NSW · Wollongong Council

Horsley, NSW, 2530

Desirability index

27.2/100

#538 among Metro Sydney suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Horsley is a mid-sized suburb in the Wollongong area, home to around 9,437 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,886 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+6%), roughly 199.9 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $700 (flats $500, houses $730), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population
9,437
Median age
36
Median household income / week
$2,164
Dwelling vacancy
1.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
47 of 3,109
Median monthly mortgage
$2,167
Employment rate
66.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
209 / 127 / 10

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)
$500
Houses (January to March 2026)
$730
All types (January to March 2026)
$700
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
156

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)
1,886
Against the person
510
Against property
727
Rate per 1,000 residents
199.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 19 residents
State safety percentile
15.8th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+6%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault129
  • Fraud127
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
  • Malicious Damage To Property153

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

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,006
  • Dapto Public SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

140 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bong Bong Rd Opp Horsley Dr
  • Bong Bong Rd Opp Parkdale Av
  • Denham Dr At Timms Pl
  • Reed Park, Bong Bong Rd
  • Throsby Av Before Lucas Dr

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

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

229 planning-related records

2026· 19 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    38 BONG BONG ROAD HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    21 BARHAM PLACE HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    11 OMAROO PLACE HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Bee keeping
    21 BARHAM PLACE HORSLEY 2530Additional Information Requested
  • April 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    11 BARLYN COURT HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    1 HOPBUSH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    34 ACLAND DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • March 2026

  • Subdivision
    18 SUNDEW STREET HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    11 EUODIA STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    8 AMANDA PLACE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development
    14 BRINDABELLA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Subdivision
    144 HORSLEY DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Additional Information Requested
  • February 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    8 HONEYCOMB STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    64 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    66 HONEYCOMB STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    8 WARRIGAL STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    25 WOLLONYUH CRESCENT HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • January 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    25 AYSHIRE STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development
    17 ALKIRA CIRCUIT HORSLEY 2530Determined
2025· 24 proposals
  • November 2025

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    7 HOPBUSH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • October 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    5 PAROO STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • September 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    10 HOMESTEAD DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool
    49 ACLAND DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • August 2025

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    37 MALLON AVENUE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    305 BONG BONG ROAD HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    25 WOLLONYUH CRESCENT HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • July 2025

  • Subdivision
    2 LUKE PLACE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    12 SIERRA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    64 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces
    5 PAROO STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    31 BRINDABELLA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    4 WARRIGAL STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • June 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    61 SIERRA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    13 GREYLEIGH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • May 2025

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    54 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • April 2025

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling
    9 GREYLEIGH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Air-conditioning units; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Hot water systems; Letterboxes; Rainwater tanks
    29 BLUEGUM STREET HORSLEY 2530Withdrawn
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures
    64 Shone Avenue and 20 Iredell Road, HorsleyDetermined
  • March 2025

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    24 PASTURE WAY HORSLEY 2530Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    48 ROBINS CREEK DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
2024· 38 proposals

38 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2023· 23 proposals

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

2022· 58 proposals

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

2021· 34 proposals

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

2020· 33 proposals

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

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

46 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Horsley CellarsAlcohol

    Unit 1 84 Bong Bong Road, Horsley

  • Bong Bong Rd after Glenlee DrBus stop
  • Bong Bong Rd after Parkdale AvBus stop
  • Bong Bong Rd at Denham DrBus stop
  • Bong Bong Rd at Mallon AveBus stop
  • Bong Bong Rd at Robins Creek DrBus stop
  • Bong Bong Rd opp Glenlee DrBus stop
  • Bong Bong Rd opp Horsley DrBus stop
  • Bong Bong Rd opp Iredell RdBus stop
  • Bong Bong Rd opp Mallon 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

6 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Dimond Brothers ParkPark
  • Emu ParkPark
  • Gerringulli ParkPark
  • Horsley Drive ParkPark
  • Karrara ParkPark
  • Reed ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • Horsley HomesteadBong Bong Road, DaptoSHR

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Sierra VIllage Early Learning CentreBong Bong Roadkindergarten

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · 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.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
15
Parks (OSM)
11

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
27.2/100
Cohort rank
#538 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

  • Bong Bong Rd Opp Horsley Drtransport
  • Bong Bong Rd Opp Parkdale Avtransport
  • Denham Dr At Timms Pltransport
  • Reed Park, Bong Bong Rdtransport
  • Throsby Av Before Lucas Drtransport
  • Sierra VIllage Early Learning CentrechildcareBong Bong Roadkindergarten
  • Horsley HomesteadheritageBong Bong Road, DaptoSHR
  • Dimond Brothers Parkgovernmentpark
  • Emu Parkgovernmentpark
  • Gerringulli Parkgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

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