Median house price
$1.27M
+15% change
NSW · Wollongong Council
Coniston, 2500
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,224
Growth (1 yr)
+1.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.2%
Median age
39
Median income
$1,535/wk
Employment rate
53.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,275,000
Languages at home
33%non-English
Most common: Macedonian, Serbian, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Coniston is a practical smaller community in Wollongong Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix. Overseas-born and multilingual households are a noticeable part of the local population.
School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Strong connections via buses and trains keep the wider area accessible.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus safety lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Coniston snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $720 · Units $620
Population (ERP)
2,224
+1.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.1%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#150
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
93rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
81st
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
60th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 43.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 46% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3212th in Australia
- State rank
- 975th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #150 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #629 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $620
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 758
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,275,000
- Median price change
- +15.4%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
2,224(June 2025)
+1.6% annual · +6.2% over 5 years · 81th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.6%
- 5-year growth
- +6.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +35
- Change in 5 years
- +130
- Growth rank in NSW
- 81th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~2,350), extrapolated at +1.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,267
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,535
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 78 of 964
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,820
- Employment rate
- 53.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 451 / 159 / 273 (+ 4 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 343
- Against the person
- 50
- Against property
- 106
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 154.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 45 residents
- State safety percentile
- 92.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions1025
- Malicious Damage To Property396
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault312
- Steal From Retail Store502
- Transport Regulatory Offences1491
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 7
- Median school ICSEA (6 schools)
- 1,030.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 60th
School list
- Coniston Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 990 · 42th percentile · LBOTE 62% · 181 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
- Novo Education SpaceSpecial · Independent · ICSEA 983 · 39th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 44 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Mount St Thomas Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1070 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 354 students · Top SEA quarter 31% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Illawarra Hospital SchoolSpecial · Government · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- The Illawarra Grammar SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1159 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 36% · 970 students · Top SEA quarter 64% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- St Therese Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1090 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 368 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Wollongong West Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 991 · 43th percentile · LBOTE 48% · 243 students · Top SEA quarter 24% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
47 public transport stops in this suburb
- Acc To Bridge St
- Acc To P1
- Acc To P2
- Coniston Station
- Platform 2
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
32 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 pubs · 1 playgrounds · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 47 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.44
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.21
Food & drink(1)
- Coniston HotelPub
Community(1)
- Coniston Primary SchoolSchool
Coniston
Sport & outdoors(7)
- Park (5)
- Playground
- Sports field
Entertainment(1)
- Viewpoint
Transport(7)
4 bus stops · 3 train stations
Other(10)
- Alcohol
- Bike Lockers - Coniston Station, Gladstone AveBicycle Parking
- Milne Avenue ReserveNature Reserve
- Nature Reserve
- Parking (5)
- Ausrralia PostPost Box
- Coniston Post OfficePost office
27 Bridge Street
- Public toilets
- Taxi
- Ticket Validator (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Milne Avenue ReserveNature reserve
- Park or reserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Wollongong Day Surgery (1.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 56
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 25.2
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 8 proposals
July 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation15 HEASLIP STREET CONISTON 2500Under Assessment
- Industrial development; Warehouse or distribution centre; 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 Australia36 124-130 AUBURN STREET CONISTON 2500Under Assessment
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Neighbourhood shop108 GLADSTONE AVENUE CONISTON 2500Under Assessment
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation40 ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 41-43 ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure96 GLADSTONE AVENUE CONISTON 2500Under Assessment
May 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Community facility9 OLD SPRINGHILL ROAD CONISTON 2500Withdrawn
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)1 WONSON AVENUE CONISTON 2500Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation42a ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Withdrawn
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool12 HEASLIP STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation15 HEASLIP STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 LUTANA PLACE CONISTON 2500Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation25 ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Withdrawn
August 2025
- SubdivisionNo. 5 & No. 9 Old Springhill Road, ConistonDetermined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry36 124-130 AUBURN STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation16 WONSON AVENUE CONISTON 2500Determined
July 2025
- Business identification sign; Hours of operation and trading2 BRIDGE STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation57 ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Pub; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure128 GLADSTONE AVENUE CONISTON 2500Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support46 ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry36 124-130 AUBURN STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; General industry99/--/1143576Determined
January 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure23 KELVIN ROAD CONISTON 2500Determined
2024· 10 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; 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 Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)2 BRIDGE STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
October 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia21 KELVIN ROAD CONISTON 2500Additional Information Requested
September 2024
- Dwelling house; 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 Australia21 KELVIN ROAD CONISTON 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 IRIS AVENUE CONISTON 2500Determined
- Light industry; Artisan food and drink industry; Hours of operation and trading2 BRIDGE STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
August 2024
- Subdivision70 ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation57 ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation170 GLADSTONE AVENUE CONISTON 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 IRIS AVENUE CONISTON 2500Determined
- Subdivision40 ROBERTSON STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
2023· 8 proposals
December 2023
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)10 HEASLIP STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure78 HEASLIP STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 MILNE CRESCENT CONISTON 2500Determined
October 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Service station136-138 GLADSTONE AVENUE CONISTON 2500Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure66 HEASLIP STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)1 PINE CRESCENT CONISTON 2500Determined
May 2023
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision of land1 PINE CRESCENT CONISTON 2500Withdrawn
January 2023
- Stratum / community title subdivision10 UNION STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
2022· 3 proposals
August 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development66 HEASLIP STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
July 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development4 MILNE CRESCENT CONISTON 2500Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Change of use; Artisanal food and drink136 AUBURN STREET CONISTON 2500Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Cunningham
- Member of Parliament
- Alison BYRNES (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,139
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 32.5%Labor 67.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.4 km away).
Coalition 29.0%Labor 71.0%
3.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- ConistonLabor 71.0% · Coalition 29.0% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- Wollongong SouthLabor 71.7% · Coalition 28.3% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- MangertonLabor 69.0% · Coalition 31.0% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- Wollongong EastLabor 68.9% · Coalition 31.1% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- Wollongong WestLabor 69.7% · Coalition 30.3% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.