suburb.guide

NSW · Shoalhaven Council

Sussex Inlet, 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

39.8/100
Below average

1107th in NSW

82% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Coastal
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
What Sussex Inlet is known for: Coastal, Green suburb, Excellent transport, High desirability

Suburb profile

Sussex Inlet wears its coastal identity openly, a mid-sized suburb built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Coastal living here comes with genuine distance from the capital, a self-contained pace with the sea at its heart. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.

Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. 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.

The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar coastal suburbs, even with growth momentum and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
3,888
Median age
61
Median household income / week
$887
Dwelling vacancy
31.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
801 of 2,545
Median monthly mortgage
$1,511
Employment rate
32.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
117 / 133 / 17

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
166
Against the person
60
Against property
67
Rate per 1,000 residents
42.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 65 residents
State safety percentile
18.1th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-4.9%

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
956
  • Sussex Inlet Public SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

204 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Glanville Rd At Lakehaven Dr
  • Iverison Rd At Christine St
  • River Rd Opp Ray St
  • Sussex Inlet Rd After Old Berrara Rd
  • Sussex Inlet Rd Opp Jacobs 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).

372 planning-related records

2026· 26 proposals

  • June 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)
    30 SEABERRY STREET SUSSEX INLET 2540Under Assessment
  • Signage; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external); Market
    175 JACOBS DRIVE SUSSEX INLET 2540Under Assessment
  • Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    3 PEBBLE BEACH PARADE SUSSEX INLET 2540Under Assessment
  • Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    3 PEBBLE BEACH PARADE SUSSEX INLET 2540Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    646 SUSSEX INLET ROAD SUSSEX INLET 2540Additional Information Requested

  • May 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    614 SUSSEX INLET ROAD SUSSEX INLET 2540Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Jetty
    CORMORANT AVENUE SUSSEX INLET 2540Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    56 BIRKDALE CIRCUIT SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    8 IBIS PLACE SUSSEX INLET 2540Additional Information Requested

  • April 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Birkdale Cct, SUSSEX INLET - Lot 1006 DP 1247845Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    161 RIVER ROAD SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined

  • March 2026

  • Temporary building, structure or use; Classified road
    7 Villagewood Drive, Sussex Inlet - 1000/1247845Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    96 BIRKDALE CIRCUIT SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    860 SUSSEX INLET ROAD SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    88 BIRKDALE CIRCUIT SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    8 PEBBLE BEACH PARADE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    4 PEBBLE BEACH PARADE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined

  • February 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    28 VILLAGEWOOD DRIVE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    4 PEBBLE BEACH PARADE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    WANDRA ROAD SUSSEX INLET 2540Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    98 BIRKDALE CIRCUIT SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care
    Kingsbarns Lane SUSSEX INLET - Lot 262 DP 1276796Under Assessment

  • January 2026

  • Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Hours of operation and trading
    183 JACOBS DRIVE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    107 SUNCREST AVENUE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation
    86 BIRKDALE CIRCUIT SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    9 BIRKDALE CIRCUIT SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
2025· 14 proposals

  • December 2025

  • Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    52 Iverison Rd, SUSSEX INLET - Lot 1 DP 552937Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home
    574 SUSSEX INLET ROAD SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club
    200 Jacobs Drive Sussex Inlet 2540Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    Peacehaven Way Sussex Inlet - Lot 303 DP 1224103Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    2 SUNNINGDALE AVENUE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined

  • November 2025

  • Subdivision
    Suncrest Av SUSSEX INLET - Lot 192 DP 245378Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    7 MATILDA AVENUE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined

  • October 2025

  • Dwelling house; 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; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures
    861 SUSSEX INLET ROAD SUSSEX INLET 2540Deferred Commencement
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    27 OCEAN VIEW ROAD SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    11 LAGOON CRESCENT SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined

  • September 2025

  • Subdivision
    21 Lakeshore Pde SUSSEX INLET - Lot 230 DP 253235Determined
  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station
    1 JACOBS DRIVE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    6 TEAL PLACE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    14 PLOVER CLOSE SUSSEX INLET 2540Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

9 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • 652 Sussex Inlet RdBus stop
  • 776 Sussex Inlet RdBus stop
  • 860 Sussex Inlet RdBus stop
  • 861 Sussex Inlet RdBus stop
  • Golf Club Rd Sussex Inlet RdBus stop
  • Golf Driving Range Sussex Inlet RdBus stop
  • Sussex Inlet Rd at Mokau RdBus stop
  • Parking (2)

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

  • Ellmoos ReservePark
  • Jack Finkernagel ReservePark
  • Jacob Drive ReservePark
  • Jim Cater ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
4
Emergency department
Not in suburb
  • Laverty Pathologysample_collection
  • Sussex DoctorsJacobs Drivedoctor
  • Sussex Inlet Pharmacypharmacy
  • Sussex Inlet PhysiotherapyJacobs Drivephysiotherapist

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

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

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)
15
Parks (OSM)
10

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
39.8/100 — Below average
National rank
3523rd in Australia
State rank
1107th in NSW
Peer rank
#47 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#113 among Coastal & beach 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

  • 652 Sussex Inlet Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • 776 Sussex Inlet Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • 860 Sussex Inlet Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • 861 Sussex Inlet Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • Golf Club Rd Sussex Inlet Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • Golf Driving Range Sussex Inlet Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • Parkingamenitiesparking
  • Parkingamenitiesparking
  • Sussex Inlet Rd at Mokau Rdamenitiesbus_stop
  • Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime135

Data sources & freshness

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.