NSW · Carrathool Council
Hillston, 2675
Current weather
14.2°CClear sky
66% humidity · 25.4 km/h wind · 17° / 9.3° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Hillston is a hillside smaller community in Carrathool, with elevated streets and a greener, quieter pace. Remote from the metro area in the best sense: quiet streets, big skies and a town that runs on its own timetable. Fresh country air and elevated outlooks are part of the appeal up here among the hills.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in transport and access and parks and green space. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,547
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $1,486
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 69 of 595
- Median monthly mortgage
- $901
- Employment rate
- 62%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 46 / 0 / 23
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 · 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)
- 147
- Against the person
- 26
- Against property
- 37
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 95
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 60 residents
- State safety percentile
- 66.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions17
- Domestic Violence Related Assault13
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment9
- Liquor Offences15
- Other Offences18
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 · 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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 961
- Hillston Central SchoolCombined
- St Joseph's Parish SchoolPrimary
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 · 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
141 public transport stops in this suburb
- 127 Mossgiel Rd
- 157 Mossgiel Rd
- Mossgiel Rd Opp 127
- Mossgiel Rd Opp 157
- The Springs Rd Opp Cowper St
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
90 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Car park63 BURNS STREET HILLSTON 2675Additional Information Requested
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Depot30-32 LACHLAN STREET HILLSTON 2675Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing15-19 FLORENCE STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Self storage units25 COLLINS STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
2025· 21 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home23 MOORE STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing15-19 FLORENCE STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Build-to-rentOXLEY AVENUE HILLSTON 2675Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; General industry58-60 COLLINS STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
September 2025
- Demolition63 BURNS STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Fences11014 KIDMAN WAY HILLSTON 2675Determined
August 2025
- Advertising and signage; Service station165-167 COWPER STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure35 MCGREGOR STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Electricity generating facility (solar and wind)KIDMAN WAY HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Erection of a new structure; General industry37-39 COLLINS STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool50-50A BYRON STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 CHARLES STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 CHARLES STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure9 COWPER STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 COWPER STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home2990 ROTO ROAD HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4-28 COLLINS STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah17-19 BURNS STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport3 MCGEE STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
January 2025
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure; Intensive plant agriculture514 MOSSGIEL ROAD HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Centre-based child care61 BURNS STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
2024· 15 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Registered club63 MOSSGIEL ROAD HILLSTON 2675Determined
October 2024
- Advertising and signage; Temporary building, structure or use; Shop; Hours of operation and trading151 HIGH STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Horticulture2990 ROTO ROAD HILLSTON 2675Withdrawn
August 2024
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structureLACHLAN RIVER ROAD HILLSTON 2675Determined
July 2024
- Business premises; Erection of a new structure165 HIGH STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
June 2024
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structureLACHLAN RIVER ROAD HILLSTON 2675Determined
May 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Electricity generating facility (solar and wind)10738 KIDMAN WAY HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Intensive plant agriculture; Horticulture; Farm building; Water reticulation system; Water supply system514 MOSSGIEL ROAD HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Electricity generating facility (solar and wind)KIDMAN WAY HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structureLACHLAN RIVER ROAD HILLSTON 2675Determined
April 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure21 ROSE STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
March 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport14 GRATTAN STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure39 LACHLAN STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
February 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Centre-based child care61 BURNS STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
- Subdivision10 AIDAN STREET HILLSTON 2675Determined
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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- BootheragandraPark
- Desathlon ParkPark
- Hughie Cameron ParkPark
- Memorial ParkPark
- River ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- On site
- Hillston Multi-Purpose ServiceBurns Streethospital
- Hillston Pharmacypharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Willandra HomesteadWillandra National ParkSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 37.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3892nd in Australia
- State rank
- 1228th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #69 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #430 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime17
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime13
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime9
- Liquor Offencescrime15
- Other Offencescrime18
- 127 Mossgiel Rdtransport
- 157 Mossgiel Rdtransport
- Mossgiel Rd Opp 127transport
- Mossgiel Rd Opp 157transport
- The Springs Rd Opp Cowper Sttransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Carrathool Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.