NSW · Bega Valley Council
Pambula, 2549
Current weather
14.4°CClear sky
55% humidity · 9.7 km/h wind · 18.8° / 11.3° today · 1.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Pambula anchors everyday life in Bega Valley, a regional smaller community with its own identity and rhythm. Distance from the capital is noticeable, but the trade-off is space, calm and a community that knows its neighbours. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood.
There are enough cafés and casual dining options to keep weekends interesting. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because growth momentum and community and employment lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in safety and transport and access.
Population
- Population
- 1,002
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,117
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 58 of 443
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 46.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 29 / 84 / 11
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
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)
- 22
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 11
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 22
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 200 residents
- State safety percentile
- 2.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -21.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order6
- Break And Enter Dwelling6
- Fraud7
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment8
- Malicious Damage To Property14
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 941
- Pambula Beach Flexible SchoolSpecial
- Pambula 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
49 public transport stops in this suburb
- Pambula Hospital, Merimbola St
- Pambula Post Office, Quondola St
- Pambula Post Office, Quondola St
- Quondola St Opp Pambula Post Office
- Quondola St Opp Pambula Post Office
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).
61 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure89 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)43 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
2025· 9 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; General industry10 SIR WILLIAM MCKELL DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)51 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 MARTIN STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 OREGON STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Function centre28-30 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure43 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Rejected
March 2025
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)43 BULLARA STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Advertising and signage; Service station; Take away food and drink; Shop39 Quondolo Street, PambulaUnder Assessment
January 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure48 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
2024· 13 proposals
October 2024
- Bed and breakfast accommodation; Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation36 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 BRUNKER STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Demolition190 ARTHUR KAINE DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Small bar; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Function centre; Food and drink premise28-30 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
June 2024
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise39 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure30 FRANCIS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 LITTLE GAHAN STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure65A OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises6 MCPHERSON CIRCUIT PAMBULA 2549Determined
January 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Small bar; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Function centre; Food and drink premise28-30 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Subdivision27 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Pub; Erection of a new structure18 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
2023· 12 proposals
December 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure68 Oaklands Road Pambula NSW 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure113 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure172 ARTHUR KAINE DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Determined
October 2023
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Artisan food and drink industry32 BULLARA STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 BRUNKER STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)10 BRUNKER STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
August 2023
- Change of use37 BULLARA STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
July 2023
- Alterations and additions to commercial development32-42 Bullara street PambulaDetermined
April 2023
- Dwelling22 Monaro Street, PambulaWithdrawn
- Shed43 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
March 2023
- Shed43 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
February 2023
- Industrial development4 SIR WILLIAM MCKELL DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Withdrawn
2022· 4 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling65B OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development176 ARTHUR KAINE DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Determined
November 2022
- Other25 BEGA STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Change of use3/3 Mcpherson Circuit, Pambula, NSW, 2549Determined
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
50 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Liquor WorksAlcohol
- Pambula Boarding KennelsAnimal Boarding
- Wild Rye BakeryBakery
- Bendigo BankBank
- Sleep DoctorBed
- Arthur Kaine Dr opp Pambula Merimbula Golf ClubBus stop
- Bullara St opp Quondola StBus stop
- Pambula Hospital, Merimbola StBus stop
- Pambula Merimbula Golf Club, Arthur Kaine DrBus stop
- Pambula Playground, Bennett Lane (Pambula Coach Stop)Bus 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Idlewilde Crescent ReservePark
- Panboola Waterbird SanctuaryNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 7
- Emergency department
- On site
- Health Withindoctor
- Imlay Housenursing_home
- Pambula Chemistpharmacy
- Pambula Community HealthMerimbola Streetcentre
- Pambula Community Mental HealthMerimbola Streetyes
- Pambula District HospitalMerimbola Streethospital
- Yesyes
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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
- OaklandsPrinces Highway, PambulaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Pambula Preschoolkindergarten
- Shorebreakers Kindergarten Early Learning CentreMonaro Streetkindergarten
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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 54.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 22% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1419th in Australia
- State rank
- 460th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #29 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #84 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Aloha Eveamenitiesflorist
- Arthur Kaine Dr opp Pambula Merimbula Golf Clubamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Bendigo Bankamenitiesbank
- Bianchini Gelatiamenitiesice_cream
- Bullara St opp Quondola Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Cafe Pambula Toastamenitiescafe
- Carpet Courtamenitiescarpet
- Chilipadiamenitiesrestaurant
- Christ Churchamenitiesplace_of_worship
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Bega Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.