NSW · Wingecarribee Council
Sutton Forest, 2577
Current weather
11.4°CClear sky
61% humidity · 26.6 km/h wind · 14.6° / 9.1° today · 6.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Sutton Forest offers a slower smaller community life in Wingecarribee, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. 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.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in community and employment and safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 504
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $2,069
- Dwelling vacancy
- 21.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 49 of 231
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,859
- Employment rate
- 57.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 10 / 0 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $710
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
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)
- 21
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 7
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 41.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 84 residents
- State safety percentile
- 16.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions63
- Fraud72
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment73
- Malicious Damage To Property56
- Prohibited And Regulated Weapons Offences41
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
- Canyonleigh Rd Bf Hume Hwy
- Conflict St After Vincent St
- Illawara Hwy After Exeter Rd
- Illawarra Hwy After Village Rd
- Illawarra Hwy Opp Village 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).
88 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7481 ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7711 ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Under Assessment
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation254 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Withdrawn
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Animal boarding or training establishment77 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Subdivision10 CONFLICT STREET SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7481 ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
2025· 9 proposals
November 2025
- Commercial development; Hours of operation and trading424 HANGING ROCK ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure296 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool460 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure450 EXETER ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7481 ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
April 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Mine; Open cut mining272 HANGING ROCK ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Withdrawn
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure11 GOLDEN VALE ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space225 EXETER ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7481 ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Withdrawn
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure254 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
August 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Ancillary commercial development; MarketKATER ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure77 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
June 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 GOLDEN VALE ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
May 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure254 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12323 HUME HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (outdoor)271 EXETER ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
February 2024
- Other4 RED COW LANE SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Telecommunications network; Telecommunications facility56 OLD ARGYLE ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
January 2024
- Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Agricultural produce industry13603 Hume Highway Paddys River NSW 2577Determined
2023· 15 proposals
December 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12942 HUME HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Other7366 ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Eco-tourist facility11974 HUME HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12521 HUME HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 GOLDEN VALE ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
July 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces225 EXETER ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling31 BLACK HORSE LANE SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Farm buildings77 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces7801 ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing210 HANGING ROCK ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Dwelling341 OLDBURY ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
May 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development43 GOLDEN VALE ROAD SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing12323 HUME HIGHWAY SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
February 2023
- Flood mitigation work; Earthworks / change in levels; Other4-6 Gibbons Road Moss ValeDetermined
January 2023
- Attached dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development17 NICHOLSON STREET SUTTON FOREST 2577Determined
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
- Eling Forest CafeCafe
12587 Hume Highway, Sutton Forest
- Shelter (3)
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Cosh ParkPark
- Cunningham ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
4 state heritage places
- Golden ValeGolden Vale Road, Sutton ForestSHR
- HillviewOld Illawarra Highway, Sutton ForestSHR
- Oldbury FarmOldbury Road, Moss ValeSHR
- Whitley, outbuildings, entry gate, garden217 Oldbury Road, Sutton ForestSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 12
- 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
- 40.5/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3392nd in Australia
- State rank
- 1074th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #136 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #341 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
- Eling Forest Cafeamenities12587 Hume Highway, Sutton Forestcafe
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime63
- Fraudcrime72
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime73
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime56
- Prohibited And Regulated Weapons Offencescrime41
- Canyonleigh Rd Bf Hume Hwytransport
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 Wingecarribee Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.