Median house price
$1.42M
+4.8% change
NSW · Wollongong Council
Helensburgh, 2508
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,609
Growth (1 yr)
+0.4%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.2%
Median age
38
Median income
$2,490/wk
Employment rate
67.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,415,000
Languages at home
4.7%non-English
Most common: German, Mandarin, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Wollongong Council, Helensburgh is a mid-sized suburb with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Sydney is reachable when needed, but everyday life stays firmly rooted in the surrounding region. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, and buses and trains help with longer trips.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment.
At a glance
Helensburgh snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$765/wk
Population (ERP)
6,609
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
3.9%
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
#25
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
5th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
46th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
74th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
- 54.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 22% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1617th in Australia
- State rank
- 472nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #25 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #74 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $795
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,415,000
- Median price change
- +4.8%
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
6,609(June 2025)
+0.4% annual · -0.2% over 5 years · 46th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.4%
- 5-year growth
- -0.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +25
- Change in 5 years
- -16
- Growth rank in NSW
- 46th 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 (~6,700), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 6,576
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $2,490
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 88 of 2,255
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,500
- Employment rate
- 67.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,784 / 61 / 302 (+ 12 other)
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 155
- Against the person
- 49
- Against property
- 48
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 23.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 134 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +7.2%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault19
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property27
- Steal From Motor Vehicle19
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 1,064
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 74th
School list
- Helensburgh Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1057 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 460 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Holy Cross Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 184 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Happy Hearts Academy Early Learning CentrePrinces Highwaykindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
135 public transport stops in this suburb
- Helensburgh Station
- LFT Carpark
- STR Carpark
- STR/LFT To Carpark
- STR/LFT To P1/2
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
62 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 2 pubs · 1 supermarkets · 1 libraries · 1 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Decent local green space — 4 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 135 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 61/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.46
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.61
Food & drink(3)
- The Centennial HotelPub
- Tradies HelensburghPub
- Raya ThaiRestaurant
Shopping(1)
- ColesSupermarket
Community(3)
- Helensburgh LibraryLibrary
- Helensburgh Public SchoolSchool
Fletcher Street, Helensburgh
- Holy Cross Catholic Parish Primary SchoolSchool
1 McMillan Street, Helensburgh
Health & services(1)
- Doctor's SurgeryMedical clinic
Sport & outdoors(7)
- Charles Harper ParkPark
- Norm O'Brien ParkPark
- Park
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
- Helensburgh Memorial PoolSwimming pool
Transport(22)
19 bus stops · 3 train stations
Other(11)
- Helensburg Glow WormsAttraction
- Old Helensburgh StationAttraction
- Bike Lockers - Helensburgh Station, Tunnel RdBicycle Parking
- Drinking water
- Parking (15)
- Shell Petrol StationPetrol station
- Bushland ChapelPlace of worship
- Helensburgh Police StationPolice
- Australia PostPost office
- Public toilets
- Helensburg ExchangeTelephone Exchange
60 Walker Street
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Charles Harper ParkPark
- Norm O'Brien ParkPark
- Old Quarry ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 10
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Bushland Chapel
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Coledale Hospital (11.6 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Doctor's SurgeryDoctor
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)
- 137
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 20.7
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
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 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· 26 proposals
August 2026
- Subdivision83-85 THE RIDGE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
July 2026
- Signage; Advertising and signage11 FLETCHER STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure70 WALKER STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)9 EAST STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WERRONG ROAD HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 HUME DRIVE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure199 PARKES STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure70 PRINCES HIGHWAY HELENSBURGH 2508Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure155 PARKES STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 HEATHCOTE STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Subdivision55 THE CRESCENT HELENSBURGH 2508Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 PARK AVENUE HELENSBURGH 2508Under Assessment
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies2B ROBERTSON STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
April 2026
- Subdivision83-85 THE RIDGE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation58 OLD QUARRY CIRCUIT HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)20 OLD FARM ROAD HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure79 THE RIDGE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool28 THE RIDGE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool221 PARKES STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 POSTMANS TRACK HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Animal boarding or training establishment7-11 LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure107 PARKES STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22A OLD STATION ROAD HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Subdivision94 PARKES STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space30 PARKES STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Vehicle body repair workshop; Vehicle repair station; Vehicle Sales or Hire Premises159 WALKER STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Under Assessment
2025· 19 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision11 OLD STATION ROAD HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision46-48 PARK AVENUE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 ROBERTSON STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 TABRATONG ROAD HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
October 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation94 PARKES STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Function centre100 BAINES PLACE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah6A COWPER LANE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 LAURINA AVENUE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)17 HAY STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Minor building alterations (internal)11 TABRATONG ROAD HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)9 EAST STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure5 HALLS ROAD HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- 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; Transport depot151 PRINCES HIGHWAY HELENSBURGH 2508Additional Information Requested
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 THE RIDGE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah19 HUME DRIVE HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Demolition; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support4 CAMP CREEK LANE HELENSBURGH 2508Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure199 PARKES STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia16 ROBERTSON STREET HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Dual occupancy (attached)8 THE CRESCENT HELENSBURGH 2508Determined
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)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Helensburgh Railway Station groupTunnel Road, North Of, HelensburghSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Cunningham
- Member of Parliament
- Alison BYRNES (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,139
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 32.5%Labor 67.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 16.4 km away).
Coalition 33.6%Labor 66.4%
1.1 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +9.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Helensburgh NorthLabor 67.0% · Coalition 33.0% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- HelensburghLabor 61.9% · Coalition 38.1% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
- Stanwell ParkLabor 67.9% · Coalition 32.1% TPP (2025)5.3 km away
- WombarraLabor 73.0% · Coalition 27.0% TPP (2025)10.7 km away
- ColedaleLabor 69.9% · Coalition 30.1% TPP (2025)12.6 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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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 Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.