Barrenjoey Rd at Iluka RdBus stop
- Barrenjoey Rd at Nabilla 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
11 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Barrenjoey Head Aquatic ReserveNature reserve
- Currawong Avenue ReservePark
- Dark Gully ReserveNature reserve
- Hordern ParkPark
- Iluka ParkPark
- Lucinda ParkPark
- McKay ReserveNature reserve
- Ocean Road ReservePark
- Pittwater ParkPark
- Sunrise ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
1 state heritage place
- Barrenjoey Head LightstationBarrenjoey Headland, Palm BeachSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 12
- 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
- 52.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 25% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1625th in Australia
- State rank
- 521st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #18 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #62 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 57%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 2108 Expressoamenitiescafe
- 944 Barrenjoey Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 965 Barrenjoey Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 972 Barrenjoey Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 981 Barrenjoey Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Alf's bait shopamenitiesfishing
- Barrenjoey Rd after Illuka Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Barrenjoey Rd at Iluka Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Barrenjoey Rd at Nabilla Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Barrenjoey Rd opp Club Palm Beachamenitiesbus_stop
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.