NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Callala Beach, NSW, 2540
Desirability index
63.4/100
How this score is calculated#167 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Callala Beach is a small locality in the Shoalhaven area, home to around 777 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,051 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-5%), roughly 2639.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $571 (flats $465, houses $600), strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 777
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $1,146
- Dwelling vacancy
- 66.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 647 of 979
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 42.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 38 / 0 / 0
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)
- $465
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $571
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 300
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)
- 2,051
- Against the person
- 744
- Against property
- 826
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 2,639.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 1 residents
- State safety percentile
- 49.6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -5.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order135
- Domestic Violence Related Assault174
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment283
- Malicious Damage To Property261
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault146
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
36 public transport stops in this suburb
- Callala Beach Rd Opp Callala RSL Country Club
- Callala Beach Rd Opp Club Callala
- Callala RSL Country Club, Callala Beach Rd
- King George St Before Princess St
- Queen Mary St At Parkes Cres
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).
203 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure72 WATTS ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 CALLALA BEACH ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation40 CALLALA BEACH ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)80 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure101 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure144 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure7 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure60 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure72 WATTS ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia111 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Deferred Commencement
- Shed; Erection of a new structure69 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 SILKWOOD WALK CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition8 PARKES CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 SIR HENRY CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 PARKES CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
2025· 29 proposals
December 2025
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)16 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)73 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 GREENWAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Subdivision68A QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external); Supporting Development114A Quay Rd CALLALA BEACH - Lot CP SP 80080Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation35 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 SILKWOOD WALK CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 PARKES CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 QUEEN MARY STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodation1 58 GREENWAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure60 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool116A QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies57 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure48 GREENWAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Deferred Commencement
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation86 WATTS ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure137 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 ROSKELL ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Operational consent issued
2024· 22 proposals
22 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 40 proposals
40 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 43 proposals
43 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 49 proposals
49 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 3 proposals
3 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 · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
22 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 27 Lennox RdBus stop
- Callala Beach Post Office, Parkes CresBus stop
- Callala Beach Rd opp Callala RSL Country ClubBus stop
- Callala Beach Rd opp Verge RdBus stop
- Callala RSL Country Club, Callala Beach RdBus stop
- Lennox Rd opp Lewis RdBus stop
- Queen Mary St at Centre StBus stop
- Queen Mary St at Parkes CresBus stop
- Queen Mary St before Sir Henry CresBus stop
- Sir Henry Cres at Quay RdBus 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 · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
- 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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 63.4/100
- Cohort rank
- #167 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
- Callala Beach Rd Opp Callala RSL Country Clubtransport
- Callala Beach Rd Opp Club Callalatransport
- Callala RSL Country Club, Callala Beach Rdtransport
- King George St Before Princess Sttransport
- Queen Mary St At Parkes Crestransport
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopiesplanning57 QUAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Lodged 23 Apr 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external); Supporting Developmentplanning114A Quay Rd CALLALA BEACH - Lot CP SP 80080Lodged 20 Nov 2025 · Determined
- Demolitionplanning8 PARKES CRESCENT CALLALA BEACH 2540Lodged 09 Feb 2026 · Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodationplanning1 58 GREENWAY ROAD CALLALA BEACH 2540Lodged 05 Jun 2025 · Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureplanning43 KING GEORGE STREET CALLALA BEACH 2540Lodged 18 Aug 2025 · Determined
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
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.