NSW · Unincorporated NSW Council
Broken Hill, NSW, 2880
Desirability index
65.5/100
How this score is calculated#320 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Broken Hill is a mid-sized suburb in the Unincorporated NSW area, home to around 17,706 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 3,157 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, roughly 178.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $328 (flats $260, houses $340), 10 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
- 17,706
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,176
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 1,533 of 8,881
- Median monthly mortgage
- $867
- Employment rate
- 49.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 614 / 177 / 186
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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $260
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $340
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $328
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 138
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)
- 3,157
- Against the person
- 842
- Against property
- 1,028
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 178.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 21 residents
- State safety percentile
- 14.7th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -0.1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order238
- Breach Bail Conditions413
- Domestic Violence Related Assault302
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment307
- Malicious Damage To Property338
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
- 10
- Median school ICSEA (10 schools)
- 886.5
- Alma Public SchoolPrimary
- Broken Hill High SchoolSecondary
- Broken Hill North Public SchoolPrimary
- Broken Hill Public SchoolPrimary
- Burke Ward Public SchoolPrimary
- Morgan Street Public SchoolPrimary
- Railway Town Public SchoolPrimary
- Sacred Heart Parish SchoolPrimary
- School of the AirPrimary
- Willyama 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
169 public transport stops in this suburb
- Alma Public School, Comstock St
- Broken Hill High School, Garnet St
- Burke Wills Public School, Rakow St
- Gossan St Opp Crystal Lane
- Railway Town Public School, Wills Lane
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).
709 planning-related records
2026· 60 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Carport142 CLARKE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 CREEDON STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure106 DUFF STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure481 LANE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure651 BERYL STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
- Demolition697 WILLIAMS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Entertainment associated with existing premises23A BONANZA STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise405-409 ARGENT STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Business premises; Erection of a new structure; Exhibition home108 WYMAN STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Under Assessment
- Commercial development; Erection of a new structure; Service station38 PINNACLES ROAD BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure557 CUMMINS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure173 GYPSUM STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia3-7 OXIDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure198 RAKOW STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Camping ground220 RACECOURSE ROAD BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation339 KNOX STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation763 HASKARD STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure290 MORISH STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure502 BLENDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)337 WILLIAMS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition243 HEBBARD STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition; Awnings, blinds and canopies321 BLENDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space250 CHAPPLE LANE BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (indoor)270 Garnet Street Broken Hill NSW 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation95 GYPSUM STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport120 JAMIESON STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Subdivision150 WILLIAMS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station84 PATTON STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Recreation area26 ALLENDALE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool29 BONANZA STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises11 KANANDAH ROAD BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading149 EYRE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 LAWTON STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia214 MERCURY STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space150 MORISH STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Office Premise; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia240 BLENDE STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Moveable dwelling210 PELL LANE BROKEN HILL 2880Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure182 WILLIAMS STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Subdivision115 MORGAN STREET BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure474 WILLIAMS LANE BROKEN HILL 2880Determined
2025· 125 proposals
125 proposals lodged in 2025. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2024· 118 proposals
118 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 150 proposals
150 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 176 proposals
176 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 80 proposals
80 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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
19 parks and public open space in this suburb
- A.J. Keast ParkPark
- Alma OvalPark
- Duff Street ParkPark
- Duke of Cornwall ParkPark
- Excelsior SportsgroundPark
- John Keenan LookoutPark
- Jubilee OvalPark
- Lions Recreational ReservePark
- Memorial OvalPark
- North Family Play CentrePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 13
- Emergency department
- On site
- Audiologistaudiologist
- Broken Hill Base Hospitalhospital
- Broken Hill ChiropracticArgent Streetalternative
- DoctorBeryl Streetdoctor
- Eyerys I CareArgent Laneoptometrist
- Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporationyes
- Maari Ma Primary Healthcare Serviceyes
- Maari Ma Primary Healthcare Serviceyes
- Netting Chemistpharmacy
- Outback Pharmacies / CP Peoples Chemistpharmacy
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
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.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
14 state heritage places
- 1915 Picnic Train Attack and White Rocks ReserveBroken HillSHR
- BHP Chimney Ruin of First OfficesPart of Consolidated Mining Lease 7 East of corner of Gaffney and Oxide Streets, Proprietary Square Broken HillSHR
- Broken Hill MosqueBuck Street, Broken HillSHR
- Broken Hill Post Office258-260 Argent Street Broken HillSHR
- Broken Hill Railway Station and yard groupBroken Hill railway, Broken HillSHR
- Broken Hill Synagogue165 Wolfram Street Broken HillSHR
- Central Mine Manager's Residence, formerPiper Street, South Broken HillSHR
- Day Dream SmelterPor PML 2, Broken HillSHR
- Palace Hotel227 Argent Street Broken HillSHR
- Seppelts Warehouse160 Crystal Street Broken HillSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Alma Bugdlie PreschoolPiper Streetkindergarten
- childcarechildcare
- kindergartenkindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 72
- Parks (OSM)
- 23
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
- 65.5/100
- Cohort rank
- #320 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Alma Public School, Comstock Sttransport
- Broken Hill High School, Garnet Sttransport
- Burke Wills Public School, Rakow Sttransport
- Gossan St Opp Crystal Lanetransport
- Railway Town Public School, Wills Lanetransport
- Alma Bugdlie PreschoolchildcarePiper Streetkindergarten
- childcarechildcarechildcare
- kindergartenchildcarekindergarten
- 1915 Picnic Train Attack and White Rocks ReserveheritageBroken HillSHR
- BHP Chimney Ruin of First OfficesheritagePart of Consolidated Mining Lease 7 East of corner of Gaffney and Oxide Streets, Proprietary Square Broken HillSHR
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed