NSW · Bellingen Council
Fernbrook, NSW, 2453
Suburb snapshot
Fernbrook is a small locality in the Bellingen area, home to around 131 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 143 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-16%), roughly 1091.6 offences per 1,000 residents, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, and some planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 131
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $1,271
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 11 of 64
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,107
- Employment rate
- 57.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 143
- Against the person
- 47
- Against property
- 68
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 1,091.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 3 residents
- State safety percentile
- 34.9th (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
Public transport
16 public transport stops in this suburb
- 4563 Waterfall Way
- 4680 Waterfall Way
- 4690 Waterfall Way
- Deer Vale Rd Opp Borra Creek Rd
- Waterfall Way At Fernbrook Loop 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).
5 planning-related records
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia5070 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Determined
2023· 1 proposal
May 2023
- Farm buildings; Change of use201 FERNBROOK LOOP ROAD FERNBROOK 2453Determined
2021· 1 proposal
October 2021
- Farm buildings5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2023… · 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
Recent changes
- 4563 Waterfall Waytransport
- 4680 Waterfall Waytransport
- 4690 Waterfall Waytransport
- Deer Vale Rd Opp Borra Creek Rdtransport
- Waterfall Way At Fernbrook Loop Rdtransport
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australiaplanning5070 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Lodged 08 Aug 2025 · Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Agricultureplanning5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Lodged 12 Dec 2025 · Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Agricultureplanning5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Lodged 07 Aug 2025 · Determined
- Farm buildingsplanning5522 WATERFALL WAY FERNBROOK 2453Lodged 21 Oct 2021 · Determined
- Farm buildings; Change of useplanning201 FERNBROOK LOOP ROAD FERNBROOK 2453Lodged 19 May 2023 · 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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