NSW · Wollongong Council
West Wollongong, 2500
Current weather
10.1°CClear sky
67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 17.5° / 6° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
West Wollongong is a practical mid-sized suburb in Wollongong, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 5,223
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,672
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 111 of 2,063
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,123
- Employment rate
- 57.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 114 / 333 / 377
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)
- $620
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 758
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)
- 887
- Against the person
- 130
- Against property
- 274
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 169.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 40 residents
- State safety percentile
- 94.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions1025
- Malicious Damage To Property396
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault312
- Steal From Retail Store502
- Transport Regulatory Offences1491
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
- 1,083
- Edmund Rice CollegeSecondary
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
104 public transport stops in this suburb
- Euroka St After Adina Av
- Euroka St After Immarna Av
- Euroka St Opp Adina Av
- Euroka St Opp Bimbadeen Av
- Euroka St Opp Immarna Av
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).
180 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 Parsons Street, West WollongongDetermined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 YELLAGONG STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)15 COCHRANE STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Withdrawn
February 2026
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; School112 MOUNT KEIRA ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators1 THE MALL WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)7 PARSONS STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision74 MOUNT KEIRA ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure54 EUROKA STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 LEXBURN AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)4 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah31 FISHER STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink29A THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport25 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation11 URALBA STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7 POORAKA AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 ROSEMONT STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support4 BOOYONG STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Residential flat building; Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure471-473 CROWN STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
April 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure70 MOUNT KEIRA ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport117 ROBSONS ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 STANLEIGH CRESCENT WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
March 2025
- Demolition491 CROWN STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 SHEPPARD STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation15 RESERVE STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation4 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport50 GILMORE STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah1 THERRY STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
January 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure33 PARSONS STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
2024· 11 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 ROSEMONT STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support1 24 SHEPPARD STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
September 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Co-living; Non-standard Housing93 ROBSONS ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Under Assessment
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 IMMARNA AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation31 DEMPSTER STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
July 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool8 POORAKA AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation55 Yellagong Street West Wollongong NSW 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 LEXBURN AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 LEXBURN AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure33 PARSONS STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
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
33 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- Armstrong St before Cochrane StBus stop
- Cochrane St before Robsons RdBus stop
- Crown St after Gilmore StBus stop
- Crown St at Fisher StBus stop
- Crown St opp Fisher StBus stop
- Crown St opp Gilmore StBus stop
- Mount Keira Rd before Crown StBus stop
- Mount Keira Rd before Princes HwyBus stop
- Parsons St after Robsons 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
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Apex ParkPark
- Gilmore ParkPark
- Harry Graham ParkPark
- Koolewong ParkPark
- Millbrook ParkPark
- Molloy ParkPark
- Roy Johanson ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
- 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)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
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
- 46.1/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 36% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2435th in Australia
- State rank
- 765th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #211 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #502 among Metro Sydney 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
- Armstrong St before Cochrane Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Cochrane St before Robsons Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Crown St after Gilmore Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Crown St at Fisher Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Crown St opp Fisher Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Crown St opp Gilmore Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Gilmore Park Tennis Clubamenitiespitch
- Keiraview Uniting Churchamenities30 Fisher Streetplace_of_worship
- Mount Keira Rd before Crown Stamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.