NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Culburra Beach, NSW, 2540
Desirability index
45/100
How this score is calculated#253 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Culburra Beach is a smaller suburban community in the Shoalhaven area, home to around 2,946 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,051 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-5%), roughly 696.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $571 (flats $465, houses $600), 1 school and preschool site in the area, 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. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 2,946
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,247
- Dwelling vacancy
- 40.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 880 of 2,159
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,768
- Employment rate
- 45.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 107 / 115 / 18
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
- 696.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 4 residents
- State safety percentile
- 28.5th (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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 952
- Culburra Public SchoolPrimary
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
80 public transport stops in this suburb
- Culburra Ambulance Station, Culburra Rd
- Culburra Public School, Black Swan Way
- Culburra Shops, Prince Edward Av
- Penguin Head Rd At The Bowery
- Prince Edward Av At Orient Point Rd
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).
362 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure234 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation172 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport60 ORIENT POINT ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Withdrawn
- Demolition; Subdivision87 ADDISON ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure180 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)151 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation78 WEST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 PARK ROW CULBURRA BEACH 2540Under Assessment
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport60 ORIENT POINT ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Office Premise; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia1 WESTON STREET CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation22 PRINCE EDWARD AVENUE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; InfrastructureCulburra Rd CULBURRA BEACH - Lot 1 DP 1305809Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)151 THE MARINA CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 EASTBOURNE AVENUE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure101 GREENBANK GROVE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation78 WEST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
January 2026
- 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 Australia71 GREENBANK GROVE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Additional Information Requested
2025· 52 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation50 ADDISON ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation180 MARINA LANE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Residential Accommodation60 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Additional Information Requested
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Minor building alterations (external)16 THE STRAND CULBURRA BEACH 2540Deferred Commencement
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 THE BOWERY CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
November 2025
- Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Take away food and drink159 PRINCE EDWARD AVENUE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure190 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation61 PENGUINS HEAD ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure22 EAST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; InfrastructureCanal St East CULBURRA BEACH - DP 12278Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 GREENBANK GROVE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; InfrastructureCULBURRA ROAD CULBURRA BEACH Lot 1 DP 1305809Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah29 BRIGHTON PARADE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation10A WEST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation5 THE MARINA CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Privacy screens; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development6 FARRANT AVENUE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; InfrastructureCulburra Rd CULBURRA BEACH - Lot 1 DP 1279350Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)2 BRIGHTON PARADE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Environmental protection works; Sewage reticulation system; Water reticulation system; Sewerage systemCulburra Road CULBURRA BEACH - Lot 1 DP 1305809Determined
- SubdivisionCulburra Road Culburra Beach – Lot 1 DP 1305809Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure58 EAST CRESCENT CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 ADDISON ROAD CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space4 PLIMSOLL PLACE CULBURRA BEACH 2540Determined
2024· 61 proposals
61 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 66 proposals
66 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 81 proposals
81 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 81 proposals
81 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 4 proposals
4 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
24 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Culburra BakeryBakery
129 Prince Edward Avenue
- Bench
- Culburra Shops, Prince Edward AvBus stop
- Penguin Head Rd at The BoweryBus stop
- Penguin Head Rd at Woodland StBus stop
- Prince Edward Av after Belgrave StBus stop
- Prince Edward Av at Belgrave StBus stop
- Prince Edward Av at Fairlands StBus stop
- Prince Edward Av at Glenholme WayBus stop
- Prince Edward Av opp Glenholme WayBus 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
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Fred Evans ParkPark
- Lakeside ParkPark
- Tilbury Cove ReservePark
- Wheeler ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Culburra Beach Medical Centredoctor
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- 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)
- 27
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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
- 45.0/100
- Cohort rank
- #253 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
- Culburra Ambulance Station, Culburra Rdtransport
- Culburra Public School, Black Swan Waytransport
- Culburra Shops, Prince Edward Avtransport
- Penguin Head Rd At The Bowerytransport
- Prince Edward Av At Orient Point Rdtransport
- Culburra Beach Medical Centrehealthdoctor
- Fred Evans Parkgovernmentpark
- Lakeside Parkgovernmentpark
- Tilbury Cove Reservegovernmentpark
- Wheeler Parkgovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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