suburb.guide

NSW · Bega Valley Council

Kalaru, NSW, 2550

Desirability index

43.5/100

#260 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Kalaru is a small locality in the Bega Valley area, home to around 820 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 783 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-10%), roughly 954.9 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $550 (flats $410, houses $580), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.

Population

Population
820
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,458
Dwelling vacancy
5.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
19 of 330
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Employment rate
59.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
16 / 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.

Housing

Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$410
Houses (January to March 2026)
$580
All types (January to March 2026)
$550
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
83

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)
783
Against the person
229
Against property
280
Rate per 1,000 residents
954.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 4 residents
State safety percentile
32.8th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-10.3%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order61
  • Breach Bail Conditions45
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault54
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment78
  • Malicious Damage To Property93

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
  • Bournda Environmental Education CentreCombined

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

43 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 30 Ike Game Rd
  • 44 Jellat Way
  • Jellat Way At Ike Game Rd
  • Tathra Rd Before Blackfellows Lake Rd
  • Tathra Rd Opp Blackfellows Lake Rd

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

1 active roadworks / incidents

  • Allow extra travel time. Check signage. Expect delays. Council’s Civil Construction Team and Pavement Team will carry out road surface stabilisation works and drainage works.Traffic control will be in place for the duration of works, including a reduced speed limit, intermittent lane closures and detours at times. Road users should expect delays.Tathra Road, Strathmore Crescent10 Mar 2026 – 03 Jul 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).

102 planning-related records

2026· 7 proposals

  • June 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    52 LAKE COHEN DRIVE KALARU 2550Under Assessment

  • May 2026

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Neighbourhood shop
    564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Additional Information Requested

  • April 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    14 ARMSTRONG DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • March 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    56 ARMSTRONG DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • February 2026

  • Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping material supply
    564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Determined

  • January 2026

  • Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Advertising structure
    564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    LOT 703 NAKURU DRIVE SILVERDALEDetermined
2025· 11 proposals

  • November 2025

  • Demolition
    564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Additional Information Requested

  • September 2025

  • Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure; Hardware and building supply
    564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    21 ARMSTRONG DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • August 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    52 LAKE COHEN DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • July 2025

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    44 BLACKFELLOWS LAKE ROAD KALARU 2550Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 6123 COALMINER DRIVE CLADERWOOD NSW 2527Determined

  • May 2025

  • Subdivision
    396 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Determined
  • Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    LOT STAFFORD DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • March 2025

  • Demolition
    564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Withdrawn

  • January 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    PROPOSED LOT 209 BALLYMORE DRIVE, CHISHOLMDetermined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    PROPOSED LOT 208 BALLYMORE DRIVE, CHISHOLMDetermined
2024· 22 proposals

  • December 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Water reticulation system; Water supply system
    Oppsite Lot 7 DP568414Determined

  • November 2024

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Camping ground
    52 IKE GAME ROAD KALARU 2550Determined

  • October 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    PROPOSED LOT 306 DUBLIN DRIVE, CHISHOLMDetermined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    340 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    PROPOSED LOT 305 DUBLIN DRIVE, CHISHOLMDetermined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    PROPOSED LOT 206 BALLYMORE DRIVE, CHISHOLM NSWDetermined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    Proposed Lot 207 Ballymore Drive, ChisholmDetermined

  • September 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    30 APPLE BERRY LANE KALARU 2550Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    37 LOMANDRA AVENUE KALARU 2550Determined

  • August 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    67 LAKE COHEN DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • July 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 104/11//1216082 Jeeralong drive SchofieldsDetermined

  • June 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    33 APPLE BERRY LANE KALARU 2550Withdrawn

  • May 2024

  • Subdivision
    544 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    56 STRATHMORE CRESCENT KALARU 2550Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    75 LOT STAFFORD DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • April 2024

  • Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    27 KURRAJONG CRESCENT KALARU 2550Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Storage premises; Self storage units
    1 OLD WALLAGOOT ROAD KALARU 2550Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    5 LOT STAFFORD DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • March 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    44 LOT STAFFORD DRIVE KALARU 2550Determined

  • February 2024

  • 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 Australia; Garage, carport or carparking space
    19 APPLE BERRY LANE KALARU 2550Determined

  • January 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    26 BLACKFELLOWS LAKE ROAD KALARU 2550Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    15 DONNELLAN PLACE KALARU 2550Determined
2023· 27 proposals

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

2022· 22 proposals

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

2021· 11 proposals

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

2020· 2 proposals

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

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Tathra Rd before Blackfellows Lake RdBus stop
  • Tathra Rd opp Blackfellows Lake RdBus stop
  • Playground
  • Public toilets

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

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

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

Data sources & freshness

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

Desirability index

Desirability score
43.5/100
Cohort rank
#260 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • 30 Ike Game Rdtransport
  • 44 Jellat Waytransport
  • Jellat Way At Ike Game Rdtransport
  • Tathra Rd Before Blackfellows Lake Rdtransport
  • Tathra Rd Opp Blackfellows Lake Rdtransport
  • Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping material supplyplanning564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Lodged 05 Feb 2026 · Determined
  • Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Advertising structureplanning564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Lodged 15 Jan 2026 · Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning26 BLACKFELLOWS LAKE ROAD KALARU 2550Lodged 16 Jan 2024 · Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Camping groundplanning52 IKE GAME ROAD KALARU 2550Lodged 21 Nov 2024 · Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Neighbourhood shopplanning564 TATHRA ROAD KALARU 2550Lodged 05 May 2026 · Additional Information Requested

Data sources & freshness

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