NSW · Eurobodalla Council
Surf Beach, 2536
Current weather
14.7°CClear sky
54% humidity · 13.9 km/h wind · 19.1° / 12.4° today · 7.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
As a regional hub in Eurobodalla, Surf Beach combines local convenience with the appeal of a smaller community that feels genuinely its own. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because housing affordability and parks and green space lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in transport and access and growth momentum.
Population
- Population
- 1,934
- Median age
- 53
- Median household income / week
- $1,099
- Dwelling vacancy
- 31%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 371 of 1,195
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,517
- Employment rate
- 42.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 78 / 153 / 82
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)
- $470
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $580
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 155
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)
- 154
- Against the person
- 41
- Against property
- 55
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 79.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 47 residents
- State safety percentile
- 56.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -30.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order102
- Breach Bail Conditions98
- Domestic Violence Related Assault116
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment135
- Malicious Damage To Property131
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
75 public transport stops in this suburb
- Beach Rd After Newth Pl
- Explorers Way Before Cook Av
- Hume Rd Before Explorers Way
- Pacific Rd Before Bligh St
- Surf Beach Av At Tasman St
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).
99 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)33A NEWTH PLACE SURF BEACH 2536Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)15 12-18 NEWTH PLACE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure46 HILLTOP CRESCENT SURF BEACH 2536Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 TOWRANG AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure17 NEWTH PLACE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces52 WATERSON DRIVE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 SILVERDELL PLACE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation15 HILLTOP CRESCENT SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure27 WIMBIE STREET SURF BEACH 2536Determined
2025· 16 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 HIGH VIEW AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 ERIC FENNING DRIVE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 EXPLORERS WAY SURF BEACH 2536Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 timber way surf beach 2536Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation714-720 BEACH ROAD SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah29 SURF BEACH AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support43 WATERSON DRIVE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation30 COOK AVENUE SURF BEACH NSW 2536Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport29 NEWTH PLACE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses30 NEWTH PLACE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 HIGHLANDS AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 EXPLORERS WAY SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 NEWTH PLACE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 TOWRANG AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah11 OCEAN AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 HIGHLANDS AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
2024· 14 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 JERUPA CLOSE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure486 THE RIDGE ROAD SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development43 ERIC FENNING DRIVE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
August 2024
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure46 TIMBER WAY SURF BEACH 2536Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Tennis courts7 TOWRANG AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 TOWRANG AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport6A SILVERDELL PLACE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation17 Wimbie Street, Surf Beach, NSWDetermined
May 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport23 HILLTOP CRESCENT SURF BEACH 2536Determined
April 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool49 WATERSON DRIVE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
March 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Stairway11 OCEAN AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation34 TIMBER WAY SURF BEACH 2536Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 SURF BEACH AVENUE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
January 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure35 WATERSON DRIVE SURF BEACH 2536Determined
2023· 1 proposal
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure37 FLINDERS WAY SURF BEACH 2536Determined
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
64 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Surf Beach CellarsAlcohol
- Beach Rd after Explorers WayBus stop
- Beach Rd after Newth PlBus stop
- Beach Rd before Newth PlBus stop
- Beach Rd before Wimbie StBus stop
- Beach Rd opp Explorers WayBus stop
- Bligh St at Eric Fenning DrBus stop
- Bligh St before Eric Fenning DrBus stop
- Bus stop
- Denhams Beach Care Community, Beach 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
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Pharmacypharmacy
- Southern IML Pathologydoctor
- Surf Beach Surgerydoctor
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)
- 3/10
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)
- 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
- 38.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3713th in Australia
- State rank
- 1163rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #160 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #388 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
- Batemans Bay Baptist Churchamenitiesplace_of_worship
- Beach Rd after Explorers Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- Beach Rd after Newth Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Beach Rd before Newth Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Beach Rd before Wimbie Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Beach Rd opp Explorers Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- Bligh St at Eric Fenning Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Bligh St before Eric Fenning Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Bus stopamenitiesbus_stop
- Denhams Beach Care Community, Beach Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Eurobodalla Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.