NSW · Bathurst Regional Council
Kelso (NSW), NSW, 2795
Desirability index
#128 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Kelso (NSW) is a mid-sized suburb in the Bathurst Regional area, home to around 10,039 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 4,486 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+1%), roughly 446.9 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $540 (flats $430, houses $580), 3 school and preschool sites 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 and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- 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)
- 325 / 219 / 24
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)
- $430
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $580
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $540
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 375
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 4,486
- Against the person
- 1,294
- Against property
- 1,362
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 446.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 8 residents
- State safety percentile
- 23.3th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +1.1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions517
- Domestic Violence Related Assault321
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment512
- Malicious Damage To Property346
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault249
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 936
- Denison College of Secondary Education, Kelso High CampusSecondary
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School KelsoPrimary
- Kelso Public SchoolPrimary
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
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
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
563 planning-related records
2026· 29 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development61 MCBRIEN DRIVE KELSO 2795Under Assessment
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry10 MICHIGAN ROAD KELSO 2795Additional Information Requested
- Commercial development; Erection of a new structure6 MICHIGAN ROAD KELSO 2795Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)74 ILUMBA WAY KELSO 2795Under Assessment
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 workshop3 WHYALLA CIRCUIT KELSO 2795Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 CHARLES PLACE KELSO 2795Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support60 BRENNAN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Water storage facility50 WHYALLA CIRCUIT KELSO 2795Under Assessment
- SubdivisionToronto street Kelso 2795Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support151 Graham Drive, Kelso NSW 2795Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure41 NEWLANDS CRESCENT KELSO 2795Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Seniors housing; Independent living units; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure101 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure57 SUNBRIGHT ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure37 JAMES BARNET DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Depot110 LEE STREET KELSO 2795Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Carport36 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 station51 HAMPDEN PARK ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 SUNDOWN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Subdivision6 CARDIFF PLACE KELSO 2795Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support40 HUGHES STREET KELSO 2795Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support122 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation5 GRAHAM DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55 BRENNAN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support137 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 premises6/51 Hampden Park Rd KelsoDetermined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development4 JARRAH COURT KELSO 2795Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space37 GILMOUR STREET KELSO 2795Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support54 BRENNAN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)53 JAMES BARNET DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
2025· 62 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision2 ASHWORTH DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support4 CONNOLLY DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 SUNDOWN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Moveable dwelling26A SYDNEY ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
- SubdivisionJACKS CLOSE KELSO 2795Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 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 structure53 BRENNAN DRIVE KELSO 2795Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool101 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 Accommodation82 SYDNEY ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Moveable dwelling26A SYDNEY ROAD KELSO 2795Determined
2024· 88 proposals
88 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 81 proposals
81 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 148 proposals
148 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 155 proposals
155 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
79 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bakehouse on the BoulevardBakery
- SnoozeBed
- 28 Sapphire CresBus stop
- 59 Sydney RdBus stop
- 90 Sydney RdBus stop
- Ashworth Dr at Amber ClBus stop
- Ashworth Dr at Diamond ClBus stop
- Ashworth Dr before Emerald DrBus stop
- Ashworth Dr before Sydney RdBus stop
- Bannerman Cres at Greville StBus stop
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
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
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Gilmour Street SpecialistsGilmour Streetdoctor
- Kelso Medical Centredoctor
- TerryWhite ChemmartGilmour Streetpharmacy
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.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Holy Trinity Anglican Church Group71-85 Gilmour Street KelsoSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
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
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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 overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 28
- Parks (OSM)
- 28
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 85.6/100
- Cohort rank
- #128 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 90 Sydney Rdtransport
- Emerald Dr Before Sapphire Crestransport
- Lee St After White Rock Rdtransport
- Newlands Cres Before Wheatfield Drtransport
- Percival Pl After Kirkland Rdtransport
- Family Day CarechildcareLee Streetkindergarten
- Goodstart Early LearningchildcareGilmour Streetkindergarten
- Great Beginnings Early Learning Centrechildcarekindergarten
- Grow Early EducationchildcareIngersole Drivekindergarten
- Nurture One Kelso Children's Centrechildcarekindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.