NSW · Sydney Council
Rushcutters Bay, 2011
Current weather
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51% humidity · 17.1 km/h wind · 21.2° / 13.8° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Cycling
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
At the heart of the metro area, Rushcutters Bay is a smaller community where cafés, culture and everyday convenience overlap. Neighbouring suburbs are within easy reach, so the wider metro area always feels accessible. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of residents in steady employment.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker housing affordability and growth momentum against similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,335
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $1,877
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 288 of 1,621
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,600
- Employment rate
- 66.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 57 / 8 / 1,315
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)
- $750
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $925
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 638
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)
- 471
- Against the person
- 75
- Against property
- 109
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 201.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 31 residents
- State safety percentile
- 97.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -19.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions529
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault175
- Other Theft228
- Possession And/Or Use Of Cannabis239
- Transport Regulatory Offences547
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
Public transport
6 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bayswater Rd Opp McLachlan Av
- Bayswater Rd Opp McLachlan Av
- Elizabeth Bay Rd At Holdsworth Av
- Kings Cross Rd After Ward Av
- Kings Cross Rd After Ward Av
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).
43 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
February 2026
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 EVANS ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure42 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
October 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Hours of operation and trading1 56-60A BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space68-72 ROSLYN GARDENS RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure51-57 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
June 2025
- Signage; Advertising and signage141 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters BayDetermined
May 2025
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation100 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011Determined
April 2025
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Withdrawn
2024· 11 proposals
September 2024
- Business premises; Dwelling house; 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 Australia79-81 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
August 2024
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility24-28 ROSLYN STREET RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
July 2024
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 42A BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
April 2024
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
March 2024
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure51-57 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 42A BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Subdivision100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Subdivision100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
2023· 3 proposals
November 2023
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
September 2023
- Restaurant or cafe1 56-60A BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
March 2023
- Residential flat building100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
2022· 10 proposals
November 2022
- Other100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
June 2022
- Residential flat building; Mixed use development100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Other153-167 Bayswater Road Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011Determined
May 2022
- Residential flat building100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Signage100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development51-57 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
March 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces68-72 ROSLYN GARDENS RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Residential flat building; Mixed use development100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Withdrawn
- Retaining walls, protection of trees; Other24-28 ROSLYN STREET RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
January 2022
- Residential flat building; Mixed use development100 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
2021· 6 proposals
October 2021
- Signage; Recreational Uses; Change of useSHOP 1 1 MCLACHLAN AVENUE RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
April 2021
- Residential flat building61-67 ROSLYN STREET RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Residential flat buildingLot 1 50-54 Bayswater Road Rushcutters BayDetermined
- Residential flat buildingLot 2 50-54 Bayswater Road Rushcutters BayDetermined
March 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development51 ROSLYN STREET RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Other42 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
2020· 2 proposals
November 2020
- Residential flat building3 50-54 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Determined
October 2020
- Signage; Recreational Uses137 BAYSWATER ROAD RUSHCUTTERS BAY 2011Withdrawn
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
122 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Vintage CellarsAlcohol
- Bonham Art & DesignArt
- Bar
- VermuteriaBar
- Daffodil Nail & BeautyBeauty salon
- Bench (47)
- Bicycle Parking (3)
- The Cross Art+BooksBooks
- Bayswater Rd opp McLachlan AvBus stop
- Elizabeth Bay Rd at Holdsworth AvBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Waratah Street ReservePark
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)
- 9/10
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
2 state heritage places
- Oakleigh18 Ward Avenue Potts PointSHR
- Sewage Pumping Station 18Rushcutters Bay Park, Rushcutters BaySHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- KU Rushcutters Bay PreschoolWaratah 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
- 30.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5284th in Australia
- State rank
- 1680th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #377 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #786 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 76%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Adhikaamenitiescafe
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Baramenitiesbar
- Bayswater Fine Winesamenitieswine
- Bayswater Rd opp McLachlan Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Sydney Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.