NSW · Wollongong Council
Woonona, 2517
Current weather
16.6°CClear sky
57% humidity · 10.9 km/h wind · 21° / 12.7° today · 2.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- National parks
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
Woonona is a coastal established suburb where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. The beach sets the tone, while nearby towns and coastal pockets add variety without a long journey. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with plenty of young families in the mix. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by housing affordability and parks and green space, while local dining and lifestyle amenities sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar coastal suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 12,374
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,816
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 262 of 4,898
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,200
- Employment rate
- 55.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 307 / 789 / 888
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)
- $570
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $975
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $778
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 52
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)
- 622
- Against the person
- 128
- Against property
- 253
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 50.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 97 residents
- State safety percentile
- 27.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +2.2%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions44
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment48
- Malicious Damage To Property55
- Steal From Motor Vehicle46
- Transport Regulatory Offences100
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,037
- Woonona East Public SchoolPrimary
- Woonona High SchoolSecondary
- Woonona 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
90 public transport stops in this suburb
- ENT Park Rd
- ENT Railway Pde
- Level Crossing
- Platform 2
- Woonona Station
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).
446 planning-related records
2026· 27 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 JOHN STREET WOONONA 2517Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation56 RUSSELL STREET WOONONA 2517Under Assessment
- Demolition58 CARRINGTON STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
May 2026
- Business premises; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 RUSSELL STREET WOONONA 2517Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure16 ALFRED STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation18 HOPETOUN STREET WOONONA 2517Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure22 HALLEY CRESCENT WOONONA 2517Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool14 MITCHELL ROAD WOONONA 2517Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 10 LANG STREET WOONONA 2517Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 KULGOA ROAD WOONONA 2517Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 DUKE STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 KAREELA ROAD WOONONA 2517Determined
- Subdivision20 JOHN BUCKLAND AVENUE WOONONA 2517Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation16 KURRABA ROAD WOONONA 2517Under Assessment
- Temporary building, structure or use; Shipping containersDP976637 Ocean Park WoononaDetermined
March 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation19 Russell Street, WoononaUnder Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure16 ALFRED STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation57 CAMPBELL STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 THOMAS COLLAERY PLACE WOONONA 2517Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure21 THOMPSON STREET WOONONA 2517Additional Information Requested
- Business premises; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia6 CARLIE PLACE WOONONA 2517Determined
- Demolition5 HIGH STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 BALL STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
- Subdivision398 PRINCES HIGHWAY WOONONA 2517Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure41 JOANNE STREET WOONONA 2517Under Assessment
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading429-431 PRINCES HIGHWAY WOONONA 2517Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure45D POPES ROAD WOONONA 2517Determined
2025· 13 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 LASSITER AVENUE WOONONA 2517Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure87A STEPHEN DRIVE WOONONA 2517Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure74 STEPHEN DRIVE WOONONA 2517Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure45D POPES ROAD WOONONA 2517Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2A KULGOA ROAD WOONONA 2517Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 KIANDRA ROAD WOONONA 2517Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation22 BEACH DRIVE WOONONA 2517Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation17 PEPPERMINT CIRCUIT WOONONA 2517Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 ROYAL CRESCENT WOONONA 2517Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)39 HOPETOUN STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)18 THOMAS COLLAERY PLACE WOONONA 2517Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation20 LAWRENCE STREET WOONONA 2517Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences3 HALLEY CRESCENT WOONONA 2517Determined
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
81 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- LiquorlandAlcohol
- ATM
- RediATMATM
- Egg and Flour BakeryBakery
- Phil NguyenBakery
- The Little PrinceBar
Globe Lane
- Bulli Fire Station, Princes HwyBus stop
- Campbell St after Haddon LaneBus stop
- Campbell St after Robert StBus stop
- Campbell St opp Robert StBus 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
10 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Carole Avenue ReserveNature reserve
- Collins ParkPark
- F.S. (sep) Woods ParkPark
- Gahans ParkPark
- Gordon Hutton ParkPark
- Hollymount ParkPark
- Lighthorse ParkPark
- Nicholson ParkPark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
- Pendlebury ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Purpose PhysiotherapyPrinces Highwayphysiotherapist
- Woonona Medicaldoctor
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)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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)
- 18
- Parks (OSM)
- 15
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
- 68.8/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 5% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 257th in Australia
- State rank
- 103rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #8 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #19 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- ATMamenitiesatm
- Ball's Paddockamenitiespitch
- Bulli Fire Station, Princes Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Cafeli Houseamenitiescafe
- Campbell St after Haddon Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Campbell St after Robert Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Campbell St opp Robert Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Distinktion Tattooamenitiestattoo
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
- Earth & Soul Cafeamenitiescafe
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.