Median house price
$1.34M
+12% change
NSW · Wollongong Council
Balgownie, 2519
Est. population · Jun 2025
5,768
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.1%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,912/wk
Employment rate
56.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,338,000
Languages at home
16.8%non-English
Most common: Italian, Mandarin, Macedonian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
Suburb profile
In Wollongong Council, Balgownie is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Desirability lands around average here: softer safety weighing on the result versus similar metro suburbs, even with schools and education, plus community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Balgownie snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$725/wk
Houses $825 · Units $550
Population (ERP)
5,768
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.7%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#102
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
42nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
54th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
63rd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 48.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 33% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2359th in Australia
- State rank
- 701st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #102 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #495 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $825
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 140
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,338,000
- Median price change
- +11.9%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
5,768(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +2.1% over 5 years · 54th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +2.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +37
- Change in 5 years
- +121
- Growth rank in NSW
- 54th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~5,900), extrapolated at +0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 5,722
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,912
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 104 of 2,233
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,383
- Employment rate
- 56.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,531 / 557 / 35 (+ 12 other)
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 348
- Against the person
- 73
- Against property
- 135
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 60.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 78 residents
- State safety percentile
- 42.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +10.8%
Most common offence types
- Fraud68
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment70
- Malicious Damage To Property81
- Steal From Retail Store61
- Transport Regulatory Offences163
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,039
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 63th
School list
- Balgownie Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1076 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 329 students · Top SEA quarter 32% · 0.1 km awayView on My School →
- Pleasant Heights Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1126 · 91th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 241 students · Top SEA quarter 50% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Tarrawanna Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 982 · 38th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 164 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- Fairy Meadow Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1002 · 48th percentile · LBOTE 26% · 342 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
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 · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
95 public transport stops in this suburb
- Balmoral St After Kembla St
- Balmoral St At Kembla St
- Dawson St Before Dymock St
- Dymock St Before Ryan St
- Dymock St Opp Russel St
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
58 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 pubs · 3 playgrounds · 3 swimming pools · 2 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 4 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 95 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.17
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.7
Food & drink(1)
- Bally HotelPub
141 Balgownie Road
Community(1)
- Balgownie Public SchoolSchool
Balgownie
Sport & outdoors(11)
- Judy Masters ParkPark
- Park (2)
- War Memorial ParkPark
- Playground (3)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (3)
Transport(39)
39 bus stops
Other(5)
- Drinking water
- Parking (2)
- Metro Petroleum BalgowniePetrol station
- Petrol station
- Balgownie Post OfficePost office
158 Balgownie Road
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Judy Masters ParkPark
- War Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Wollongong Hospital (4.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 168
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 29.1
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 18 proposals
August 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation23 CAMDEN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Under Assessment
July 2026
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure10 DUNCAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 RHODES AVENUE BALGOWNIE 2519Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 HUTCHINSON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 MARGARET STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development56 WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 NAPIER STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 BLANCHARD CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55A WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support53B WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
March 2026
- Educational establishment; Hours of operation and trading21A RYAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 RHODES AVENUE BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation38 RAE CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation85 BALGOWNIE ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure6 BLANCHARD CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)26 RYAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Under Assessment
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 KEMBLA STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 RYAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
2025· 25 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision26 RYAN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 NEW MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 SHERWOOD DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
November 2025
- Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support53B WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Supporting Development12 NAPIER STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation52 WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 BRYNYMOR PLACE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 ELSIE COURT BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool59 WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 CAMDEN STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development16 LANG STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 NEW MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)55B WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 NEW MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
May 2025
- Home business; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 20 RUSSELL STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure4 SPROULE CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 FROST PARADE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 HUNTER STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool15 FARRELL STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Demolition; Swimming pool7 GOWNIE PLACE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)55B WELLINGTON DRIVE BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station99-101 BALGOWNIE ROAD BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space13 PARA STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure6 BLANCHARD CRESCENT BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
- Home occupation; Hours of operation and trading4 51-53 DYMOCK STREET BALGOWNIE 2519Withdrawn
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Cunningham
- Member of Parliament
- Alison BYRNES (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,139
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 32.5%Labor 67.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.1 km away).
Coalition 32.9%Labor 67.1%
0.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- BalgownieLabor 67.1% · Coalition 32.9% TPP (2025)0.1 km away
- Balgownie CentralLabor 63.9% · Coalition 36.1% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
- TarrawannaLabor 70.6% · Coalition 29.4% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- Fairy MeadowLabor 71.3% · Coalition 28.7% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- Mount OusleyLabor 64.9% · Coalition 35.1% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
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.