NSW · Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

Karabar, NSW, 2620

Desirability index

70.5/100

#273 among Country & regional suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Karabar is a mid-sized suburb in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional area, home to around 8,517 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 3,162 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+8%), roughly 371.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $580 (flats $440, houses $690), 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, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population
8,517
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$1,989
Dwelling vacancy
5.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
176 of 3,255
Median monthly mortgage
$1,950
Employment rate
62.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
237 / 518 / 85

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)
$440
Houses (January to March 2026)
$690
All types (January to March 2026)
$580
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
423

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)
3,162
Against the person
760
Against property
1,221
Rate per 1,000 residents
371.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 11 residents
State safety percentile
21.5th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+7.8%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Bail Conditions340
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault191
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment272
  • Malicious Damage To Property340
  • Steal From Retail Store195

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
944
  • Tirriwirri SchoolSpecial

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

82 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Cooma St After Southbar Rd
  • Cooma St Opp Southbar Rd
  • Donald Rd At Anne St
  • Karabar High School, Alanbar St
  • Queanbeyan South Public School, School Grounds

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

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

170 planning-related records

2026· 18 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    19 ALFRED PLACE KARABAR 2620Additional Information Requested
  • Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation
    4 MORGAN PLACE KARABAR 2620Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    52 PINDARI CRESCENT KARABAR 2620Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport
    12 MURRAY STREET KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    3 PALMER CLOSE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    18 LOCHIEL STREET KARABAR 2620Under Assessment
  • April 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    9 MONK PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    8 LAURA PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • March 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care
    20 WILGABAR WAY KARABAR 2620Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    28 DOEBERL PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    45 PINDARI CRESCENT KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Residential Accommodation
    1 Eugenia Street Karabar QueanbeyanDetermined
  • Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    28 DOEBERL PLACE KARABAR 2620Rejected
  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    30 MURRAY STREET KARABAR 2620Determined
  • February 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    30 ANNE STREET KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    62 RUSTEN STREET KARABAR 2620Determined
  • 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 Australia
    41 ALANBAR STREET KARABAR 2620Determined
  • January 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space
    109 CANDLEBARK ROAD KARABAR 2620Determined
2025· 20 proposals
  • November 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    52 CHRISTOPHER CRESCENT KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    8 TEMORA PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • September 2025

  • Subdivision
    9 BEARD CLOSE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    19A ALFRED PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Multi-dwelling housing; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation
    4 MORGAN PLACE KARABAR 2620Withdrawn
  • August 2025

  • 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 Australia; Shop
    34 QUEENBAR ROAD KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (indoor)
    1 4 SOUTHBAR ROAD KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (indoor)
    1 4 SOUTHBAR ROAD KARABAR 2620Rejected
  • July 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    9 HAMBLY PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house
    7 INGLESIDE ROAD KARABAR 2620Determined
  • June 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    3 BADEN PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    19A ALFRED PLACE KARABAR 2620Rejected
  • May 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    5 WEBBER PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    15 BORONIA CRESCENT KARABAR 2620Withdrawn
  • April 2025

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    4 MORGAN PLACE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Subdivision
    16 BARRACKS FLAT DRIVE KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    19A ALFRED PLACE KARABAR 2620Rejected
  • March 2025

  • Subdivision
    2 SASSAFRAS CRESCENT KARABAR 2620Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    18 WILGABAR WAY KARABAR 2620Determined
  • February 2025

  • Subdivision
    2 SASSAFRAS CRESCENT KARABAR 2620Rejected
2024· 27 proposals
  • December 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    7 Alfred Place Karabar 2620Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    71 CAMERON ROAD KARABAR 2620Determined
2023· 20 proposals

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

2022· 33 proposals

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

2021· 46 proposals

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

2020· 6 proposals

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

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

35 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • 128 Candlebark RdBus stop
  • Barracks Flat Dr at Alfred PlBus stop
  • Barracks Flat Dr at Fitzgibbon PlBus stop
  • Barracks Flat Dr before River DrBus stop
  • Barracks Flat Dr opp Emery CresBus stop
  • Barracks Flat Dr opp River DrBus stop
  • Bus stop (3)
  • Cameron Rd opp Wirilda CresBus stop
  • Candlebark Rd at Nimbus PlBus stop
  • Candlebark Rd at Throsby ClBus 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

20 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Ash ParkletPark
  • Banksia ParkletPark
  • Barracks Flat Neighbourhood ParkPark
  • Boronia ParkletPark
  • Coolabah ParkletPark
  • Dane Street ParkPark
  • East Hayley ParkletPark
  • East Murray ParkletPark
  • Harper ParkletPark
  • Ingleside ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

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

Data sources & freshness

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)
33
Parks (OSM)
30

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
70.5/100
Cohort rank
#273 among Country & regional suburbs

Data sources & freshness

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

Recent changes

  • Cooma St After Southbar Rdtransport
  • Cooma St Opp Southbar Rdtransport
  • Donald Rd At Anne Sttransport
  • Karabar High School, Alanbar Sttransport
  • Queanbeyan South Public School, School Groundstransport
  • Ash Parkletgovernmentpark
  • Banksia Parkletgovernmentpark
  • Barracks Flat Neighbourhood Parkgovernmentpark
  • Boronia Parkletgovernmentpark
  • Coolabah Parkletgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

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