NSW · Wollongong Council
Brownsville, NSW, 2530
Desirability index
#729 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Brownsville is a small locality in the Wollongong area, home to around 524 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,886 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+6%), roughly 3599.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $700 (flats $500, houses $730), limited but present public transport access, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 524
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,160
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 258
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 49.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 21 / 39 / 64
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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $730
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 156
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)
- 1,886
- Against the person
- 510
- Against property
- 727
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 3,599.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 1 residents
- State safety percentile
- 54.9th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
- Domestic Violence Related Assault129
- Fraud127
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
- Malicious Damage To Property153
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
Public transport
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kanahooka Rd After Prince Edward Dr
- Kanahooka Rd After Prince Edward Dr
- Kanahooka Rd After St Lukes Av
- Kanahooka Rd After St Lukes Av
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).
13 planning-related records
2025· 2 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 HORE STREET BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation17 HORE STREET BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
2024· 1 proposal
January 2024
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia3 Regal Place BrownsvilleDetermined
2023· 1 proposal
August 2023
- Demolition3 Regal Place Brownsville 2530Determined
2022· 5 proposals
November 2022
- Telecommunications and communication facilities328 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
September 2022
- Shed19 REGAL PLACE BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
- Shed9 PRINCE EDWARD DRIVE BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development342 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
April 2022
- Telecommunications and communication facilities328 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
2021· 3 proposals
October 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed25 BROWNSVILLE AVENUE BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
July 2021
- Signage; Other342 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
May 2021
- Shed19 REGAL PLACE BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
2020· 1 proposal
November 2020
- Pools / decks / fencing15 WINDSOR CRESCENT BROWNSVILLE 2530Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
6 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Kanahooka Rd after Prince Edward DrBus stop
- Kanahooka Rd after St Lukes AveBus stop
- AmpChargeEV charging
- Brownsville Licensed Post OfficePost office
- Dandaloo Hotel MotelPub
- Public toilets
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
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- St Lukes ParkPark
- William Beach Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · 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
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 1.7/100
- Cohort rank
- #729 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Kanahooka Rd After Prince Edward Drtransport
- Kanahooka Rd After Prince Edward Drtransport
- Kanahooka Rd After St Lukes Avtransport
- Kanahooka Rd After St Lukes Avtransport
- St Lukes Parkgovernmentpark
- William Beach Memorial Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations and additions to commercial developmentplanning342 KANAHOOKA ROAD BROWNSVILLE 2530Lodged 24 Jun 2022 · Determined
- Demolitionplanning3 Regal Place Brownsville 2530Lodged 16 Aug 2023 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structureplanning1 HORE STREET BROWNSVILLE 2530Lodged 30 Nov 2025 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodationplanning17 HORE STREET BROWNSVILLE 2530Lodged 01 Sep 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- 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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