suburb.guide

NSW · Wollongong Council

Port Kembla, 2505

Current weather

10.1°CClear sky

67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 17.5° / 6° today · 2.3 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

49.9/100
Average

Top 29% of New South Wales' suburbs

82% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Coastal
  • Excellent transport
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
What Port Kembla is known for: Coastal, Excellent transport, Green suburb, High desirability

Suburb profile

Port Kembla wears its coastal identity openly, a mid-sized suburb built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Sea and sand are the main draw, with neighbouring coastal communities easy to explore on a free afternoon. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.

Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.

Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
5,088
Median age
42
Median household income / week
$1,308
Dwelling vacancy
7.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
171 of 2,176
Median monthly mortgage
$1,950
Employment rate
48.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
161 / 133 / 316

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)
$460
Houses (January to March 2026)
$695
All types (January to March 2026)
$520
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
48

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
883
Against the person
99
Against property
250
Rate per 1,000 residents
173.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 51 residents
State safety percentile
94.8th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-6.9%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment32
  • Malicious Damage To Property50
  • Other Offences74
  • Steal From Motor Vehicle35
  • Transport Regulatory Offences295

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
4
Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
998.5
  • Five Islands Secondary CollegeSecondary
  • Kemblawarra Public SchoolPrimary
  • Port Kembla Public SchoolPrimary
  • St Patrick's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

124 public transport stops in this suburb

  • ENT Kembla Rd
  • FTB To P2
  • Lysaghts Station
  • Port Kembla North Station, Platform 1
  • Port Kembla Station, Platform 1

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).

338 planning-related records

2026· 27 proposals

  • June 2026

  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    101 PARKES STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Hotel or motel accommodation; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Hours of operation and trading
    10-14 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    16 GALLIPOLI STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
  • Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station
    48 ILLAWARRA STREET PORT KEMBLA NSW2505Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure
    1 Parker Street, Port Kembla NSWUnder Assessment

  • May 2026

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    1 GRIFFITHS AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    132 MILITARY ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink
    22-26 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    81 PARKES STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    1 JUBILEE ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined

  • April 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)
    23 SURFSIDE DRIVE PORT KEMBLA 2505Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    2 RESERVOIR STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    5 FIFTH AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    44 BLAND STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    19 SECOND AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    6 HORNE STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined

  • March 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    87 PARKES STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Subdivision
    9 MARNE STREET PORT KEMBLADetermined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    35 FORSTER STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    42 DOVERS DRIVE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined

  • February 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    19 SECOND AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    184 MILITARY ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Additional Information Requested
  • Industrial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry
    10 DARCY ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise
    U 1 190 MILITARY ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Additional Information Requested

  • January 2026

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    8 LAWARRA STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry
    233 Shellharbour Road Port KemblaDetermined
  • Industrial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    35 FIVE ISLANDS ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
2025· 13 proposals

  • December 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    31 FORSTER STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    9 ROBERTSON STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined

  • November 2025

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)
    57-61 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Business premises; Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    68-70 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Subdivision
    9 MARNE STREET PORT KEMBLADetermined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    19 SECOND AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined

  • October 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink
    22-26 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined

  • September 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    72-74 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
  • Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station
    48 ILLAWARRA STREET PORT KEMBLA NSW2505Determined
  • Demolition; Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise
    55 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Withdrawn

  • August 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    17 SECOND AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    56 ILLAWARRA STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    44 BLAND STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

32 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bench (2)
  • Darcy Rd at Miitary RdBus stop
  • Five Islands Rd at Flagstaff RdBus stop
  • King St opp Bent StBus stop
  • Port Kembla Station, Old Port RdBus stop
  • Wentworth Rd opp Jubilee RdBus stop
  • Wentworth St after Allan StBus stop
  • Wentworth St at Allan StBus stop
  • Cafe
  • Port Kembla Court HouseCourthouse

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

  • King George V ParkPark
  • Shipp ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
1
Emergency department
Not in suburb
  • Flat Products Medical Centredoctor

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

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

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • Hill 60/ Illowra BatteryMilitary Road, Port KemblaSHR

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)
5
Parks (OSM)
3

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
49.9/100 — Average
State standing
Top 29% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
1941st in Australia
State rank
621st in NSW
Peer rank
#38 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#70 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
82%

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
  • Australia Postamenitiespost_office
  • Benchamenitiesbench
  • Benchamenitiesbench
  • Cafeamenitiescafe
  • Commercial Hotelamenitiespub
  • Darcy Rd at Miitary Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • Five Islands Rd at Flagstaff Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • King St opp Bent Stamenitiesbus_stop
  • Parkingamenitiesparking

Data sources & freshness

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.