NSW · Lockhart Council
The Rock, 2655
Current weather
12.9°CClear sky
65% humidity · 21.1 km/h wind · 14.9° / 8.4° today · 0.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lockhart, The Rock keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and growth momentum holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 1,347
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,358
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 30 of 500
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 52.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 46 / 0 / 5
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 48
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 35
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 35.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 150 residents
- State safety percentile
- 11.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +17.4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling5
- Domestic Violence Related Assault3
- Malicious Damage To Property9
- Other Theft8
- Steal From Motor Vehicle3
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA
- 953
- Observatory Hill Environmental Education CentreCombined
- The Rock Central SchoolCombined
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
86 public transport stops in this suburb
- Mangoplah Rd At Olympic Hwy
- Olympic Hwy Opp Mangoplah Rd
- Scott St At Railway St
- Urana St At Day St
- Yerong St At Urana 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).
253 planning-related records
2026· 24 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision86 NICHOLAS STREET THE ROCK 2655Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Community facility96 URANA STREET THE ROCK 2655Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 KING STREET THE ROCK 2655Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 BURKES STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
May 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Function centre68 HARRINGTON STREET THE ROCKS 2000Under Assessment
- Temporary building, structure or use; Sculptures and artworks142 George Street The Rocks 2000Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Residential Accommodation370 BULLOC HILL ROAD THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle body repair workshop42-48 URANA STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Plant nursery96 GAP ROAD THE ROCK 2655Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Restaurant or cafe; Advertising and signage10-48 CIRCULAR QUAY WEST THE ROCKS 2000Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 HILL STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- 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; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise; Shop106-108 GEORGE STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
- Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading101 GEORGE STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision6 HILL STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development10 QUEEN STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling houseHUMPHRIES LANE THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 SCOTT STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure85 Harrington Street The Rocks 2000 3/4/DP1272007Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 DAVIDSON STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Sculptures and artworks; Temporary structure88 CUMBERLAND STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
February 2026
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure553 RANGE HILLS ROAD THE ROCKS 2795Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Entertainment associated with existing premises4 CARSON ROAD THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure25 PIPER STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 Carsons Road The RockDetermined
2025· 16 proposals
December 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Function centre; Hours of operation and trading7-27 HICKSON ROAD THE ROCKS 2000Determined
- Commercial development; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading87-89 GEORGE STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure69 GEORGE STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
- Demolition; Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise47 GEORGE STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah29-31 URANA STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4562 OLYMPIC HIGHWAY THE ROCK 2655Determined
October 2025
- Demolition24-32 NORMAN STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure90 NICHOLAS STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
September 2025
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35-75 HARRINGTON STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Shipping containers42-48 URANA STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure48 KING STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Shipping containersPIPER STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Subdivision3 HILL STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16 BRETTON STREET THE ROCK 2655Determined
- Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading205-227 GEORGE STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure105 GLOUCESTER STREET THE ROCKS 2000Determined
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
18 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- EV charging
- Hairdresser
- The Rock Pre-SchoolKindergarten
- The Rock Memorial Bowling ClubLicensed Club
- The Rock Community Health CentreMedical clinic
- Parking (2)
- Chemist at The RockPharmacy
- The Rock Post OfficePost office
- Public toilets
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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Birdlip Nature ReserveNature reserve
- Burke Creek ReservePark
- Coronation ParkPark
- The Rock Nature Reserve - Kengal Aboriginal PlaceNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Chemist at The Rockpharmacy
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)
- 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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- The Rock Station and yard groupMain Southern railway, The RockSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- The Rock Pre-Schoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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)
- 10
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 51.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 26% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1722nd in Australia
- State rank
- 550th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #46 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #105 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Chemist at The Rockamenitiespharmacy
- EV chargingamenitiescharging_station
- Hairdresseramenitieshairdresser
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Platform 1, The Rockamenitiestrain_station
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Skate Parkamenitiespitch
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lockhart Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.