NSW · Byron Council

Broken Head, NSW, 2481

Desirability index

26.2/100

#341 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Last updated 1 July 2026 at 10:11 pm AEST

Suburb snapshot

Broken Head is a small locality in the Byron area, home to around 385 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,718 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-6%), roughly 4462.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $990 (flats $785, houses $1,200), 13 public transport stops within the suburb, 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: 385
Median age: 43
Median household income / week: $1,687
Dwelling vacancy: 28.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings: 54 of 192
Median monthly mortgage: $2,600
Employment rate: 53.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats): 6 / 0 / 0

Data sources & freshness

2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 8:23 pm AEST · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Housing

Flats / units (January to March 2026): $785
Houses (January to March 2026): $1,200
All types (January to March 2026): $990

Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026): 127

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 1 July 2026 at 8:44 pm AEST · Quarterly releases

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025): 1,718
Against the person: 359
Against property: 788
Rate per 1,000 residents: 4,462.3
Person-crime prevalence: About 1 in 1 residents
State safety percentile: 58.5th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change: -6.5%

Most common offence types

Breach Bail Conditions114
Fraud133
Malicious Damage To Property147
Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault159
Other Theft152

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 1 July 2026 at 9:56 pm AEST · Rolling 12-month windows

Public transport

13 public transport stops in this suburb

Broken Head Rd After Bundaleer Rd
Broken Head Rd Before Midgen Flat Rd
Broken Head Rd Opp Broken Head Community Hall
Broken Head Rd Opp Rose Apple Pl
Byron Bay Rd At Butter Factory Rd (Ross Ln 2)

Data sources & freshness

GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 10:07 pm AEST · GTFS static feed

Planning & development

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

49 planning-related records

2026· 4 proposals

June 2026
Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)11 Jun 2026
83 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Under Assessment
May 2026
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 May 2026
18 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Under Assessment
February 2026
Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)18 Feb 2026
14 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Under Assessment
January 2026
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool09 Jan 2026
80 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined

2025· 5 proposals

November 2025
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation13 Nov 2025
U 2 137 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
October 2025
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool27 Oct 2025
13 64 BLACKBUTT LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
June 2025
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 Jun 2025
18 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
April 2025
Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)09 Apr 2025
865 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
January 2025
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool10 Jan 2025
80 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined

2024· 6 proposals

November 2024
Erection of a new structure; Rural worker's dwelling08 Nov 2024
85 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
August 2024
Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)28 Aug 2024
92 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Deferred Commencement
Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14 Aug 2024
142 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
June 2024
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Serviced apartment21 Jun 2024
U 1 137 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)14 Jun 2024
865 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
April 2024
Subdivision03 Apr 2024
56 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined

2023· 6 proposals

November 2023
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 Nov 2023
142 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
October 2023
Dual occupancy; Other18 Oct 2023
92 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Withdrawn
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 Oct 2023
95 BLACKBUTT LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
May 2023
Alterations and additions to residential development09 May 2023
13 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
March 2023
Farm buildings23 Mar 2023
801 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
Pools / decks / fencing22 Mar 2023
U 7 137 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined

2022· 12 proposals

December 2022
Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development22 Dec 2022
2/64 Blackbutt Lane, Broken Head NSWOperational consent issued
November 2022
Alterations and additions to residential development24 Nov 2022
140 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
October 2022
Pools / decks / fencing11 Oct 2022
64 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
September 2022
Alterations and additions to residential development30 Sep 2022
3 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
Other30 Sep 2022
865 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
Stratum / community title subdivision09 Sep 2022
139 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
August 2022
Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Shed30 Aug 2022
18 ARMSTRONG LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
July 2022
Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development11 Jul 2022
142 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
Dual occupancy04 Jul 2022
672 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
May 2022
Dwelling24 May 2022
95 BLACKBUTT LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
Other19 May 2022
657B BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
January 2022
Alterations and additions to residential development09 Jan 2022
13 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined

2021· 10 proposals

November 2021
Farm buildings; Shed27 Nov 2021
672 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
September 2021
Dwelling02 Sep 2021
95 BLACKBUTT LANE BROKEN HEAD 2481Withdrawn
August 2021
Dwelling; Secondary dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces20 Aug 2021
865 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
July 2021
Stratum / community title subdivision19 Jul 2021
139 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
Farm buildings14 Jul 2021
801 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
May 2021
Farm buildings; Shed27 May 2021
672 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined
April 2021
Dual occupancy28 Apr 2021
176 MIDGEN FLAT ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Determined

2020· 6 proposals

6 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 1 July 2026 at 9:16 pm AEST · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)

Amenities

2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

Broken Head Rd after Bundaleer RdBus stop
Broken Head Rd opp Rose Apple PlBus 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 1 July 2026 at 8:43 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021): 9/10
IRSD decile (2021): 7/10

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 1 July 2026 at 8:24 pm AEST · 2021 SEIFA release

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 1 July 2026 at 9:53 pm AEST

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM): 1
Parks (OSM): 0

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 1 July 2026 at 8:44 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score: 26.2/100
Cohort rank: #341 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 10:11 pm AEST · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

Broken Head Rd After Bundaleer Rdtransport
Broken Head Rd Before Midgen Flat Rdtransport
Broken Head Rd Opp Broken Head Community Halltransport
Broken Head Rd Opp Rose Apple Pltransport
Byron Bay Rd At Butter Factory Rd (Ross Ln 2)transport
Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning13 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Lodged 09 May 2023 · Determined
Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning140 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Lodged 24 Nov 2022 · Determined
Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning3 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Lodged 30 Sep 2022 · Determined
Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning13 591 BROKEN HEAD ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Lodged 09 Jan 2022 · Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Serviced apartmentplanningU 1 137 BROKEN HEAD RESERVE ROAD BROKEN HEAD 2481Lodged 21 Jun 2024 · Determined

Data sources & freshness

Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 9:16 pm AEST · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 10:07 pm AEST · GTFS static feed

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