NSW · Wagga Wagga Council
Forest Hill (NSW), NSW, 2651
Desirability index
#259 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Forest Hill (NSW) is a smaller suburban community in the Wagga Wagga area, home to around 3,081 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 174 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+35%), roughly 56.5 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $505, 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, 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.
Population
- Population
- 3,081
- Median age
- 25
- Median household income / week
- $1,788
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 56 of 890
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 68.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 82 / 8 / 66
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $515
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)
- 174
- Against the person
- 58
- Against property
- 77
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 56.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 53 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.2th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +34.9%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order14
- Break And Enter Dwelling13
- Domestic Violence Related Assault17
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment20
- Malicious Damage To Property24
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
- 941
- Forest Hill 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
46 public transport stops in this suburb
- Allonby Av After Banner St
- Elizabeth Av After Brunskill Av
- Fife St Opp Forest Hill Shops
- Mangrove Cres At Melaleuca Dr
- Melaleuca Dr At Boree Av
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
- RoadworksSturt Highway, Fife Street01 Mar 2026 – 01 Nov 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).
123 planning-related records
2026· 16 proposals
June 2026
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure; Supporting Development304 BRAEHOUR ROAD FOREST HILL 2651Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 MOONAH STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 SMITH STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation22 FLINTWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 LYONS CRESCENT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation14 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation9 MOONAH STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 COX AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
2025· 35 proposals
November 2025
- Subdivision1 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah2 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Rainwater tanks; Manufactured home304 BRAEHOUR ROAD FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation42 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure20 HAZELWOOD DRIVE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space9 BEECH STREET FOREST HILL 2651Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support23 PAPERBARK DRIVE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Car park; Community facility3185 STURT HIGHWAY FOREST HILL 2651Rejected
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation36 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure44 DUNN AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
2024· 17 proposals
17 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 20 proposals
20 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 18 proposals
18 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 17 proposals
17 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
31 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Liquor Legends Forest HillAlcohol
Unit 2 34 Allonby Avenue, Forest Hill
- ATM
- Bbq
- Allonby Av after Banner StBus stop
- Brunskill Av at Elizabeth AvBus stop
- Cox Av after Sackville DrBus stop
- Cox Av at Elizabeth AvBus stop
- Cox Av at Wattle StBus stop
- Cox Av before Elizabeth AvBus stop
- Elizabeth Av after Brunskill AvBus stop
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
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Clive Brunskill Memorial ParkPark
- RAAF Wagga Gate GuardiansPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- 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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 14
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 71.9/100
- Cohort rank
- #259 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
- Allonby Av After Banner Sttransport
- Elizabeth Av After Brunskill Avtransport
- Fife St Opp Forest Hill Shopstransport
- Mangrove Cres At Melaleuca Drtransport
- Melaleuca Dr At Boree Avtransport
- Clive Brunskill Memorial Parkgovernmentpark
- RAAF Wagga Gate Guardiansgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning2 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Lodged 03 Sep 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Car park; Community facilityplanning3185 STURT HIGHWAY FOREST HILL 2651Lodged 26 Jun 2025 · Rejected
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Rainwater tanks; Manufactured homeplanning304 BRAEHOUR ROAD FOREST HILL 2651Lodged 03 Sep 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- 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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