Median house price
$866k
+1.9% change
NSW · Shoalhaven Council
Erowal Bay, 2540
Est. population · Jun 2025
661
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.2%
Median age
49
Median income
$1,407/wk
Employment rate
47.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$866,000
Languages at home
4.8%non-English
Most common: Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Erowal Bay is a quieter smaller community in Shoalhaven Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus community and employment relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Erowal Bay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$571/wk
Houses $600 · Units $465
Population (ERP)
661
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
38.0%
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
#459
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
20th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
48th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 28.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5763rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1864th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #459 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #842 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
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 house price (October to December 2025)
- $866,000
- Median price change
- +1.9%
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
661(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +2.2% over 5 years · 48th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- +2.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +14
- Growth rank in NSW
- 48th 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 (~700), extrapolated at +1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 652
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,407
- Dwelling vacancy
- 38%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 161 of 424
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,517
- Employment rate
- 47.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 262 / 0 / 6
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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 27
- Against the person
- 10
- Against property
- 11
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 40.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 65 residents
- State safety percentile
- 20.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -3.3%
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
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
22 public transport stops in this suburb
- Jervis Bay Rd At Erowal Bay Rd
- Killarney Rd At First Av
- Naval Pde After King George St
- Naval Pde At Kallaroo Rd
- Naval Pde At Killarney 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
14 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 playgrounds · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 22 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.53
Shopping(1)
- ShopConvenience store
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Fire Brigade ParkPark
- Playground
- Sports field
Transport(4)
4 bus stops
Other(6)
- Boat Rental
- Dungowan AccommodationHotel
- Parking
- Picnic Table
- Erowal Bay Post OfficePost office
42 Naval Parade
- Public toilets
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
- Fire Brigade 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
- Nowra Private Hospital (23.8 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)
- 21
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 31.8
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
- 24° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 301 mm · ~38 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 396 mm · ~50 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 292 mm · ~36 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 274 mm · ~34 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· 8 proposals
July 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)16 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Under Assessment
- Subdivision106 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Boat launching ramp79 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation14 HIGH STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation173 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty85 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Additional Information Requested
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 KALLAROO ROAD EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation123 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
2025· 10 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 GURUMBI LANE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah85 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house37 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7 KALLAROO ROAD EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures123 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
March 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Driveways and hard stand spaces31 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation81 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
February 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure181 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty79 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
2024· 6 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure126 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Residential Accommodation7 HIGH STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure149 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Boarding house3 KING GEORGE STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Withdrawn
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 SECOND AVENUE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space67 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
2023· 17 proposals
December 2023
- Temporary building, structure or use; Manufactured home16 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
November 2023
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Waterway structures - minor alterations; Jetty; Boat launching ramp43 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation23 GRANDVIEW STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling5 KING GEORGE STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling12 WHARF ROAD EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Dual occupancy; Garages, carports and car parking spaces1 MURRAY STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Deferred Commencement
- Other169 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces52 GRANDVIEW STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development68 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
April 2023
- Dwelling14A KALLAROO ROAD EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces71 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Dwelling23 GRANDVIEW STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Withdrawn
- Pools / decks / fencing99 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
March 2023
- Dwelling16 HIGH STREET EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
February 2023
- Subdivision of land; Retaining walls, protection of trees20 KALLAROO ROAD EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition79 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
- Demolition; Mixed use development42 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
2022· 2 proposals
October 2022
- Secondary dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing2 KALLAROO ROAD EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
September 2022
- Dwelling43 NAVAL PARADE EROWAL BAY 2540Determined
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
- Gilmore
- Member of Parliament
- Fiona PHILLIPS (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 128,995
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 44.9%Labor 55.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 10.1 km away).
Coalition 42.4%Labor 57.6%
2.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Erowal BayLabor 57.0% · Coalition 43.0% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Sanctuary PointLabor 60.8% · Coalition 39.2% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
- VincentiaLabor 59.7% · Coalition 40.3% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
- St Georges BasinLabor 58.1% · Coalition 41.9% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
- Basin ViewLabor 53.7% · Coalition 46.3% TPP (2025)6.8 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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 Shoalhaven Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.