NSW · Kempsey Council

Arakoon, NSW, 2431

Desirability index

2/100

#926 among Country & regional suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Arakoon is a small locality in the Kempsey area, home to around 445 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 427 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-4%), roughly 959.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $550 (flats $405, houses $590), 8 public transport stops within the suburb, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.

Population

Population
445
Median age
59
Median household income / week
$1,321
Dwelling vacancy
22.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
54 of 241
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
42.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
16 / 4 / 0

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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)
$405
Houses (January to March 2026)
$590
All types (January to March 2026)
$550
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
40

Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
427
Against the person
109
Against property
211
Rate per 1,000 residents
959.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 4 residents
State safety percentile
32.9th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-4.5%

Most common offence types

  • Break And Enter Dwelling29
  • Break And Enter Non-Dwelling28
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault32
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment41
  • Malicious Damage To Property33

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW 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

8 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Arakoon Rd At Cockatoo Pl
  • Arakoon Rd At Rocks View Cres
  • Bullock Quarry Rd SWR
  • Bullock Quarry Rd SWR
  • Wilson St At Francis Dimond St

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

29 planning-related records

2026· 2 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    28 WONGA PLACE ARAKOON 2431Under Assessment
  • January 2026

  • Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    436 ARAKOON ROAD ARAKOON 2431Under Assessment
2025· 3 proposals
  • October 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation
    62 SMOKY RIDGE DRIVE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • April 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    3 WILSON STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • February 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    41-43 CARDWELL STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
2024· 9 proposals
  • December 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
    2 70 CARDWELL STREET ARAKOON 2431Withdrawn
  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
    5 CARRON CLOSE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    2-4 GREY STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • September 2024

  • Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool
    270 ARAKOON ROAD ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • July 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    3 CARRI STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • June 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    9 CARRI STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • February 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    47 GAP BEACH ROAD ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • Pools / decks / fencing
    32 FERN TREE CLOSE ARAKOON 2431Deferred Commencement
  • January 2024

  • Subdivision
    35B ROSELLA PLACE ARAKOON 2431Withdrawn
2023· 10 proposals
  • November 2023

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    20 WONGA PLACE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • October 2023

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    COCKATOO PLACE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    35D ROSELLA PLACE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • September 2023

  • Secondary dwelling
    5 CARRON CLOSE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • Subdivision of land
    ROSELLA PLACE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • August 2023

  • Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing
    45 PALM GROVE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • July 2023

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    7 CABBAGE TREE LANE ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • April 2023

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    25 RUSSELL STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • January 2023

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    70 CARDWELL STREET ARAKOON 2431Withdrawn
  • Retaining walls, protection of trees
    45 CARDWELL STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
2022· 2 proposals
  • October 2022

  • Pools / decks / fencing
    6-8 GREY STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • July 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    10 WONGA PLACE ARAKOON 2431Determined
2021· 3 proposals
  • October 2021

  • Shed
    47 GAP BEACH ROAD ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • August 2021

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    2 70 CARDWELL STREET ARAKOON 2431Determined
  • July 2021

  • Secondary dwelling
    3 RAINFOREST LANE ARAKOON 2431Determined

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

2 state heritage places

  • Smoky Cape Lighthouse GroupSouth West Rocks 10km east of KempseySHR
  • Trial Bay Gaol, Breakwater and EnvironsCardwell Street, ArakoonSHR

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Desirability index

Desirability score
2.0/100
Cohort rank
#926 among Country & regional suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Arakoon Rd At Cockatoo Pltransport
  • Arakoon Rd At Rocks View Crestransport
  • Bullock Quarry Rd SWRtransport
  • Bullock Quarry Rd SWRtransport
  • Wilson St At Francis Dimond Sttransport
  • Smoky Cape Lighthouse GroupheritageSouth West Rocks 10km east of KempseySHR
  • Trial Bay Gaol, Breakwater and EnvironsheritageCardwell Street, ArakoonSHR
  • Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanningCOCKATOO PLACE ARAKOON 2431Lodged 04 Oct 2023 · Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning70 CARDWELL STREET ARAKOON 2431Lodged 24 Jan 2023 · Withdrawn
  • Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning10 WONGA PLACE ARAKOON 2431Lodged 28 Jul 2022 · Determined

Data sources & freshness

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