NSW · Bourke Council

Bourke, 2840

Current weather

14.8°CClear sky

66% humidity · 8.8 km/h wind · 19.6° / 10.4° today · 0 mm rain

Desirability score

32.6/100

4654th in Australia

80% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Bourke is a small locality in the Bourke area, home to around 1,699 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 831 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-22%), roughly 489.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $300, 5 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, 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
1,699
Median age
35
Median household income / week
$1,560
Dwelling vacancy
29.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
227 of 779
Median monthly mortgage
$947
Employment rate
52.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
55 / 10 / 14

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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

All types (January to March 2026)
$300

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
831
Against the person
242
Against property
249
Rate per 1,000 residents
489.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 7 residents
State safety percentile
99.6th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-22.5%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order102
  • Breach Bail Conditions183
  • Break And Enter Dwelling91
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault118
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment130

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW 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
5
Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
770
  • Bourke High SchoolSecondary
  • Bourke Public SchoolPrimary
  • Bourke-Walgett School of Distance EducationPrimary
  • Koinonia Christian AcademyCombined
  • St Ignatius' Parish SchoolPrimary

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

131 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 14 High St
  • 765 Wanaaring Rd
  • Bourke Golf Club, Gorrell Av
  • High St Before Tancred Dr
  • Parkdale Rd After Yanda 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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)

Planning & development

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

71 planning-related records

2026· 6 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    9A GORRELL AVENUE BOURKE 2840Additional Information Requested
  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Public administration building
    44 OXLEY STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • May 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; General industry
    88-92 ANSON STREET BOURKE NSW 2840Determined
  • April 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)
    75 HOPE STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure
    1 MEEK STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • January 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Community health service facility; Community facility
    9A GORRELL AVENUE BOURKE 2840Determined
2025· 15 proposals
  • November 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing
    46 WORTUMERTIE STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Seniors housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    17-29 DARLING STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • October 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing
    54 MERTIN STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    1 MEEK STREET BOURKE 2840Withdrawn
  • Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    10 TUDOR STREET BOURKE 2840Additional Information Requested
  • September 2025

  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; School
    3 MEEK STREET BOURKE 2840Deferred Commencement
  • Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    9A GORRELL AVENUE BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; School
    3 MEEK STREET BOURKE 2840Deferred Commencement
  • July 2025

  • Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    69A ANSON STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Development Application
    45 MOCULTA STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • June 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Information and education facility; Infrastructure
    49 MOCULTA STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • March 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation
    14 MERTIN STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation
    16 MERTIN STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    67-69 MITCHELL STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • February 2025

  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing
    95-97 ANSON STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
2024· 9 proposals
  • November 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Community health service facility
    96 MITCHELL STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink
    3 WARRAWEENA STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • October 2024

  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club
    44 MITCHELL STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • July 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
    72-74 MITCHELL STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • June 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    62 OXLEY STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • May 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    6 HIGH STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • April 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    2-4 BECKER STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • February 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications network; Telecommunications facility
    2686 MITCHELL HIGHWAY BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    123 ANSON STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
2023· 10 proposals
  • November 2023

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Shop
    25-27 OXLEY STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • June 2023

  • Centre based childcare
    126 MEADOWS ROAD BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Dwelling
    9 WORTUMERTIE STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • May 2023

  • Other
    96 TANCRED DRIVE BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Subdivision of land
    2-4 HOPE STREET BOURKE 2840Withdrawn
  • April 2023

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    10 MOCULTA STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • March 2023

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    39 HOPE STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Shed
    1 MEEK STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Demolition
    2 COOMAH STREET BOURKE 2840Determined
  • Demolition
    20 TUDOR STREET BOURKE 2840Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

8 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Alf Edwards ParkPark
  • Central ParkPark
  • Hobson ParkPark
  • Jones ParkPark
  • Mercy ParkPark
  • Railway ParkPark
  • Rotary ParkPark
  • Waters ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
2
Emergency department
On site
  • Bourke Multi-Purpose ServiceTarcoon Streethospital
  • The Towers Drug Co Pharmacypharmacy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

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.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

6 state heritage places

  • Ardsilla5 Richard Street BourkeSHR
  • Bourke Court HouseRichard Street, BourkeSHR
  • Bourke Post Office47 Oxley Street BourkeSHR
  • Old London Bank Building17 Sturt Street BourkeSHR
  • St Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Convent & Site3-7 Meek Street BourkeSHR
  • Towers Drug Company Building (former)45 Mitchell Street BourkeSHR

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

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 overlaysState 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.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
32.6/100
National rank
4654th in Australia
State rank
1392nd in NSW
Peer rank
#74 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#559 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
80%

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime102
  • Breach Bail Conditionscrime183
  • Break And Enter Dwellingcrime91
  • Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime118
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime130
  • 14 High Sttransport
  • 765 Wanaaring Rdtransport
  • Bourke Golf Club, Gorrell Avtransport
  • High St Before Tancred Drtransport
  • Parkdale Rd After Yanda Sttransport

Data sources & freshness