NSW · Bathurst Regional Council

Kelso, 2795

Est. population · Jun 2025

11,010

Growth (1 yr)

+1.6%

Growth (5 yr)

+11.4%

Median age

36

Median income

$1,737/wk

Employment rate

59.3%

Median house price · October to December 2025

$728,000

Languages at home

5.7%non-English

Most common: Punjabi, Arabic, Nepali

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

64.9/100
Good

Top 7% of New South Wales' suburbs

Verified 100% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
  • National parks
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
What Kelso is known for: Green suburb, High desirability, National parks, Excellent transport, Education hub

Suburb profile

Away from the major hubs, Kelso is a established suburb in Bathurst Regional Council with its own quieter rhythm. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street.

A practical retail strip keeps errands local: groceries and daily services without a long trip. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Most routine trips are on foot, while buses cover longer journeys across the metro area.

Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.

Desirability rates good overall, led by schools and education, while safety, plus community and employment land closer to the middle of the pack for similar regional towns.

At a glance

Kelso snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

$728k

+5.0% change

Median rent

$540/wk

Houses $580 · Units $430

Population (ERP)

11,010

+1.6% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

5.1%

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

#2

among Country & regional · Growth area

Safety

68th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

81st

percentile in NSW

Advantage (IRSAD)

3/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

20th

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
64.9/100 — Good
State standing
Top 7% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
558th in Australia
State rank
143rd in NSW
Peer rank
#2 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#20 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
100%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$430
Houses (January to March 2026)
$580
All types (January to March 2026)
$540
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
375
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$728,000
Median price change
+5%

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

Population

Estimated resident population

11,010(June 2025)

+1.6% annual · +11.4% over 5 years · 81th percentile in NSW

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.6%
5-year growth
+11.4%
Change in 1 year
+175
Change in 5 years
+1,130
Growth rank in NSW
81th 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 (~12,350), extrapolated at +2.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
10,039
Median age
36
Median household income / week
$1,737
Dwelling vacancy
5.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
187 of 3,676
Median monthly mortgage
$1,800
Employment rate
59.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
3,229 / 219 / 24 (+ 9 other)

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian 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 ProfileAustralian 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)
1,041
Against the person
300
Against property
316
Rate per 1,000 residents
94.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 33 residents
State safety percentile
68.4th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+1.3%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Bail Conditions517
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault321
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment512
  • Malicious Damage To Property346
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault249

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW 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
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
936
Median ICSEA percentile
20th
School list
  • Denison College of Secondary Education, Kelso High CampusSecondary · Government · ICSEA 936 · 20th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 813 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Scots All Saints CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1087 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 779 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
  • Kelso Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 859 · 5th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 374 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

7 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Family Day CareLee Streetkindergarten
  • Goodstart Early LearningGilmour Streetkindergarten
  • Great Beginnings Early Learning Centrekindergarten
  • Grow Early EducationIngersole Drivekindergarten
  • Nurture One Kelso Children's Centrekindergarten
  • childcarechildcare
  • kindergartenkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

283 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 90 Sydney Rd
  • Emerald Dr Before Sapphire Cres
  • Lee St After White Rock Rd
  • Newlands Cres Before Wheatfield Dr
  • Percival Pl After Kirkland Rd

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

167 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 cafes · 1 supermarkets · 6 fast food · 1 bakeries · 1 playgrounds · 6 swimming pools · 1 ev charging · 4 petrol stations

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Highly walkable for everyday errands
  • Great for outdoor family life28 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport283 public transport stops
  • Good everyday shopping nearby6 shops and services
  • Strong local sport and recreation11 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
71/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.1
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.8
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.79
Food & drink(8)
  • Bakehouse on the BoulevardBakery
  • Cafe
  • Carl's Jr.Fast food
  • Fast food
  • Kelso Tucker BoxFast food
  • KFCFast food
  • McDonald'sFast food
  • OportoFast food
Shopping(6)
  • G & K Allen Quality MeatsButcher
  • BP ShopConvenience store
  • Go 24 KelsoConvenience store
  • Woolworths PetrolConvenience store
  • Kelso Fruit MarketGreengrocer
  • FoodworksSupermarket
Community(4)
  • Grow Early EducationKindergarten

    11 Ingersole Drive, Kelso

  • Kindergarten
  • Nurture One Kelso Children's CentreKindergarten
  • Denison College - Kelso High CampusSchool

    88 Boyd Street, Kelso

Sport & outdoors(19)
  • One StrengthGym
  • Plus FitnessGym

    Unit 3 3a Pat O'Leary Drive, Kelso

  • World GymGym
  • Bell ParkPark
  • Bunora ParkPark
  • Park (5)
  • Sunbright Rd Native BufferPark
  • Playground
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (6)
Transport(31)

31 bus stops

Other(63)
  • Alcohol
  • Bathurst Animal Rehoming CentreAnimal Shelter

    58 Hampden Park Road

  • Apartment (8)
  • big gold pannerAttraction
  • Highgrove BathroomsBathroom Furnishing
  • SnoozeBed
  • Clancy FordCar
  • IsuzuCar
  • KiaCar
  • MitsubishiCar
  • RepcoCar Parts
  • Supercheap AutoCar Parts
  • SixtCar Rental
  • Blatch Quality Smash RepairsCar repair
  • NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday ParkCaravan Site
  • Ideal RugsCarpet
  • Harvey NormanDepartment Store

    1 Muldoon Avenue

  • bp pulseEV charging
  • SpotlightFabric

    Unit 6 3 Pat O'Leary Drive, Kelso

  • Kelso Fire StationFire station

    4 Pat O'Leary Drive, Kelso

  • 1825 InteriorsFurniture
  • AmartFurniture
  • Ashley Furniture HomestoreFurniture
  • Eureka Street FurnitureFurniture
  • Fantastic FurnitureFurniture
  • Home Sweet HomeFurniture

    Unit 2 3 Pat O'Leary Drive, Kelso

  • Homemakers Furniture and BeddingFurniture
  • Lounges PlusFurniture
  • Original Mattress FactoryFurniture
  • Sleep ZoneFurniture
  • Hairdresser
  • Sydney ToolsHardware
  • Total ToolsHardware
  • The Coachmans Inn MotelHotel
  • Harris ScarfeHousehold Linen;Houseware;Clothes;Appliance
  • Supa-WashLaundry
  • Gold Panner Motor InnMotel
  • Kelso Centrepoint NewsagencyNewsagent
  • 4WD SupacentreOutdoor

    Unit 2 13-15 Ingersole Drive

  • AnacondaOutdoor
  • BCFOutdoor

    230-240 Sydney Road

  • Compleat Angler and Camping WorldOutdoor
  • Parking (27)
  • PetbarnPet
  • PetstockPet

    Unit 1 3 Pat O'Leary Drive, Kelso

  • AmpolPetrol station
  • BPPetrol station
  • IORPetrol station

    57 Hampden Park Road

  • MetroPetrol station
  • Kelso Community HubPublic Building
  • JaycarRadiotechnics

    Unit 3 3 Pat O'Leary Drive, Kelso

  • Livewire ElectronicsRadiotechnics
  • Shelter
  • Bathurst GardensSocial Facility
  • RebelSports
  • OfficeworksStationery
  • King of the PackTobacco
  • Applied Industrial TechnologiesTrade
  • RSEA SafetyTrade
  • Trampoline Park
  • Vacant

    Unit 5 3 Pat O'Leary Drive, Kelso

  • Vacant (4)
  • Cheap As ChipsVariety Store

    Unit 4 3 Pat O'Leary Drive, Kelso

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 insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

10 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Bell ParkPark
  • Berry ParkPark
  • Bressington ParkPark
  • Bunora ParkPark
  • Collins ParkPark
  • Jarrah ParkPark
  • Learmonth ParkPark
  • River Road BMX TrackPark
  • Sunbright Rd Native BufferPark
  • The Brick Pit WetlandsNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
28
Parks (OSM)
28

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

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
3
Nearest hospital
Bathurst Private Hospital (3.6 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • Gilmour Street SpecialistsGilmour StreetDoctor
  • Kelso Medical CentreDoctor
  • TerryWhite ChemmartGilmour StreetPharmacy

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
391
Participants per 1,000 residents
35.5

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

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
24° / 13°
Rainfall
282 mm · ~35 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
18° / 9°
Rainfall
241 mm · ~30 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
11° / 3°
Rainfall
179 mm · ~22 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 7°
Rainfall
201 mm · ~25 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.

2026· 39 proposals
  • August 2026

  • Signage; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Early Education and Care Facility
    12 BOLAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • July 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    145 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    10 ABLETT COURT KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    2 GREGORY STREET KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    21 BOYD STREET KELSO 2795Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    39 BASALT WAY KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; School
    10 FRENCH SMITH PLACE KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Automotive/truck premises; Vehicle repair station
    36 HAMPDEN PARK ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
  • Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure
    14 FEDERATION DRIVE KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure
    59 BASALT WAY KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • June 2026

  • Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development
    61 MCBRIEN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry
    10 MICHIGAN ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
  • Commercial development; Erection of a new structure
    6 MICHIGAN ROAD KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)
    74 ILUMBA WAY KELSO 2795Determined
  • May 2026

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle body repair workshop
    3 WHYALLA CIRCUIT KELSO 2795Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    4 CHARLES PLACE KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    60 BRENNAN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Water storage facility
    50 WHYALLA CIRCUIT KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    Toronto street Kelso 2795Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    151 Graham Drive, Kelso NSW 2795Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    41 NEWLANDS CRESCENT KELSO 2795Determined
  • Multi-dwelling housing; Seniors housing; Independent living units; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure
    101 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    57 SUNBRIGHT ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
  • April 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    37 JAMES BARNET DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • March 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Depot
    110 LEE STREET KELSO 2795Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    36 MENDEL DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle repair station
    51 HAMPDEN PARK ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    34 SUNDOWN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Subdivision
    6 CARDIFF PLACE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    40 HUGHES STREET KELSO 2795Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    122 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • February 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    5 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    55 BRENNAN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    137 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Storage premises
    6/51 Hampden Park Rd KelsoDetermined
  • January 2026

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development
    4 JARRAH COURT KELSO 2795Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    37 GILMOUR STREET KELSO 2795Determined
  • Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    54 BRENNAN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)
    53 JAMES BARNET DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
2025· 11 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Subdivision
    2 ASHWORTH DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    4 CONNOLLY DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    34 SUNDOWN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Temporary building, structure or use; Moveable dwelling
    26A SYDNEY ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
  • Subdivision
    JACKS CLOSE KELSO 2795Determined
  • November 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    33 SUNBRIGHT ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)
    10 HUGHES STREET KELSO 2795Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    53 BRENNAN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool
    101 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
  • October 2025

  • Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation
    82 SYDNEY ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
  • Temporary building, structure or use; Moveable dwelling
    26A SYDNEY ROAD KELSO 2795Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • Holy Trinity Anglican Church Group71-85 Gilmour Street KelsoSHR

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · current · Updated

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Calare
Member of Parliament
Andrew GEE (Independent)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
124,664
Turnout (2025)
92.7%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+3.2 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 62.3%Labor 37.7%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.6 km away).

Coalition 58.0%Labor 42.0%

4.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +0.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • KelsoLabor 37.3% · Coalition 62.7% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
  • Bathurst SouthLabor 51.1% · Coalition 48.9% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
  • Bathurst CityLabor 40.5% · Coalition 59.5% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
  • Bathurst CentralLabor 46.0% · Coalition 54.0% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
  • BathurstLabor 46.6% · Coalition 53.4% TPP (2025)3.2 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

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

This suburb ranks highly for

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Bathurst Regional Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.