Median house price
—
No data available
NSW · Gunnedah Council
Curlewis, 2381
Population
779
Growth (1 yr)
+1.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.6%
Median age
40
Median income
$1,403/wk
Employment rate
59.6%
Languages at home
2.3%non-English
Most common: Australian Indigenous languages, Croatian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- National parks
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Curlewis offers a slower smaller community life in Gunnedah Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower.
Reported crime has been rising recently. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Curlewis snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (Census)
779
+1.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.3%
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
#223
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
99th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
84th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
4th
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
- 26.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6064th in Australia
- State rank
- 1957th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #223 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #913 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Population growth
+1.8% annual · +6.6% over 5 years · 84th percentile in NSW
Growth rates are from ABS Estimated Resident Population at SA2 level. Headcount uses 2021 Census when allocated ERP is too low relative to Census to display reliably.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 779
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $1,403
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 43 of 323
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,000
- Employment rate
- 59.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 283 / 0 / 0
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 75
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 32
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 258.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 41 residents
- State safety percentile
- 98.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +74.9%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order12
- Break And Enter Dwelling11
- Domestic Violence Related Assault12
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment16
- Malicious Damage To Property12
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 833
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 4th
School list
- Curlewis Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 833 · 4th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 77 students · Top SEA quarter 2%View 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
43 public transport stops in this suburb
- 1868 Pullaming Rd
- Goran St After Pike St
- Pullaming Rd Opp 1551
- Pullaming Rd Opp River Downs Property
- Wandobah Rd At Voca Rd
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 42
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- Gunnedah Hospital and Health Service (21.8 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)
- 7
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 24.1
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
- 31° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 247 mm · ~31 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 138 mm · ~17 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 126 mm · ~16 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 171 mm · ~21 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· 3 proposals
August 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 HENRY STREET CURLEWIS 2381Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation8 DONALDSON STREET CURLEWIS 2381Under Assessment
June 2026
- Signage; Advertising and signage21 MCCORMACK LANE CURLEWIS 2381Under Assessment
2025· 4 proposals
November 2025
- Poultry farm; Hours of operation and trading702 WATERMARK ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home42-44 PULLAMING STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space36-38 PARNELL STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 PULLAMING STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
2024· 5 proposals
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture331 CURLEWIS COMMON ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Extractive Industries (non-mining)THE DIP ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 GORAN STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
July 2024
- Subdivision8 GORAN STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
January 2024
- Subdivision2108 GORAN LAKE ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
2023· 4 proposals
September 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 GORAN STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
August 2023
- Other24 PULLAMING STREET CURLEWIS 2381Withdrawn
- Shed29 HENRY STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
February 2023
- Dwelling33 HENRY STREET CURLEWIS 2381Determined
2022· 4 proposals
November 2022
- Other702 WATERMARK ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
- Other702 WATERMARK ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
August 2022
- Dwelling30 - 50 old cemetery lane curlewis 2381Determined
February 2022
- Dwelling236 PRESTON ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
2021· 2 proposals
September 2021
- Dwelling30-50 OLD CEMETERY LANE CURLEWIS 2381Determined
August 2021
- Other702 WATERMARK ROAD CURLEWIS 2381Determined
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
- Overlay applies
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
- Parkes
- Member of Parliament
- Jamie CHAFFEY (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 130,841
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 63.0%Labor 37.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 71.1 km away).
Coalition 65.2%Labor 34.8%
2.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- CurlewisLabor 35.9% · Coalition 64.1% TPP (2025)8.9 km away
- Gunnedah SouthLabor 36.7% · Coalition 63.3% TPP (2025)22.3 km away
- GunnedahLabor 37.2% · Coalition 62.8% TPP (2025)23.2 km away
- CarrollLabor 25.9% · Coalition 74.1% TPP (2025)30.8 km away
- MullaleyLabor 28.1% · Coalition 71.9% TPP (2025)32.4 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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 Gunnedah Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.