NSW · Shoalhaven Council
South Nowra, 2541
Current weather
12.7°CClear sky
63% humidity · 12.1 km/h wind · 19.6° / 11.1° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
South Nowra is a regional centre in Shoalhaven that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Young professionals and new households shape much of the local mix, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 3,165
- Median age
- 33
- Median household income / week
- $1,789
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 47 of 1,110
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 62.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 98 / 103 / 7
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)
- $401
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $550
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $530
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 296
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)
- 521
- Against the person
- 143
- Against property
- 191
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 164.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 93.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.1%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions633
- Domestic Violence Related Assault305
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment444
- Malicious Damage To Property449
- Steal From Retail Store420
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
85 public transport stops in this suburb
- Albatross Rd Before Coral Sea Dr
- Nowra Christian School
- Old Southern Rd Opp Browns Rd
- Quinns Lane At Old Southern Rd
- Quinns Lane At Princes Hwy
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).
271 planning-related records
2026· 21 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 70 SOMERSET AVENUE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation23 TREE FROG STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure21 BROWNS ROAD SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure; Supporting Development245 PRINCES HIGHWAY SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
- SubdivisionOLD SOUTHERN ROAD SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Hazardous storage establishment6 SEXTANT STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision14 Flinders Road, South Nowra (Lot 3 DP 1267770)Under Assessment
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry8 INVESTIGATOR STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Additional Information Requested
- 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; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading175 PRINCES HIGHWAY SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
April 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 WENDY PLACE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation27 TREE FROG STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision22 QUINNS LANE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure132 PRINCES HIGHWAY SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Subdivision22 QUINNS LANE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
- Demolition; Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry40 OXFORD STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)10 Central Avenue South Nowra 2541Under Assessment
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use; Vehicle Sales or Hire Premises104 PRINCES HIGHWAY SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Attached dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation15 WENDY PLACE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; General industry1 NOWRA HILL ROAD SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
January 2026
- Attached dwelling; Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)5 HOLLOWAY ROAD SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool59 BASIL STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
2025· 19 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; General industry166 PRINCES HIGHWAY SOUTH NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development181B OLD SOUTHERN ROAD SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Demolition; Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry40 OXFORD STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision94 HILLCREST AVENUE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
- Subdivision17 EVERGREEN PLACE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Business identification sign193 PRINCES HIGHWAY SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Subdivision2 ELIAN CRESCENT SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
October 2025
- Attached dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation15 WENDY PLACE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development82 HILLCREST AVENUE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Erection of a new structure; General industry20 BELLEVUE STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)71 Quinns Lane, SOUTH NOWRA - Lot 22 DP 1297984Determined
September 2025
- Industrial development17 CENTRAL AVENUE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
August 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision of land327 OLD SOUTHERN ROAD SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 DOVE CLOSE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Demolition; Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Health services facility; Hospital; Hours of operation and trading; Health Infrastructure102 HILLCREST AVENUE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Demolition; Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; Hours of operation and trading3 NOWRA HILL ROAD SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
June 2025
- Commercial development; Erection of a new structure; Storage premises; Self storage units174 PRINCES HIGHWAY SOUTH NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Community facility; Co-living94 HILLCREST AVENUE SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support12 BALLINA STREET SOUTH NOWRA 2541Determined
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
57 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bellevue St at Jellicoe StBus stop
- Central Av after Princes HwyBus stop
- Central Av before Princes HwyBus stop
- Flinders Rd at Cumberland AveBus stop
- Old Southern Rd at Evergreen PlBus stop
- Princes Hwy after Central AveBus stop
- Princes Hwy before Central AvBus stop
- Wattlebird Rd after Firetail StBus stop
- South Nowra Premium MeatsButcher
- Pie FaceCafe
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
- South Nowra Rotary ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
- 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)
- 8
- 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
- 52.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 25% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1635th in Australia
- State rank
- 522nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #19 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #97 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Anacondaamenitiesoutdoor
- Australia Post Parcel Lockeramenitiesparcel_locker
- BCFamenitiesoutdoor
- Barbeques Galoreamenitiesoutdoor
- Bellevue St at Jellicoe Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Central Av after Princes Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Central Av before Princes Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Chapman Caravansamenitiescaravan
- Dine in - Take Awayamenitiesrestaurant
- Fantastic Furnitureamenitiesfurniture
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.