NSW · Wingecarribee Council
Penrose, 2579
Current weather
11.4°CClear sky
61% humidity · 26.6 km/h wind · 14.6° / 9.1° today · 6.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Wingecarribee, Penrose keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability against similar regional towns, even with safety holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 263
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $1,091
- Dwelling vacancy
- 22.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 31 of 139
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,580
- Employment rate
- 47.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 0 / 0
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)
- $570
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)
- 11
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 41.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 88 residents
- State safety percentile
- 16.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.1%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling11
- Fraud40
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment23
- Malicious Damage To Property19
- Motor Vehicle Theft11
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
- 1,034
- Penrose 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
37 public transport stops in this suburb
- Acc To P1
- Acc To P2
- ENT Kareela Rd
- ENT Penrose Rd
- Penrose Station
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).
28 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1201 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool610 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool989 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2025· 5 proposals
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure61 LUKES FIRETRAIL PENROSE 2579Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure80 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation70 LUKES FIRETRAIL PENROSE 2579Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1177 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool555 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2024· 5 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation91 KOOLILABAH LANE PENROSE 2579Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation817/DP1302336Determined
- Subdivision110 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
February 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure220 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure400 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2023· 6 proposals
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure610 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Entertainment associated with existing premises80 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition1201 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
February 2023
- Demolition; Subdivision of land921 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
- Other300 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Withdrawn
January 2023
- Dwelling989 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2022· 3 proposals
October 2022
- Other300 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
April 2022
- Dwelling1177 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
February 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development1105 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
2021· 6 proposals
December 2021
- Other534 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
November 2021
- Dwelling989 PENROSE ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
September 2021
- Other300 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
August 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Other200 KAREELA ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
February 2021
- Shed264 TEUDTS ROAD PENROSE 2579Determined
January 2021
- Dwelling; Farm buildings70 LUKES FIRETRAIL PENROSE 2579Determined
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
12 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Penrose Public School Penrose RdBus stop
- Penrose Rd before Dunlop LaneBus stop
- Penrose Rd opp Dunlop LaneBus stop
- Penrose Rd opp Penrose Public SchoolBus stop
- Penrose Rd opp Penrose StationBus stop
- Penrose Station, Penrose RdBus stop
- Penrose Village General StoreGeneral
- Australia PostPost Box
- Penrose CPAPost office
- Sports field
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
- Penrose ParkPark
- Stingray Swamp Flora ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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)
- 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
- 28.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5503rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1736th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #399 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #763 among Country & regional 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
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Penroseamenitiestrain_station
- Penrose CPAamenitiespost_office
- Penrose Public School Penrose Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Penrose Rd before Dunlop Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Penrose Rd opp Dunlop Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Penrose Rd opp Penrose Public Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Penrose Rd opp Penrose Stationamenitiesbus_stop
- Penrose Station, Penrose Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Penrose Village General Storeamenitiesgeneral
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wingecarribee Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.