NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Sanctuary Point, 2540
Current weather
15.8°CClear sky
55% humidity · 15.6 km/h wind · 19.4° / 13.1° today · 1.9 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Sanctuary Point anchors everyday life in Shoalhaven, a regional mid-sized suburb with its own identity and rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
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.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because housing affordability and schools and education lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in parks and green space and growth momentum.
Population
- Population
- 7,874
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,068
- Dwelling vacancy
- 23.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 1,004 of 4,233
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,545
- Employment rate
- 42.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 318 / 98 / 55
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)
- $465
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $571
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 300
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)
- 337
- Against the person
- 122
- Against property
- 136
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 42.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 65 residents
- State safety percentile
- 18.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order135
- Domestic Violence Related Assault174
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment283
- Malicious Damage To Property261
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault146
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
- 909
- Sanctuary Point 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
166 public transport stops in this suburb
- Anson St Before Kean Av
- Kingsford Smith Cres At Gibson Cres
- Macleans Point Rd At Cross St
- Paradise Beach Rd Opp Kingsford Smith Cres
- Sanctuary Point Rd At Warrego Dr
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).
300 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent)5 FLORA STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure58 ANSON STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Demolition; Residential care facility; Erection of a new structure10 MILSON STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 ATTUNGA AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure27 VOST DRIVE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Under Assessment
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation143 WALMER AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure46 VICKERY AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Subdivision222 KERRY STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2 GULL AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Subdivision232 KERRY STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 KINGSFORD SMITH CRESCENT SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation5 BELPITT PLACE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 SANCTUARY POINT ROAD SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure220 LORALYN AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure178 LORALYN AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation120 THE PARK DRIVE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development18 MAXWELL CRESCENT SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; 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 Australia9 THE GLEN SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 GULL AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure101 WALMER AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 SANCTUARY POINT ROAD SANCTUARY POINT 2540Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Carport129 THE PARK DRIVE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent)5 FLORA STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation183 KERRY STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation26 KEAN AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
October 2025
- SubdivisionThe Park Dr, SANCTUARY POINT – Lot 78 DP 818756Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure22 SANCTUARY POINT ROAD SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport103 WARREGO DRIVE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 WALMER AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Subdivision116 LEUMEAH STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah30 KARNE STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure76 FREDERICK STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation47 SANCTUARY POINT ROAD SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure236 SANCTUARY POINT ROAD SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure146 GREVILLE AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure192 WALMER AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Deferred Commencement
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)163 MACLEANS POINT ROAD SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)52 ANSON STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure36 KERRY STREET SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent); Residential Accommodation56 IDLEWILD AVENUE SANCTUARY POINT 2540Determined
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
39 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bakehouse Espresso Sanctuary PointBakery
- Sanctuary Point BakeryBakery
- Bench (5)
- Anson St at Cammaray DrBus stop
- Anson St before Kean AvBus stop
- Frederick St at Edmund StBus stop
- Frederick St at Macleans Point RdBus stop
- Kingsford Smith Cres at Eagle PlBus stop
- Kingsford Smith Cres at Ridgelands DrBus stop
- Loralyn Av at Macleans Point RdBus 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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Clifton ParkPark
- Francis Ryan ReservePark
- Wool Lane Sporting ComplexPark
- Wool Road ReservePark
- Yellow Bellied Glider ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Jervis Bay Physiotherapyphysiotherapist
- Sanctuary Point Pharmacypharmacy
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)
- 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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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)
- 15
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
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
- 48.8/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 31% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2079th in Australia
- State rank
- 661st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #51 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #143 among Country & regional 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
- Anson St at Cammaray Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Anson St before Kean Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Bakehouse Espresso Sanctuary Pointamenitiesbakery
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Country Clubamenitieslicensed_club
- Fast foodamenitiesfast_food
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Shoalhaven Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.