NSW · Shellharbour Council
Barrack Heights, NSW, 2528
Desirability index
59.3/100
How this score is calculated#186 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Barrack Heights is a smaller suburban community in the Shellharbour area, home to around 6,003 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,844 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+15%), roughly 307.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $665 (flats $515, houses $720), 2 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, 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
- 6,003
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $1,340
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 119 of 2,399
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,863
- Employment rate
- 49.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 204 / 24 / 238
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)
- $515
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $665
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 138
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)
- 1,844
- Against the person
- 521
- Against property
- 717
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 307.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 12 residents
- State safety percentile
- 19.5th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +15%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order188
- Domestic Violence Related Assault130
- Fraud123
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
- Malicious Damage To Property161
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 920.5
- Barrack Heights Public SchoolPrimary
- Warilla High SchoolSecondary
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
92 public transport stops in this suburb
- Barrack Heights Public School, Captain Cook Dr
- Entrance Rd Opp Shellharbour Hospital Lake
- Lake Entrance Rd Opp Landy Dr
- Shellharbour Rd After Woodlands Dr
- Shellharbour Rd Opp Barrack Av
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).
157 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Registered club; Minor building alterations (external)54 MCGREGOR AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Under Assessment
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure14 CARRINGTON STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Under Assessment
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure11 EDWARD STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation64 CASSIA STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
April 2026
- Demolition64 CASSIA STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies29 DOONE STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development1 3-5 SUMMERFIELD PLACE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure11 EDWARD STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club63 JASON AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
2025· 25 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition22 BLACKBUTT WAY BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation22 BLACKBUTT WAY BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
October 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Artisan food and drink industry4 7 SUNSET AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah121 CAPTAIN COOK DRIVE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
September 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Kiosk; Take away food and drink250 SHELLHARBOUR ROAD BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool11 BRISBANE PLACE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 GROSE AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Shipping containers250 SHELLHARBOUR ROAD BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation18 BLUEBELL ROAD BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development10 DAPHNE STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development106 THE KINGSWAY BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)45 THE KINGSWAY BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space3 DENISON AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)14 MCGREGOR AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
May 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)11 SUNSET AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah55 CASSIA STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Animal shelters; Animal care premises; Animal boarding or training establishment4 Sunset ave Barrack HeightsDetermined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 BARRACK AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 ROBERTS AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure132 CAPTAIN COOK DRIVE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space76 LOFTUS DRIVE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
February 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)9 FLINDERS CLOSE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 BLUEBELL ROAD BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Building identification sign246-248 SHELLHARBOUR ROAD BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)14 MCGREGOR AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
2024· 25 proposals
December 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 BELLBIRD CLOSE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure25A BARRACK AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure29 SAMMAT AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house13 BARRACK AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure49 CASSIA STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
- 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)3 23A SUNSET AVENUE BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528Determined
2023· 17 proposals
17 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 36 proposals
36 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 36 proposals
36 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 9 proposals
9 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
33 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Barrack Av after Shellharbour RdBus stop
- Barrack Av at Mcgregor AvBus stop
- Barrack Av opp Mcgregor AvBus stop
- Carrington St after Clematis CresBus stop
- Carrington St opp Clematis CresBus stop
- Entrance Rd opp Shellharbour HospitalBus stop
- Lake Entrance Rd opp Landy DrBus stop
- Leawarra Av before Narvo StBus stop
- Leawarra Av before Roberts AvBus stop
- Lindesay St at Lachlan AvBus stop
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
10 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Brisbane ParkPark
- Caldwell ParkPark
- Doonside ParkPark
- Jock Brown ReservePark
- Loftus ParkPark
- Messenger ParkPark
- Remembrance ParkPark
- Stewart ParkPark
- Wattle ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- On site
- Centre Health ComplexCaptain Cook Drivedoctor
- Shellharbour Private HospitalCaptain Cook Drivehospital
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
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)
- 10
- Parks (OSM)
- 10
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
- 59.3/100
- Cohort rank
- #186 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Barrack Heights Public School, Captain Cook Drtransport
- Entrance Rd Opp Shellharbour Hospital Laketransport
- Lake Entrance Rd Opp Landy Drtransport
- Shellharbour Rd After Woodlands Drtransport
- Shellharbour Rd Opp Barrack Avtransport
- Centre Health ComplexhealthCaptain Cook Drivedoctor
- Shellharbour Private HospitalhealthCaptain Cook Drivehospital
- Brisbane Parkgovernmentpark
- Caldwell Parkgovernmentpark
- Doonside Parkgovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · 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.