suburb.guide

NSW · Bellingen Council

Bellingen, NSW, 2454

Desirability index

87.4/100

#111 among Country & regional suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Bellingen is a smaller suburban community in the Bellingen area, home to around 3,923 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 477 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-7%), roughly 121.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $600, 3 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
3,923
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,268
Dwelling vacancy
6.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
101 of 1,566
Median monthly mortgage
$1,477
Employment rate
52.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
134 / 80 / 10

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

Houses (January to March 2026)
$630
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
39

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)
477
Against the person
166
Against property
192
Rate per 1,000 residents
121.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 24 residents
State safety percentile
10.9th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-7.4%

Most common offence types

  • Domestic Violence Related Assault39
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment53
  • Malicious Damage To Property66
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault42
  • Other Offences62

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
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
1,006
  • Bellingen High SchoolSecondary
  • Bellingen Public SchoolPrimary
  • St Mary's Primary SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

112 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 14 Wheatley St
  • Scotchman Rd After Bowra St
  • Scotchman Rd At Martins Rd
  • Scotchman Rd Opp 122
  • Scotchman Rd Opp 50

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

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

247 planning-related records

2026· 21 proposals

  • June 2026

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Stairway
    22 PRINCE STREET BELLINGEN 2454Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    15 TAYLORS CLOSE BELLINGEN 2454On Exhibition
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    14 PRINCE STREET BELLINGEN 2454On Exhibition
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    5 ELLIOT CLOSE BELLINGEN 2454Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    19 ROBERT STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    11 HYDE STREET BELLINGEN 2454Under Assessment

  • May 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Pathways and paving; Rainwater tanks; Residential Accommodation
    3 RINGWOOD PLACE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    63 WHISTLER PLACE BELLINGEN 2454Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Shipping containers; Residential Accommodation
    3 LUCAS AVENUE BELLINGEN 2454Additional Information Requested

  • April 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    63 WHISTLER PLACE BELLINGEN 2454Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    1C EVANS STREET BELLINGEN 2454Additional Information Requested

  • March 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Rainwater tanks
    21 WHISTLER PLACE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool
    28 MCLEAN DRIVE BELLINGEN 2454Determined

  • February 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    2 TIBOUCHINA CLOSE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    81 NORTH BANK ROAD BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Subdivision
    4 JUGIIL CLOSE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Health services facility; Health Infrastructure
    Room 14, 1A Oak st, Bellingen NSW 2454Determined

  • January 2026

  • Dwelling house; 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; Residential Accommodation
    1C RAWSON STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Swimming pool
    3 FORD STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Swimming pool
    13 CEDAR COURT BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    19 ROBERT STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
2025· 50 proposals

  • December 2025

  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    7 GEORGE HEWITT CLOSE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    5 GEORGE HEWITT CLOSE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Medical centre; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Health services facility
    16 CHURCH STREET BELLINGEN 2454Under Assessment

  • November 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    115 NORTH BANK ROAD BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    6 PARK STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined

  • October 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    21 WHISTLER PLACE BELLINGEN NSW 2454Withdrawn
  • Demolition; Business premises; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (outdoor); Retail Premise; Food and drink premise
    10 CHURCH STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Dwelling house; Subdivision; 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; Dual occupancy (detached); Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    35 WILLIAM STREET BELLINGEN 2454Additional Information Requested

  • September 2025

  • Demolition
    14 PARK STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    46 FORD STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)
    12 DILLON CLOSE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    18 HYDES CREEK ROAD BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    6 PARK STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Health services facility; Health Infrastructure
    Room 2, 1A Oak st, Bellingen NSW 2454Determined

  • July 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    5 DILLON CLOSE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    44 MCCRISTAL DRIVE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Demolition; Business premises; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    5 HYDE STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Subdivision
    26 WHISTLER PLACE BELLINGEN 2454Determined
  • Subdivision
    110 WHEATLEY STREET BELLINGEN 2454Determined
2024· 53 proposals

53 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2023· 46 proposals

46 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2022· 54 proposals

54 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2021· 23 proposals

23 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

78 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Libertine LiquorAlcohol

    Hyde Street

  • Antiques
  • BCUATM
  • Bellingen Swiss Patisserie & BakeryBakery
  • Hearthfire BakeryBakery
  • BCUBank
  • Commonwealth BankBank
  • NABBank
  • Bench (5)
  • Alternatives BookshopBooks

    105 Hyde 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

10 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bellingen ParkPark
  • Bellingen ShowgroundPark
  • Fig Tree ReservePark
  • George Edmunds ReservePark
  • Hewitt ParkPark
  • Jarrett ParkPark
  • Jubilee ParkPark
  • Maam GaduyingPark
  • O'Sullivans ParkPark
  • Robert Wolfe ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
8
Emergency department
On site
  • Bellingen DentalWilliam Streetdentist
  • Bellingen Family Medical CentreChurch Streetdoctor
  • Bellingen PharmacyHyde Streetpharmacy
  • Bellinger River District HospitalChurch Streethospital
  • Brad Pearce DentalWilliam Streetdentist
  • Panoptic visionoptometrist
  • The Healing CentreWilliam Streetdoctor
  • Three Rivers HealthChurch Streetdoctor

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
4/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

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

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • Hammond and Wheatley Commercial Emporium69-75 Hyde Street BellingenSHR

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Childcare

3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Bellingen Preschoolkindergarten
  • Dawn Song Children’s Centrekindergarten
  • Over the Rainbow Family Day CareWatson Streetkindergarten

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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 overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
12
Parks (OSM)
12

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
87.4/100
Cohort rank
#111 among Country & regional suburbs

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • 14 Wheatley Sttransport
  • Scotchman Rd After Bowra Sttransport
  • Scotchman Rd At Martins Rdtransport
  • Scotchman Rd Opp 122transport
  • Scotchman Rd Opp 50transport
  • Bellingen Preschoolchildcarekindergarten
  • Dawn Song Children’s Centrechildcarekindergarten
  • Over the Rainbow Family Day CarechildcareWatson Streetkindergarten
  • Hammond and Wheatley Commercial Emporiumheritage69-75 Hyde Street BellingenSHR
  • Bellingen DentalhealthWilliam Streetdentist

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.