NSW · Nambucca Valley Council
Bowraville, NSW, 2449
Desirability index
25.3/100
How this score is calculated#345 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Bowraville is a small locality in the Nambucca Valley area, home to around 1,157 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 185 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-2%), roughly 159.9 offences per 1,000 residents, 3 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- 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)
- 48 / 19 / 11
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 185
- Against the person
- 79
- Against property
- 55
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 159.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 15 residents
- State safety percentile
- 13.6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -1.6%
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
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)
- 861
- Bowraville Central SchoolCombined
- St Mary's Primary SchoolPrimary
- Tallowood Steiner SchoolPrimary
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
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
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).
77 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Multi-dwelling housing; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home14 ADAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Additional Information Requested
- 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· 25 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
2021· 15 proposals
15 proposals lodged in 2021. 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: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bus stop
- Nambucca Valley Farmers MarketsMarketplace
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
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
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
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 25.3/100
- Cohort rank
- #345 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
- 55 Lower Buckra Bendinni Rdtransport
- Bellingen Rd Opp 122transport
- Bellingen Rd Opp Blackberry Lanetransport
- Lower Buckra Bendinni After North Arm Rdtransport
- Lower Buckra Bendinni Rd Opp 55transport
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Car parkplanning31 ADAM STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Lodged 13 Nov 2023 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)planning1065 RODEO DRIVE BOWRAVILLE 2449Lodged 01 May 2024 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning16 KOOKABURRA LANE BOWRAVILLE 2449Lodged 24 Apr 2026 · Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahsplanning84 HIGH STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Lodged 01 May 2023 · Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Garage, carport or carparking spaceplanning19 CONEN STREET BOWRAVILLE 2449Lodged 04 May 2026 · Deferred Commencement
Data sources & freshness
- 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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