NSW · Wollongong Council
Wongawilli, 2530
Current weather
10.1°CClear sky
67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 17.5° / 6° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Wollongong, Wongawilli is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. The community skews younger, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. 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.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because transport and access and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,213
- Median age
- 31
- Median household income / week
- $2,841
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 16 of 368
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,600
- Employment rate
- 76.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 10 / 3 / 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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $730
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 156
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)
- 65
- Against the person
- 18
- Against property
- 25
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 53.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 67 residents
- State safety percentile
- 30.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.1%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
- Domestic Violence Related Assault129
- Fraud127
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
- Malicious Damage To Property153
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
10 public transport stops in this suburb
- Coral Vale Dr After Hayshed Lane
- Hayshed Lane After Smiths Lane
- Smiths Lane After Godson Way
- Smiths Lane Opp Godson Way
- Wongawilli Rd After Shone 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).
151 planning-related records
2026· 8 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 WONGAWILLI ROAD WONGAWILLI 2530Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 THARAWAL DRIVE WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 GERRINGULLI WAY WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- SubdivisionTHARAWAL DRIVE WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool41 THORNBILL STREET WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
February 2026
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure4 KNAPP CRESCENT WONGAWILLI 2530Under Assessment
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation5 SPRING HILL LANE WONGAWILLI 2530Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development35 Coral Vale Drive WongawilliDetermined
2025· 18 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 THORNBILL STREET WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure150 SMITHS LANE WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation49 WONGAWILLI ROAD WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure36 WOLLINDARRA CIRCUIT WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
June 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure47 WONGAWILLI ROAD WONGAWILLI 2530Additional Information Requested
May 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Exhibition home3 WHISTLER STREET WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
April 2025
- Advertising and signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Exhibition home20 RAVEN STREET WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 THARAWAL DRIVE WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Advertising and signage; Residential Accommodation7 STARLING STREET WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
- Advertising and signage; Residential Accommodation3 STARLING STREET WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
- Advertising and signage; Residential Accommodation5 Starling Street Wongawilli 2530Withdrawn
- Advertising and signage; Residential Accommodation14 RAVEN STREET WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
- Advertising and signage; Residential Accommodation12 Raven Street Wongawilli 2530Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Swimming pool9 HAYSHED LANE WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation42 WONGAWILLI ROAD WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 GARREEAIRA ROAD WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 THARAWAL DRIVE WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
January 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)2 GERRINGULLI WAY WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
2024· 14 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 THARAWAL DRIVE WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 KNAPP CRESCENT WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation120 SMITHS LANE WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure86 WONGAWILLI ROAD WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
August 2024
- Secondary dwelling; 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; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah61 WONGAWILLI ROAD WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure50 CORAL VALE DRIVE WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation37 THARAWAL DRIVE WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool10 GODSON WAY WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool33 DAIRY FARM WAY WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation2 GARREEAIRA ROAD WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
June 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation35 WOLLINDARRA CIRCUIT WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 SPRING HILL LANE WONGAWILLI 2530Withdrawn
April 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool9 CORAL VALE DRIVE WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure9 DAIRY FARM WAY WONGAWILLI 2530Determined
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
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Coral Vale Dr after Hayshed LaneBus stop
- Hayshed Lane after Smiths LaneBus stop
- Smiths Lane after Godson WayBus stop
- Smiths Lane opp Godson WayBus stop
- Wongawilli Rd after Shone AvBus stop
- Little ZaksChildcare
- Dapto Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
- Parking
- Playground
- CafeRestaurant
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bankbook ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Little Zakschildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 4
- 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
- 33.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4736th in Australia
- State rank
- 1523rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #295 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #750 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 76%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Cafeamenitiesrestaurant
- Coral Vale Dr after Hayshed Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Dapto Rural Fire Brigadeamenitiesfire_station
- Hayshed Lane after Smiths Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Little Zaksamenitieschildcare
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Smiths Lane after Godson Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- Smiths Lane opp Godson Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- Wongawilli Rd after Shone Avamenitiesbus_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.