NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Terara, 2540
Current weather
13.4°CClear sky
57% humidity · 8.3 km/h wind · 18.6° / 9.5° today · 2.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Terara offers a slower smaller community life in Shoalhaven, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 305
- Median age
- 59
- Median household income / week
- $825
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 11 of 161
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,600
- Employment rate
- 36.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 13 / 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
- 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
- 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)
- 13
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 42.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 61 residents
- State safety percentile
- 17.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.9%
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
- 1,009
- Terara Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
10 public transport stops in this suburb
- 73 Millbank Rd
- Millbank Rd After South St
- South St At Holme St
- South St Opp Holme St
- Terara Public School, Millbank 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).
24 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
April 2026
- Temporary building, structure or use; Temporary structure135 TERARA ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structureMILLBANK ROAD TERARA LOT 3 DP 420653Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5 HOLME STREET TERARA 2540Determined
February 2026
- Temporary building, structure or use; Temporary structure330 COMERONG ISLAND ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure180 SOUTH STREET TERARA 2540Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Caravan park17 TERARA ROAD TERARA 2540Additional Information Requested
2025· 3 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure139 TERARA ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure420 COMERONG ISLAND ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
January 2025
- Function centre; Hours of operation and trading111 TERARA ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
2024· 1 proposal
August 2024
- Function centre; Hours of operation and trading174 MILLBANK ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
2023· 6 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 NOBBLERS LANE TERARA 2540Determined
October 2023
- Subdivision; Crop or fodder production; Dairy (pasture-based)TERARA ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure344 COMERONG ISLAND ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
August 2023
- Demolition; Other135 TERARA ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
July 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development151 SOUTH STREET TERARA 2540Determined
March 2023
- Other77 MILLBANK ROAD TERARA 2540Withdrawn
2022· 4 proposals
August 2022
- Other2 WEST BERRY STREET TERARA 2540Determined
June 2022
- Subdivision of land; Other92 MILLBANK ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development27A MILLBANK ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
- Dwelling151 SOUTH STREET TERARA 2540Determined
2021· 4 proposals
July 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Other77 MILLBANK ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
May 2021
- OtherTERARA ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
March 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing55 TERARA ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
February 2021
- Other330 COMERONG ISLAND ROAD TERARA 2540Determined
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
8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- Terara Public School, Millbank RdBus stop
- Picnic Table (2)
- Public toilets
- Shower
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 37.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3916th in Australia
- State rank
- 1235th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #185 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #433 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 68%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Showeramenitiesshower
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Terara Public School, Millbank Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime135
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime174
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- 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.