NSW · Ballina Council
Wardell, 2477
Current weather
18.2°CMainly clear
81% humidity · 13.6 km/h wind · 22.1° / 12.7° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Ballina, Wardell keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and transport and access holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 830
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,254
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 332
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,569
- Employment rate
- 50.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 29 / 10 / 9
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)
- $530
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 59
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)
- 34
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 17
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 41
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 92 residents
- State safety percentile
- 15.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +3.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault37
- Fraud33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property62
- Steal From Motor Vehicle47
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
- 952
- Wardell 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
79 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bath St After Carlisle St
- Carlisle St After Blackwall Dr
- Richmond St Opp Wardell War Memorial Hall
- Uniting Church, Wilson St
- Wardell And District War Memorial Hall, Richmond 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).
40 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool134 PINE STREET WARDELL 2477Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development33B RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Under Assessment
April 2026
- Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures; Letterboxes; Pathways and paving; Playground equipment; Rainwater tanks; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Building identification sign; Car park; Community health service facility; Community facility50 BATH STREET WARDELL 2477Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 FITZROY STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
2025· 10 proposals
December 2025
- Signage; Advertising and signage20 RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure171 GUBAY ROAD WARDELL 2477Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; 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; Carport50 RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool45 CARLISLE STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
June 2025
- Subdivision of land; Earthworks / change in levels6-20 FITZROY STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support26-30 FITZROY STREET WARDELL 2477Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences44 RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport6 LINDSAY CRESCENT WARDELL 2477Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation46 RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Swimming pool870 PIMLICO ROAD WARDELL 2477Determined
2024· 9 proposals
October 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport6 LINDSAY CRESCENT WARDELL 2477Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Exhibition home1018/-/DP1284392Determined
August 2024
- 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 Australia9 SINCLAIR STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Residential Accommodation2 BLOSSOM PLACE WARDELL 2477Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure171 GUBAY ROAD WARDELL 2477Determined
June 2024
- Subdivision23 RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 BATH STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
March 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Community facility3 SINCLAIR STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
2023· 5 proposals
December 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Swimming pool870 PIMLICO ROAD WARDELL 2477Determined
June 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Shed; OtherWARDELL ROAD WARDELL 2477Determined
May 2023
- Earthworks / change in levels; Other60 SALTWATER CREEK ROAD WARDELL 2477Determined
January 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing4 Cedar St WardellDetermined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces4 CEDAR STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
2022· 9 proposals
October 2022
- Dwelling1266 WARDELL ROAD WARDELL 2477Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development44 RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
August 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition10 BRIDGE DRIVE WARDELL 2477Determined
- Subdivision of land56-58 FITZROY STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
June 2022
- Other; Change of use997 PIMLICO ROAD WARDELL 2477Determined
May 2022
- Shed17 CEDAR STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
April 2022
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels246 HILLSIDE LANE WARDELL 2477Withdrawn
February 2022
- Dwelling119 THURGATES LANE WARDELL 2477Determined
January 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development33B RICHMOND STREET WARDELL 2477Withdrawn
2021· 3 proposals
October 2021
- Other9 FITZROY STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
August 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs81 CARLISLE STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
- Other41 CARLISLE STREET WARDELL 2477Determined
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
- Fitzroy Street ReservePark
- Little Pimlico Island Nature ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
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
- 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)
- 3
- 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
- 37.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4003rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1265th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #195 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #453 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime37
- Fraudcrime33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime40
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime62
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime47
- Bath St After Carlisle Sttransport
- Carlisle St After Blackwall Drtransport
- Richmond St Opp Wardell War Memorial Halltransport
- Uniting Church, Wilson Sttransport
- Wardell And District War Memorial Hall, Richmond Sttransport
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)
More in Ballina Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.