NSW · Shellharbour Council
Shellharbour City Centre, 2529
Current weather
13.5°CClear sky
66% humidity · 5.2 km/h wind · 20.2° / 9° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Shellharbour City Centre is a well-connected smaller community in Shellharbour with everyday amenities close at hand. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with a healthy mix of renters and owner-occupiers.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker community and employment and growth momentum relative to similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 457
- Median age
- 71
- Median household income / week
- $949
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 14 of 224
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,798
- Employment rate
- 26.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 14 / 59 / 94
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)
- $650
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $800
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $760
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 190
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)
- 37
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 14
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 81
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 76 residents
- State safety percentile
- 57.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Reported offences are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions667
- Fraud135
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment161
- Steal From Motor Vehicle128
- Steal From Retail Store211
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
22 public transport stops in this suburb
- College Av After Benson Av
- New Lake Entrance Rd At Minga Av
- Stockland Retail Park, New Lake Entrance Rd
- Stockland Shellharbour
- Stockland Shellharbour, Lake Entrance Rd
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).
56 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
April 2026
- Signage; Advertising and signageBENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Under Assessment
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Other Infrastructure5 RANGE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
2025· 10 proposals
December 2025
- Seniors housing; Residential care facility; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support7 WALLAROO DRIVE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure171 WATTLE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 COLLEGE AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
October 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Recreation facility (outdoor)191 WATTLE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
August 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Recreation facility (outdoor)191 WATTLE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Entertainment facility; Temporary building, structure or use; Recreation facility (major)BENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
April 2025
- Advertising and signage; Food and drink premiseTenancy 2021B, Shellharbour City Square Cnr CollegDetermined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Temporary structureLamerton Crescent, Shelllharbour City CentreDetermined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Other InfrastructureBENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
January 2025
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure171 WATTLE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
2024· 4 proposals
November 2024
- Shop top housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure13 BENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Entertainment associated with existing premises191 WATTLE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
September 2024
- Entertainment facility; Temporary building, structure or use; Temporary structure191 WATTLE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
April 2024
- Signage; Advertising and signageBENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
2023· 7 proposals
November 2023
- Demolition; Business premises; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail PremiseBENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
October 2023
- Hotel or motel accomodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation5 MEMORIAL DRIVE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Subdivision2 EVELYN COURT SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
September 2023
- Temporary building, structure or use; Temporary structureBENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
July 2023
- Retail premises75 CYGNET AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
February 2023
- Mixed use development16 COLLEGE AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Other1 RANGE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
2022· 12 proposals
December 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development9 RANGE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
November 2022
- Shop top housing; Mixed use development; Business premises16 COLLEGE AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
October 2022
- Retail premises75 CYGNET AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
September 2022
- Other76 CYGNET AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Take-away food and drink premises; OtherBENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Withdrawn
July 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development5 BURRA PLACE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
June 2022
- Change of use3 6 BENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Mixed use development; Centre based childcare73 CYGNET AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Signage3 RANGE ROAD SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
March 2022
- Stratum / community title subdivision16 COLLEGE AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
February 2022
- Signage73 CYGNET AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Signage4 MEMORIAL DRIVE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
2021· 5 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to commercial development3 MEMORIAL DRIVE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
November 2021
- OtherCollege & Benson Avenues and Lamerton Crescent, ShDetermined
October 2021
- Stratum / community title subdivision4 BENSON AVENUE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Pub3 MEMORIAL DRIVE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
- Signage3 MEMORIAL DRIVE SHELLHARBOUR CITY CENTRE 2529Determined
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
40 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Baby BuntingBaby Goods
Unit 18 5 Range Road, Shellharbour City Centre
- ANZBank
- Anglican Church, Wallaroo DrBus stop
- College Av after Benson AvBus stop
- Cygnet Av opp Chillawong CctBus stop
- Lakeview Village, Wallaroo DrBus stop
- New Lake Entrance Rd at Minga AvBus stop
- Stockland Retail Park, New Lake Entrance RdBus stop
- Stockland ShellharbourBus stop
- Wallaroo Dr after Gilder 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
- Harrison ParkPark
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
- Chemist WarehouseNew Lake Entrance Roadpharmacy
- My Smile Team ShellharbourCollege Avenuedentist
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)
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 34.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4409th in Australia
- State rank
- 1403rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #88 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #727 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 74%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- ANZamenitiesbank
- AmpChargeamenitiescharging_station
- Anglican Church, Wallaroo Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Postamenitiespost_office
- Baby BuntingamenitiesUnit 18 5 Range Road, Shellharbour City Centrebaby_goods
- Best & Lessamenitiesclothes
- Blackbutt Youth Centreamenitiescommunity_centre
- CakeBizamenitiesUnit 2 2 Memorial Drivepastry
- Colesamenitiessupermarket
- College Av after Benson Avamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Shellharbour Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.