NSW · Inner West Council
Balmain, NSW, 2041
Desirability index
#106 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Balmain is a mid-sized suburb in the Inner West area, home to around 10,454 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 977 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-7%), roughly 93.5 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $900 (flats $800, houses $1,210), 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
- 10,454
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $3,039
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 572 of 5,037
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,986
- Employment rate
- 66%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 239 / 1,785 / 1,684
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)
- $800
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,210
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $900
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 173
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)
- 977
- Against the person
- 229
- Against property
- 306
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 93.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 46 residents
- State safety percentile
- 8.5th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -6.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions217
- Domestic Violence Related Assault55
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment68
- Malicious Damage To Property71
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault74
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)
- 1,171
- Balmain Public SchoolPrimary
- Birchgrove Public SchoolPrimary
- Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School Balmain - RozellePrimary
- Inner Sydney Montessori 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
51 public transport stops in this suburb
- Darling St After Elliott St
- Darling St At Mort St
- Darling St At Phillip St
- Darling St At Rowntree St
- Darling St Before Birchgrove Rd
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).
1,000 planning-related records
2026· 76 proposals
June 2026
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure407 DARLING STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure51 GLASSOP STREET BALMAIN 2041Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 JACQUES STREET BALMAIN 2041Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 CHURCH STREET BALMAIN 2041Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 ROSEBERRY STREET BALMAIN 2041Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 JACQUES STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 ENNIS STREET BALMAIN 2041Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development89 BEATTIE STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Demolition65 CURTIS ROAD BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure77 GLASSOP STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Demolition23 HIGH STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure10 WATERVIEW STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies36 GLASSOP STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)86 REYNOLDS STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 LITTLE DARLING STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Demolition19 BRADFORD STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 ROSEBERRY STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure68 GLASSOP STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Demolition8 VALLEY STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation33 DONNELLY STREET BALMAIN 2041Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 CAMPBELL STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 CHURCH STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure402 DARLING STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation163 BEATTIE STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support42 PASHLEY STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure107 BEATTIE STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 TILBA AVENUE BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences9 ALEXANDER STREET BALMAIN 2041Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation6 BRADFORD STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 MONTAGUE STREET BALMAIN 2041Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Specialised Retail Premises274 DARLING STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Demolition26 SHORT STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 CAMPBELL STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation10 Beattie street Balmain NSW 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 NORTH STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Demolition8 BRODERICK STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 TERRY STREET BALMAIN 2041Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 MACQUARIE TERRACE BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure210 DARLING STREET BALMAIN 2041Additional Information Requested
- Business premises; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure257 DARLING STREET BALMAIN 2041Determined
2025· 167 proposals
167 proposals lodged in 2025. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2024· 164 proposals
164 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 179 proposals
179 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 148 proposals
148 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 156 proposals
156 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 110 proposals
110 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
160 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- Animal Grooming
- Bakers DelightBakery
- Darling pies & cafeBakery
- AZN BalmainBank
- Commonwealth BankBank
- NABBank
- st.georgeBank
- WestpacBank
274 Darling Street
- Cantina BarBar
350 Darling 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
13 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Ann Cashman ReservePark
- Birrung ParkPark
- Colgate Avenue ReservePark
- Elkington ParkPark
- Ewenton ParkPark
- Gladstone ParkPark
- Goodsir Street ReservePark
- Issy Wyner ReservePark
- Paringa ReservePark
- Punch ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 9
- Emergency department
- On site
- BALMAIN COMMUNITY PHARMACYpharmacy
- Balmain Hospitalhospital
- Balmain Villege Healthdoctor
- Dentistdentist
- Dentistry By DesignRowntree Streetdentist
- DoctorBeattie Streetdoctor
- Pharmacypharmacy
- Physiotherapistphysiotherapist
- Smile DentistryRowntree Streetdentist
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
5 state heritage places
- Balmain Hospital - Main BuildingBooth Street, BalmainSHR
- Dawn Fraser Swimming PoolGlassop Street, BalmainSHR
- Ewenton6 Ewenton Street BalmainSHR
- Hampton Villa12B Grafton Street BalmainSHR
- Louisaville2 Wells Street BalmainSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 27
- Parks (OSM)
- 27
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
- 84.9/100
- Cohort rank
- #106 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
- Darling St After Elliott Sttransport
- Darling St At Mort Sttransport
- Darling St At Phillip Sttransport
- Darling St At Rowntree Sttransport
- Darling St Before Birchgrove Rdtransport
- Balmain Hospital - Main BuildingheritageBooth Street, BalmainSHR
- Dawn Fraser Swimming PoolheritageGlassop Street, BalmainSHR
- Ewentonheritage6 Ewenton Street BalmainSHR
- Hampton Villaheritage12B Grafton Street BalmainSHR
- Louisavilleheritage2 Wells Street BalmainSHR
Data sources & freshness
- 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
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