Median house price
$579k
-14% change
NSW · Nambucca Valley Council
Bowraville, 2449
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,203
Growth (1 yr)
+1.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.5%
Median age
46
Median income
$947/wk
Employment rate
39.4%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$579,000
Languages at home
3.7%non-English
Most common: Nepali
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Bowraville offers a slower smaller community life in Nambucca Valley Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Open space is thinner than in many regional towns, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Desirability sits around average overall, with community and employment, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Bowraville snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
1,203
+1.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
10.1%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#146
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
49th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
76th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
24th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 40.5/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3648th in Australia
- State rank
- 1114th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #146 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #332 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 79%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $579,000
- Median price change
- -14.2%
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
1,203(June 2025)
+1.4% annual · +6.5% over 5 years · 76th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.4%
- 5-year growth
- +6.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +16
- Change in 5 years
- +73
- Growth rank in NSW
- 76th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~1,250), extrapolated at +0.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,157
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $947
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 50 of 493
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,040
- Employment rate
- 39.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 416 / 19 / 11 (+ 4 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 80
- Against the person
- 34
- Against property
- 24
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 34 residents
- State safety percentile
- 48.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order17
- Domestic Violence Related Assault16
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment27
- Malicious Damage To Property27
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault21
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 925
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 24th
School list
- Bowraville Central SchoolCombined · Government · ICSEA 861 · 6th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 207 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Tallowood Steiner SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 989 · 42th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 94 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
41 public transport stops in this suburb
- 55 Lower Buckra Bendinni Rd
- Bellingen Rd Opp 122
- Bellingen Rd Opp Blackberry Lane
- Lower Buckra Bendinni After North Arm Rd
- Lower Buckra Bendinni Rd Opp 55
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship · 1 sports centres
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 41 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Shopping(1)
- Nambucca Valley Farmers MarketsMarketplace
Sport & outdoors(1)
- Bowraville RacecourseSports centre
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(1)
- Place of worship
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Place of worship
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Macksville Hospital (10.1 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 43
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.7
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 439 mm · ~55 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 494 mm · ~62 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 252 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 279 mm · ~35 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 7 proposals
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Multi-dwelling housing; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home14 ADAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Under Assessment
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Garage, carport or carparking space19 CONEN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Deferred Commencement
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool16 KOOKABURRA LANE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Farm building13 BALANCE TANK ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)3 PAULOWNIA PLACE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure101 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure78 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home14 ADAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Shipping containers; Portable offices53 BOREFIELD ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
August 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure17 GEORGE STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Carport; Swimming pool16 CONEN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
April 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool16 CONEN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Subdivision44 KOOKABURRA LANE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space24 GEORGE STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; School220 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises994/-/861788Determined
September 2024
- Educational establishment; 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 Australia188 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Withdrawn
August 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure78 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
May 2024
- Subdivision220 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)1065 RODEO DRIVE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Registered club57 HIGH STREET, BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Subdivision122 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
2023· 15 proposals
November 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Car park31 ADAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
September 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool32 NORTH ARM ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2 WILLIAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
August 2023
- Shed2 SOUTH ARM ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
June 2023
- Other5 Young street, Bowraville, 2449Determined
May 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs84 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
April 2023
- Secondary dwelling270 NORTH ARM ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Educational establishment; Change of use188 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces6C COOK STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Subdivision of land24 BOWRA STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces16 KOOKABURRA LANE BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Other48 COOK STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
February 2023
- Retaining walls, protection of trees10 GEORGE STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Food and drink premises57 HIGH STREET, BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
January 2023
- Educational establishment220 BELLINGEN ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
2022· 3 proposals
December 2022
- Shed126 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
November 2022
- Secondary dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed7 SOUTH ARM ROAD BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
- Shed10 GEORGE STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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 overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Cowper
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONAGHAN (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 131,639
- Turnout (2025)
- 90.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.1%Labor 40.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 14.3 km away).
Coalition 57.4%Labor 42.6%
1.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -2.4 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- BowravilleLabor 42.8% · Coalition 57.2% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- MissabottiLabor 49.2% · Coalition 50.8% TPP (2025)9.1 km away
- MacksvilleLabor 34.8% · Coalition 65.2% TPP (2025)9.9 km away
- Nambucca Heads WestLabor 42.5% · Coalition 57.5% TPP (2025)11.8 km away
- UtungunLabor 29.9% · Coalition 70.1% TPP (2025)11.9 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Nambucca Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.