Median house price
$1.42M
+4.8% change
NSW · Wollongong Council
Darkes Forest, 2508
Est. population · Jun 2025
95
Growth (1 yr)
0.0%
Growth (5 yr)
0.0%
Median age
45
Median income
$2,624/wk
Employment rate
79.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,415,000
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
Darkes Forest is a residential smaller community in Wollongong Council with a familiar suburban feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street.
Shops and services are limited locally: a short trip to a nearby centre covers the fuller weekly shop. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many comparable suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
At a glance
Darkes Forest snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$765/wk
Population (ERP)
95
0.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
0.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
3rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
17th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
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
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $795
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,415,000
- Median price change
- +4.8%
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
95(June 2025)
0.0% annual · 0.0% over 5 years · 17th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- 0.0%
- 5-year growth
- 0.0%
- Change in 1 year
- 0
- Change in 5 years
- 0
- Growth rank in NSW
- 17th 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 (~100), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 95
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $2,624
- Dwelling vacancy
- 0%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 0 of 33
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,326
- Employment rate
- 79.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 24 / 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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 2
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 21.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 95 residents
- State safety percentile
- 2.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault19
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property27
- Steal From Motor Vehicle19
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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- 574 Darkes Forest Rd
- 574 Darkes Forest 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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb
- Walkability proxy
- 3/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 10.53
Other(2)
- Information
- Parking
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Darks Forest ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- Coledale Hospital (8.5 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)
- 2
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 21.1
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
- 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· 2 proposals
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Bee keeping; Commercial livestock grazing23 PRINCES HIGHWAY DARKES FOREST 2508Under Assessment
March 2026
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure128 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Extensive agriculture; Commercial livestock grazing; Agriculture458 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Withdrawn
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences128 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure582 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2024· 4 proposals
December 2024
- Animal boarding or training establishment; Hours of operation and trading210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
October 2024
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure128 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
August 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure342-356 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
January 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool582 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
August 2023
- Shed210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Shed572-574 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2022· 2 proposals
August 2022
- Other105 Darkes Road, Kembla GrangeDetermined
June 2022
- Dwelling210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2021· 4 proposals
October 2021
- Shed210 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development92-117 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
July 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing342-356 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
February 2021
- Secondary dwelling430 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
2020· 1 proposal
September 2020
- Secondary dwelling430 DARKES FOREST ROAD DARKES FOREST 2508Determined
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
- 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 11.2 km away).
Coalition 31.0%Labor 69.0%
1.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Stanwell ParkLabor 67.9% · Coalition 32.1% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
- HelensburghLabor 61.9% · Coalition 38.1% TPP (2025)6.5 km away
- Helensburgh NorthLabor 67.0% · Coalition 33.0% TPP (2025)6.9 km away
- WombarraLabor 73.0% · Coalition 27.0% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
- ColedaleLabor 69.9% · Coalition 30.1% TPP (2025)8.4 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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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.