NSW · Kiama Council
Kiama, NSW, 2533
Desirability index
97.2/100
How this score is calculated#9 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Kiama is a smaller suburban community in the Kiama area, home to around 7,904 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 607 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-12%), roughly 76.8 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $750 (flats $605, houses $800), 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
- 7,904
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,572
- Dwelling vacancy
- 16.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 628 of 3,860
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 47.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 194 / 780 / 621
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)
- $605
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $800
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 78
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)
- 607
- Against the person
- 127
- Against property
- 281
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 76.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 62 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6.7th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -11.5%
Most common offence types
- Fraud44
- Malicious Damage To Property53
- Other Theft40
- Steal From Retail Store38
- Transport Regulatory Offences67
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)
- 1,064
- Kiama High SchoolSecondary
- Kiama Public SchoolPrimary
- Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary 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
114 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Railway Pde N
- CCP Railway Pde S
- Kiama Station
- Kiama Station, Platform 1
- Kiama Station, Platform 2
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).
509 planning-related records
2026· 52 proposals
June 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise10 BONG BONG STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation164 MANNING STREET KIAMA 2533Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision40 SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN ROAD KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure45 THOMSON STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)70 BONG BONG STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise49 MANNING STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)27 FARMER STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation79 SOUTH KIAMA DRIVE KIAMA 2533Additional Information Requested
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Outdoor dining - general; Food and drink premise34-36 MANNING STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah11 ELIMATTA PLACE KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport136 SHOALHAVEN STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (outdoor)2 BONG BONG STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)19A BOURROOL STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Hot water systems; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators27 BARNEY STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)5 SOMMERVILLE CLOSE KIAMA 2533Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 MARKS STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Shop top housing110 TERRALONG STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation16 ISABELLA PLACE KIAMA 2533Determined
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 5 BROWN STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 HILLVIEW CIRCUIT KIAMA 2533Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces16 HOLDEN AVENUE KIAMA 2533Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 ORANA AVENUE KIAMA 2533Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation26 HOTHERSAL STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7A SOMMERVILLE CLOSE KIAMA 2533Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling25 GLENBROOK DRIVE KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Demolition; Independent living units; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Hot water systems200 TERRALONG STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Seniors housing; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia14A BONAIRA STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling23 GLENBROOK DRIVE KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
March 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)17 GLENBROOK DRIVE KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Caravan park30 OCEAN STREET KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise10 BONG BONG STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Business premises; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise6 42 COLLINS STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation83 TINGIRA CRESCENT KIAMA 2533Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure120 MANNING STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 BARNEY STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool14 GIRRAWHEEN AVENUE KIAMA 2533Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Infrastructure30 OCEAN STREET KIAMA 2533Rejected
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 BONG BONG STREET KIAMA 2533Withdrawn
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 TINGIRA CRESCENT KIAMA 2533Determined
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Storage premises; Self storage units142 SHOALHAVEN STREET KIAMA 2533Determined
2025· 79 proposals
79 proposals lodged in 2025. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2024· 74 proposals
74 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 83 proposals
83 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 93 proposals
93 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 113 proposals
113 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 15 proposals
15 proposals lodged in 2020. 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; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
383 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- CellarbrationsAlcohol
- Terrace CollectablesAntiques
- Arthur PantryArt
- Commonwealth BankATM
- NABATM
- Next PaymentsATM
- Bakers DelightBakery
- Bakery
- Cakes on Collins LaneBakery
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
13 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bonaira Native GardenPark
- Bonaira Native GardensPark
- Bonaira ReservePark
- Chapman Point ReservePark
- Charmian Clift ReservePark
- Coronation ParkPark
- Hindmarsh ParkPark
- Isabell’s ReservePark
- Kendalls Beach ReservePark
- Kiama Lions Club ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 15
- Emergency department
- On site
- Blooms The Chemistpharmacy
- Collins Street Dentaldentist
- Dentistdentist
- Dentistdentist
- EyeQ Optometristoptometrist
- Kiama Dentaldentist
- Kiama Diagnostic Imagingdoctor
- Kiama Doctorsdoctor
- Kiama Gentle Dentistdentist
- Kiama Hospital & Community Health Servicehospital
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
9 state heritage places
- CBC Bank (former)16-20 Manning Street KiamaSHR
- Kiama Post Office24 Terralong Street KiamaSHR
- Kiama Railway Station Group and TurntableIllawarra railway, KiamaSHR
- Kiama Reservoir (WS 0231)Irvine Street, KiamaSHR
- Kiama Reservoir (WS 0232)Irvine Street, KiamaSHR
- Masonic Temple46 Collins Street KiamaSHR
- Scots Presbyterian Church, Land and TreesShoalhaven Street, KiamaSHR
- Wooden Terraces24-40 Collins Street KiamaSHR
- Wooden Terraces42-44 Collins Street KiamaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 19
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
- 97.2/100
- Cohort rank
- #9 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
- CCP Railway Pde Ntransport
- CCP Railway Pde Stransport
- Kiama Stationtransport
- Kiama Station, Platform 1transport
- Kiama Station, Platform 2transport
- CBC Bank (former)heritage16-20 Manning Street KiamaSHR
- Kiama Post Officeheritage24 Terralong Street KiamaSHR
- Kiama Railway Station Group and TurntableheritageIllawarra railway, KiamaSHR
- Kiama Reservoir (WS 0231)heritageIrvine Street, KiamaSHR
- Kiama Reservoir (WS 0232)heritageIrvine Street, KiamaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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