NSW · Woollahra Council
Watsons Bay, 2030
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
51% humidity · 17.1 km/h wind · 21.2° / 13.8° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Watsons Bay wears its coastal identity openly, a smaller community built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Beach mornings and city evenings are both realistic here, with neighbouring suburbs adding even more choice. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Getting around the metro area is straightforward, with transport tying neighbouring communities together.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar coastal suburbs, even with community and employment and safety holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 883
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $2,924
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 45 of 312
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,384
- Employment rate
- 57.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 21 / 45 / 81
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)
- $1,100
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $3,200
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $1,300
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 101
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)
- 23
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 9
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 26
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 147 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -14.6%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault26
- Fraud33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment33
- Malicious Damage To Property38
- Other Offences32
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
11 public transport stops in this suburb
- Hopetoun Av At Salisbury St
- Military Rd Opp Robertson Park
- Old South Head Rd At Salisbury St
- Old South Head Rd Opp Salisbury St
- Robertson Park, Military 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).
131 planning-related records
2026· 8 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure28 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 SALISBURY STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32A PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
2025· 29 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development2 COVE STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation7 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Footpaths - outdoor dining; Food and drink premise10 MILITARY ROAD WATSONS BAY 2030Withdrawn
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces3 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Rejected
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation7 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading8 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Community facility; Hours of operation and trading8 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 COVE STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
June 2025
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Footpaths - outdoor dining; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading25 MILITARY ROAD WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise10 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences28 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Stairway13 ROBERTSON PLACE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces5 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 SALISBURY STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Landscaping structures; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators5 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
February 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 GAP ROAD WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 ROBERTSON PLACE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure186 HOPETOUN AVENUE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)22 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
2024· 3 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool3 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure331A OLD SOUTH HEAD ROAD WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
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
114 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Tucker BarBar
- Bench (39)
- Bicycle Parking
- Binoculars
- Gap Park, Old South Head RdBus stop
- Hopetoun Av at Salisbury StBus stop
- Military Rd opp Robertson ParkBus stop
- Old South Head Rd at Salisbury StBus stop
- Old South Head Rd opp Salisbury StBus stop
- Robertson Park, Military RdBus stop
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
- Camp Cove ReservePark
- Marine Biological Station ParkPark
- Robertson ParkPark
- The GapPark
- Victoria Wharf ReservePark
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
- Pharmacy and variety storepharmacy
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)
- 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
1 state heritage place
- South Head Cultural Landscape (including RMP 9-inch 12-ton gun)Cliff Street Watsons BaySHR
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)
- 20
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- 57.7/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 17% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1086th in Australia
- State rank
- 356th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #24 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #42 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 74%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Baithouseamenitiescafe
- Bangkok Bay ThaiamenitiesUnit 1 3 Military Roadrestaurant
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Woollahra Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.