NSW · Lismore Council
Eltham (NSW), NSW, 2480
Desirability index
#321 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Eltham (NSW) is a small locality in the Lismore area, home to around 332 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 4,622 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-8%), roughly 13921.7 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $550 (flats $425, houses $620), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 332
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,978
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 14 of 125
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,058
- Employment rate
- 62.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 4 / 0 / 0
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)
- $425
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 252
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)
- 4,622
- Against the person
- 1,237
- Against property
- 1,753
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 13,921.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 1 residents
- State safety percentile
- 75.6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -7.7%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions513
- Fraud284
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment361
- Malicious Damage To Property360
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault312
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
- 1,075
- Eltham 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
41 public transport stops in this suburb
- 622 Eltham Rd
- Cowlong Rd After McKenzie Rd
- Cowlong Rd Opp McKenzie Rd
- Johnston Rd At Rainforest Dr
- Pearson Rd At Laureldale 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).
23 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure629 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool64 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
- Entertainment facility; Temporary building, structure or use441 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Under Assessment
- Pub; Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure441 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Under Assessment
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool846 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool629 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2025· 2 proposals
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool59 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool1 MCKENZIE ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2024· 3 proposals
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport55 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
June 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)756 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
May 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport732 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2023· 3 proposals
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing8 MAYFIELD STREET ELTHAM 2480Determined
April 2023
- Dual occupancy629 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2022· 6 proposals
December 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development32 ALEXANDER LANE ELTHAM 2480Determined
July 2022
- Shed65 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
- Other441 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
April 2022
- Dual occupancy; Change of use712 BOATHARBOUR ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
March 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development64 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
January 2022
- Shed645 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2021· 3 proposals
November 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs10 MAYFIELD STREET ELTHAM 2480Determined
October 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing796 BOATHARBOUR ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
August 2021
- Shed31 ALEXANDER LANE ELTHAM 2480Determined
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Eltham Public SchoolSchool
Eltham
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 65.4/100
- Cohort rank
- #321 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
- 622 Eltham Rdtransport
- Cowlong Rd After McKenzie Rdtransport
- Cowlong Rd Opp McKenzie Rdtransport
- Johnston Rd At Rainforest Drtransport
- Pearson Rd At Laureldale Rdtransport
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning32 ALEXANDER LANE ELTHAM 2480Lodged 16 Dec 2022 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming poolplanning59 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Lodged 13 Mar 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming poolplanning64 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Lodged 12 May 2026 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning1 MCKENZIE ROAD ELTHAM 2480Lodged 02 Jan 2025 · Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahsplanning10 MAYFIELD STREET ELTHAM 2480Lodged 19 Nov 2021 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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