NSW · Bega Valley Council
Pambula Beach, 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
- Coastal
- National parks
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Pambula Beach wears its coastal identity openly, a smaller community built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Distance from the capital is noticeable, but the trade-off is space, calm and a community that knows its neighbours. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
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.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker transport and access and housing affordability against similar coastal suburbs, even with safety and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 667
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,414
- Dwelling vacancy
- 34.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 150 of 440
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,700
- Employment rate
- 50.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 22 / 41 / 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
- 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)
- 15
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 7
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 22.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 222 residents
- State safety percentile
- 2.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -20.8%
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,040
- Lumen Christi Catholic CollegeCombined
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
18 public transport stops in this suburb
- Culgoa Cres At Gwainurra Gr
- Jinjera Pde Opp Club Av
- Lumen Christi Catholic College, Culgoa Cres
- Sapphire Aquatic Centre, Pambula Beach Rd
- Winnunga St At Turtle Dove Lane
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).
44 planning-related records
2025· 9 proposals
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drinkPAMBULA BEACH ROAD PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure73 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 TALEEBAN STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Ancillary commercial development; Temporary structure; Hours of operation and trading190 PAMBULA BEACH ROAD PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; School64 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Residential Accommodation1 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure96 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure73 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure98A CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Fences56 PAMBULA BEACH ROAD PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah29 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 TALEEBAN STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah25 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah42 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure96 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
2023· 9 proposals
December 2023
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School64 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
November 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
May 2023
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces56 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
April 2023
- Other190 PAMBULA BEACH ROAD PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development45 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees60 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
February 2023
- Dual occupancy; Demolition10 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition28 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
2022· 6 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing21 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition27 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
September 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development3 BOOROO STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development18 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development15 BOOROO STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition4 KANANGRA STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
2021· 8 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development12 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development60 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
November 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development53 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development23 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
October 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces9 KANANGRA STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development45 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition27 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Residential flat building; Alterations and additions to residential development; Other11 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 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
24 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bar
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (2)
- Lumen Christi Catholic College, Culgoa CresBus stop
- Pambula Beach Rd at Culgoa CresBus stop
- Sapphire Aquatic Centre, Pambula Beach RdBus stop
- Convenience store
- Picnic Table (4)
- Playground
- Post Box
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
- Jiguma Nature AreaNature reserve
- Lions 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)
- 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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- 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
- 36.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4043rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1273rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #61 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #129 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Baramenitiesbar
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Convenience storeamenitiesconvenience
- Lumen Christi Catholic College, Culgoa Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Pambula Beach Rd at Culgoa Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Pambula Beach Sports Complexamenitiessports_centre
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
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.