NSW · Wollongong Council
Berkeley, NSW, 2506
Desirability index
#635 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Berkeley is a smaller suburban community in the Wollongong area, home to around 7,798 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 694 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-6%), roughly 89.0 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $665, 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, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 7,798
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $1,217
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 124 of 2,993
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 45.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 280 / 79 / 243
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)
- $670
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 33
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)
- 694
- Against the person
- 188
- Against property
- 275
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 89
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 41 residents
- State safety percentile
- 8th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -5.8%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order68
- Domestic Violence Related Assault55
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment84
- Malicious Damage To Property69
- Steal From Retail Store48
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)
- 926
- Berkeley Public SchoolPrimary
- Berkeley West Public SchoolPrimary
- Illawarra Sports 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
112 public transport stops in this suburb
- Hopman Cres After Warwick St
- Hopman Cres At Newcombe St
- Nan Tien Temple, Nolan St
- Warwick St After Hunt Pl
- Warwick St At Newcombe St
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksM1 Princes Motorway, Northcliffe Drive12 Jul 2026 – 16 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
211 planning-related records
2026· 13 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation508/-/DP1322305Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 STAFFORD STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation11 GALLOP STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 NORFOLK STREET BERKELEY 2506Under Assessment
- Demolition4 NORFOLK STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure448 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture26 WAREHOUSE PLACE BERKELEY 2506Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)47 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 WOLLAMAI CRESCENT BERKELEY 2506Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool24 PENNANT CRESCENT BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)2 WIRRI PLACE BERKELEY 2506Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)24 GANNET AVENUE BERKELEY 2506Deferred Commencement
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure109 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined
2025· 30 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)10 DUCHESS COURT BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure592 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure15 BRISTOL STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2506/-/DP1313419Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision7 GEORGE STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development78 NOTTINGHAM STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure626 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure18 CAROONA STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure1 ELEBAN PLACE BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 GILLARD PLACE BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility40 Winnima Way Berkeley 2506 NSWDetermined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport10 LEICESTER STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure32 PENNANT CRESCENT BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation78 NOTTINGHAM STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
July 2025
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure3 ESSEX STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure31 DERBY STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure109 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Determined
June 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure27 BERKELEY ROAD BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 KENT STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation2 CUMBERLAND STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure100 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Withdrawn
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7 NARRIAH PLACE BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 COVENTRY STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Subdivision6 EMPEROR COURT BERKELEY 2506Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure31 DERBY STREET BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure1 ELEBAN PLACE BERKELEY 2506Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation20 PENNANT CRESCENT BERKELEY 2506Determined
2024· 26 proposals
26 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 37 proposals
37 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 46 proposals
46 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 43 proposals
43 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 16 proposals
16 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
76 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bell
- Nan Tien Gratitude BellBell
- Bench (4)
- Bicycle Parking
- 237 Northcliffe DrBus stop
- 534 Northcliffe DrBus stop
- Barnes St at Gura StBus stop
- Barnes St at Massey StBus stop
- Barnes St before Nannawilli StBus stop
- Barnes St opp Karmal StBus 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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Gladstone ParkPark
- Macedonia ParkPark
- West Berkeley ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
- Nan Tien Buddhist Temple and Monastery180 Berkeley Road, Berkeley SHR
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)
- 13
- 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
- 14.2/100
- Cohort rank
- #635 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
- Hopman Cres After Warwick Sttransport
- Hopman Cres At Newcombe Sttransport
- Nan Tien Temple, Nolan Sttransport
- Warwick St After Hunt Pltransport
- Warwick St At Newcombe Sttransport
- Nan Tien Buddhist Temple and Monasteryheritage180 Berkeley Road, Berkeley SHR
- Gladstone Parkgovernmentpark
- Macedonia Parkgovernmentpark
- West Berkeley Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)planning47 SHEARWATER DRIVE BERKELEY 2506Lodged 30 Jan 2026 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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