NSW · Wollongong Council

Farmborough Heights, NSW, 2526

Desirability index

45/100

#405 among Metro Sydney suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Farmborough Heights is a smaller suburban community in the Wollongong area, home to around 4,179 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,067 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-6%), roughly 255.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $750 (flats $460, houses $760), strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population
4,179
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$2,234
Dwelling vacancy
3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
44 of 1,452
Median monthly mortgage
$2,008
Employment rate
61.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
78 / 46 / 16

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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)
$460
Houses (January to March 2026)
$760
All types (January to March 2026)
$750
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
82

Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
1,067
Against the person
218
Against property
453
Rate per 1,000 residents
255.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 19 residents
State safety percentile
17.9th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-6%

Most common offence types

  • Fraud78
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment71
  • Malicious Damage To Property66
  • Steal From Motor Vehicle71
  • Transport Regulatory Offences121

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW 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

Public transport

68 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Fairloch Av At Bardess Cres
  • Fairloch Av Before Bardess Cres
  • Fairloch Av Opp Loch Carron Av
  • Farmborough Rd Before Loch Lomond Av
  • Gerard Av At Farmborough Rd

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

128 planning-related records

2026· 8 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    37 STANLEY AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    100 PANORAMA DRIVE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Additional Information Requested
  • April 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    210 FARMBOROUGH ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • March 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space
    6 BRENDON AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Additional Information Requested
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool
    93 STANLEY AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Additional Information Requested
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    253 FARMBOROUGH ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses
    11 HIGHVIEW DRIVE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • January 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    198 FARMBOROUGH ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
2025· 14 proposals
  • November 2025

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    34 GERARD AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    131 PANORAMA DRIVE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • October 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    182 WAPLES ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Pathways and paving
    19 CARLON CRESCENT FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • August 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    103 FARMBOROUGH ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • July 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool
    54 BRENDON AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • June 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    130 WAPLES ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    61 IOLA AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • April 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    20 TANNABAH PLACE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Minor building alterations (internal); Rainwater tanks
    9 TANNABAH PLACE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    182 WAPLES ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • March 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    28 LYREBIRD WAY FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    27 ASHLEY AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • January 2025

  • Demolition
    60 STANLEY AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
2024· 22 proposals
  • December 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    18 SUGARWOOD PLACE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    1 STANLEY AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Withdrawn
  • November 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
    37 FAIRLOCH AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Withdrawn
  • October 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    3 PRIMROSE PLACE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • September 2024

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    156 WAPLES ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)
    2/255-259 Farmborough rd, Farmborough Heights 2526Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    44 LOCH CARRON AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    130C FARMBOROUGH ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    77 FAIRLOCH AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • August 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    14 LOCHVIEW AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    282 FARMBOROUGH ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • July 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    8 TANNABAH PLACE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • June 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    19 CARLON CRESCENT FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Withdrawn
  • Multi-dwelling housing; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure
    RIBBONWOOD ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Withdrawn
  • May 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    8 TANNABAH PLACE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    130C FARMBOROUGH ROAD FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    4 VISTA AVENUE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    31 BRISTOL PARADE FARMBOROUGH HEIGHTS 2526Determined
2023· 26 proposals

26 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2022· 23 proposals

23 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2021· 24 proposals

24 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2020· 11 proposals

11 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

30 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bench (2)
  • 159 Farmborough RdBus stop
  • Fairloch Ave after Ben Nevis RdBus stop
  • Fairloch Ave after Farmborough RdBus stop
  • Fairloch Ave after Loch Carron AveBus stop
  • Fairloch Ave after Lochview AveBus stop
  • Fairloch Ave at Bardess CresBus stop
  • Fairloch Ave at Farmborough RdBus stop
  • Fairloch Ave before Bardess CresBus stop
  • Fairloch Ave opp Loch Carron AveBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

5 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bristol Parade ParkPark
  • Fairloch ParkPark
  • Farmborough Heights ParkPark
  • Gerard ParkPark
  • Millingaa ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
9
Parks (OSM)
6

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
45.0/100
Cohort rank
#405 among Metro Sydney suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Fairloch Av At Bardess Crestransport
  • Fairloch Av Before Bardess Crestransport
  • Fairloch Av Opp Loch Carron Avtransport
  • Farmborough Rd Before Loch Lomond Avtransport
  • Gerard Av At Farmborough Rdtransport
  • Bristol Parade Parkgovernmentpark
  • Fairloch Parkgovernmentpark
  • Farmborough Heights Parkgovernmentpark
  • Gerard Parkgovernmentpark
  • Millingaa Parkgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

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Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.