NSW · Lithgow Council
South Bowenfels, 2790
Current weather
10.7°CClear sky
66% humidity · 30.1 km/h wind · 14.4° / 8.8° today · 10.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
In Lithgow, South Bowenfels 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. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, 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. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing is well-priced for what you get: space, location and everyday convenience.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,326
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,608
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 58 of 574
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 51.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 27 / 152 / 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $335
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $450
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $450
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 114
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)
- 143
- Against the person
- 41
- Against property
- 51
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 107.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 32 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order115
- Breach Bail Conditions121
- Domestic Violence Related Assault131
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
- Malicious Damage To Property160
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
43 public transport stops in this suburb
- Great Western Hwy Before Kirkley St
- Great Western Hwy Opp Magpie Hollow Rd
- Kirkley St At Tom Lesslie Pl
- Robina Dr At Kirkley St
- Robina Dr At Lilac Pl
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).
96 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 KIRKLEY STREET SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Under Assessment
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure18 SURVEYORS WAY SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 GUNNERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Subdivision33 MAGPIE HOLLOW ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure125 MCKANES FALLS ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Subdivision71 MCKANES FALLS ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 GUNNERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
January 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation33 MAGPIE HOLLOW ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1A COL DREWE DRIVE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
2025· 13 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation27 GUNNERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)LOT 102 OLD BATHURST ROAD, SOUTH BOWENFELSDetermined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 HERITAGE CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
August 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure111 OLD BATHURST ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures2 LILAC PLACE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure3 GUNNERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 SETTLERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 STOCKADE CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
April 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure24 ROBINIA DRIVE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support14 BOWEN CHASE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 WOODLANDS DRIVE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah31 ROBINIA DRIVE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Subdivision33 MAGPIE HOLLOW ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 SETTLERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 GUNNERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
November 2024
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)27 GUNNERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Withdrawn
- Subdivision44 KIRKLEY STREET SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 GUNNERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 STOCKADE CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
September 2024
- Subdivision14 CLARET ASH AVENUE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool340 MAGPIE HOLLOW ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 HERITAGE CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 GUNNERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure125 MCKANES FALLS ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 SETTLERS CLOSE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
April 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise3584 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation13 TOM LESSLIE PLACE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
February 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 BURSARIA PLACE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support14 BOWEN CHASE SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
2023· 2 proposals
November 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 MCKANES FALLS ROAD SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3372 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY SOUTH BOWENFELS 2790Determined
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
4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Swimming pool (4)
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
- Blunder Street ReserveNature reserve
- Robina ParkPark
- South Bowenfels Gun EmplacementsPark
- Strathlone Estate ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Bowenfels Medical Practicedoctor
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)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
- Bowenfels National School Site70 Mudgee Street Old BowenfelsSHR
- Mckanes Falls BridgeJenolan Caves Road LithgowSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 60
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 40.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 49% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3296th in Australia
- State rank
- 1048th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #134 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #331 among Country & regional 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
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime115
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime121
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime131
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime178
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime160
- Great Western Hwy Before Kirkley Sttransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lithgow Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.