NSW · Northern Beaches Council
Balgowlah, NSW, 2093
Desirability index
#64 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Balgowlah is a mid-sized suburb in the Northern Beaches area, home to around 8,068 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 594 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, roughly 73.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $915 (flats $805, houses $1,513), 4 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 8,068
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,681
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 216 of 3,369
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,250
- Employment rate
- 65.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 162 / 728 / 1,269
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)
- $805
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,513
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $915
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 165
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
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)
- 594
- Against the person
- 154
- Against property
- 303
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 73.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 52 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6.3th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +0.2%
Most common offence types
- Fraud50
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment44
- Malicious Damage To Property54
- Steal From Motor Vehicle51
- Steal From Retail Store42
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,157.5
- Balgowlah Heights Public SchoolPrimary
- Manly West Public SchoolPrimary
- Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys CampusSecondary
- St Cecilia's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary
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
103 public transport stops in this suburb
- Balgowlah Golf Club, Sydney Rd
- Seaview St At Upper Beach St
- Sydney Rd At Rickard St
- Sydney Rd Before Wanganella St
- Upper Beach St At Kareema St
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
306 planning-related records
2026· 13 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Swimming pool241 WOODLAND STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation155 WOODLAND STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation15 WANGANELLA STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure297 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure307 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia25 MARETIMO STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Pathways and paving22 WHITE STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Subdivision69 WANGANELLA STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling58 SEAVIEW STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation40 BOYLE STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 WEST STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Subdivision7 PARIS STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)521 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
2025· 53 proposals
December 2025
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation19 WARATAH STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation7 LEARMONTH AVENUE BALGOWLAH 2093Under Assessment
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure35 LODGE STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Under Assessment
- Subdivision1 BRIGHTON STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling80 WEST STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Advertising and signage; 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; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading42 BALGOWLAH ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Boat shedgourlay avenue balgowlah nsw 2093Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation40 BOYLE STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Subdivision286 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation60 BUNGALOE AVENUE BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure101 WEST STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces286 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 NEW STREET EAST BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces15 CLARENCE STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station487 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)17 WARATAH STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
September 2025
- Artisan food and drink industry; Hours of operation and trading2 11 LOWER BEACH STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure307 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 WARATAH STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure109 CONDAMINE STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Withdrawn
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Swimming pool69 GRIFFITHS STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah149 CONDAMINE STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation10 WEST STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Withdrawn
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 MARETIMO STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces286 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Subdivision219 CONDAMINE STREET BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure297 SYDNEY ROAD BALGOWLAH 2093Determined
2024· 48 proposals
48 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 44 proposals
44 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 57 proposals
57 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 53 proposals
53 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 38 proposals
38 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
163 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Porter's LiquorAlcohol
- Antiques
- Art
- Balgowlah PiesBakery
- Harlequin'sBakery
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (12)
- Ride in WorkshopBicycle
- Bicycle Parking (9)
- Berkelouw BooksBooks
215 Condamine Street
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Brimebecon ParkPark
- Manly West ParkPark
- North Harbour ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 8
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- AudioClinicaudiologist
- Australian Skin Cancer Clinicsclinic
- Balgowlah Family Practicedoctor
- Balgowlah Pharmacypharmacy
- Douglass Hanly Moirsample_collection
- Hypoxi Balgowlahclinic
- Kids Plan-Itclinic
- Physiotherapistphysiotherapist
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.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Substation83 Griffiths Street BalgowlahSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Balgowlah Preschoolkindergarten
- childcarechildcare
- childcarechildcare
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 90.5/100
- Cohort rank
- #64 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Balgowlah Golf Club, Sydney Rdtransport
- Seaview St At Upper Beach Sttransport
- Sydney Rd At Rickard Sttransport
- Sydney Rd Before Wanganella Sttransport
- Upper Beach St At Kareema Sttransport
- Balgowlah Preschoolchildcarekindergarten
- childcarechildcarechildcare
- childcarechildcarechildcare
- Substationheritage83 Griffiths Street BalgowlahSHR
- AudioClinichealthaudiologist
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.