NSW · Bellingen Council
Dorrigo, NSW, 2453
Desirability index
60.1/100
How this score is calculated#372 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Dorrigo is a small locality in the Bellingen area, home to around 1,214 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 143 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-16%), roughly 117.8 offences per 1,000 residents, 4 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, 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
- 1,214
- Median age
- 56
- Median household income / week
- $925
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 77 of 619
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 42.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 44 / 16 / 8
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 143
- Against the person
- 47
- Against property
- 68
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 117.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 26 residents
- State safety percentile
- 10.5th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -16.4%
Most common offence types
- Arson12
- Break And Enter Dwelling12
- Domestic Violence Related Assault13
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment13
- Malicious Damage To Property15
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 956
- Dorrigo High SchoolSecondary
- Dorrigo Public SchoolPrimary
- Hernani Public SchoolPrimary
- Mount St John Primary 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
69 public transport stops in this suburb
- Dorrigo High School, Waterfall Way
- Mt St John's Primary School, Karabin St
- Oak St After Waterfall Way
- Waterfall Way After Dome Rd
- Waterfall Way Opp Dome Rd
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksWaterfall Way01 Apr 2026 – 08 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
72 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Rainwater tanks144 WHISKY CREEK ROAD DORRIGO 2453Determined
April 2026
- Attached dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Rainwater tanks73 MYRTLE STREET DORRIGO 2453Under Assessment
March 2026
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure397 OLD COAST ROAD DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 OLD CORAMBA ROAD SOUTH DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure57 HICKORY STREET DORRIGO 2453Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise4180 WATERFALL WAY DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport55 MYRTLE STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
2025· 15 proposals
October 2025
- Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Playground equipment; Rainwater tanks; Business identification sign; Car park; Artisan food and drink industry1 CUDGERY STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport18 MYRTLE STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 GUM STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
September 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing313 OLD COAST ROAD DORRIGO 2453Additional Information Requested
July 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Rainwater tanks144 WHISKY CREEK ROAD DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 CASSIA CLOSE DORRIGO 2453Determined
June 2025
- Subdivision10 OAK STREET DORRIGO 2453Under Assessment
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4520 WATERFALL WAY DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Subdivision20 ASH STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 SUMMIT CLOSE DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 CASSIA CLOSE, DORRIGO NSW 2453Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support147 WHISKY CREEK ROAD DORRIGO 2453Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision23 BEECH STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 SUMMIT CLOSE DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home24 GUM STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
2024· 12 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool3 TAMARIND AVENUE DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 GUM STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 ELM AVENUE DORRIGO 2453Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 PINE STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
June 2024
- Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise53 HICKORY STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
May 2024
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use37 HICKORY STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Subdivision7 TAMARIND AVENUE DORRIGO 2453Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 GUM STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition1 CUDGERY STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Subdivision23 BEECH STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space3 cedar st dorrigoDetermined
February 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation18 KURRAJONG STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
2023· 15 proposals
December 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure27 DORRIGO STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 TAMARIND AVENUE DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure95 HICKORY STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
October 2023
- Entertainment facility; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 HICKORY STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
- Subdivision18 BIELSDOWN STREET DORRIGO 2453Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling24 TAMARIND AVENUE DORRIGO 2453Determined
2022· 14 proposals
14 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 9 proposals
9 proposals lodged in 2021. 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: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bielsdown Nature ParkPark
- Coronation ParkPark
- Dorrigo Sporting ComplexPark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
- Trooper Mark Donaldson VC ParkPark
- Wheaton ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 4
- Emergency department
- On site
- Dorrigo CWA & Child Family Health Clinicyes
- Dorrigo Health & Wellbeing ServiceGangara Avenuedoctor
- Dorrigo Multi-Purpose ServiceBeech Streethospital
- Dorrigo Plateau Pharmacypharmacy
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- 10 Class Steam Locomotives2 Tallowood Street, DorrigoSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Dorrigo Preschoolkindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
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
- 60.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #372 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Dorrigo High School, Waterfall Waytransport
- Mt St John's Primary School, Karabin Sttransport
- Oak St After Waterfall Waytransport
- Waterfall Way After Dome Rdtransport
- Waterfall Way Opp Dome Rdtransport
- Dorrigo Preschoolchildcarekindergarten
- 10 Class Steam Locomotivesheritage2 Tallowood Street, DorrigoSHR
- Dorrigo CWA & Child Family Health Clinichealthyes
- Dorrigo Health & Wellbeing ServicehealthGangara Avenuedoctor
- Dorrigo Multi-Purpose ServicehealthBeech Streethospital
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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