NSW · Wollongong Council
Koonawarra, NSW, 2530
Desirability index
#704 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Koonawarra is a smaller suburban community in the Wollongong area, home to around 3,732 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,886 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+6%), roughly 505.4 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $700 (flats $500, houses $730), 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
- 3,732
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $1,258
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 50 of 1,386
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 47.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 156 / 61 / 26
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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $730
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 156
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)
- 1,886
- Against the person
- 510
- Against property
- 727
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 505.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 7 residents
- State safety percentile
- 24.5th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
- Domestic Violence Related Assault129
- Fraud127
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
- Malicious Damage To Property153
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
Public transport
60 public transport stops in this suburb
- Byamee St Opp Aldinga Rd
- Fowlers Rd Before Lakeside Dr
- Fowlers Rd Opp Gilba Rd
- Koonawarra Community Centre, Fowlers Rd
- Koonawarra Public School, Byamee St
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).
62 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure1 FOWLERS ROAD KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation21 GALONG CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
April 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)5 GOWRIE STREET KOONAWARRA 2530Under Assessment
March 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure47 ILLABUNDA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure8 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
September 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure5 KARINGAL CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Mooring; Water reticulation system120 Wharparilla Drive, EchucaAdditional Information Requested
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation9 CALOOLA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Place of public worship; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care35 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 WYBALENA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
June 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 ILLABUNDA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space5 WALLABAH WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Access ramp; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation2 ELEEBANA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure39 CULGOA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah24 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah127 WYNDARRA WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation30 ECHUCA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation15 Karingal Avenue Koonawarra NSW 2530Determined
2024· 10 proposals
November 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Temporary building, structure or use; Manufactured home15 ELEEBANA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty; Mooring; Water reticulation system; Water supply system74 Wharparilla Drive Echuca Vic 354Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure41 ILLABUNDA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool17 KARINGAL CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Mooring101 Ogilvie Avenue, Echuca VICDetermined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 ALCOOMIE CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure49 FOWLERS ROAD KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure100 LAKESIDE DRIVE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation193 WYNDARRA WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
January 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 INGLEBAR CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
2023· 5 proposals
December 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Temporary building, structure or use; Manufactured home15 ELEEBANA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia4 GAREEMA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling15 MARY DAVIS AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
May 2023
- Demolition14 WILLAWA PLACE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
April 2023
- Dwelling15 MARY DAVIS AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
2022· 11 proposals
December 2022
- Shed2 WYBALENA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces6 WILLAROO PLACE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
September 2022
- Dwelling15 MARY DAVIS AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
August 2022
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees28 MARY DAVIS AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
June 2022
- Secondary dwelling5 KYEEMA AVENUE KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs27 WYNDARRA WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Determined
2021· 8 proposals
8 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 9 proposals
9 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
29 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (2)
- Byamee St opp Aldinga RdBus stop
- Byamee St opp Koonawarra Public SchoolBus stop
- Fowlers Rd after Gilba RdBus stop
- Fowlers Rd after Gowrie StBus stop
- Fowlers Rd after Lakeside DrBus stop
- Fowlers Rd before Lakeside DrBus stop
- Fowlers Rd opp Gilba RdBus stop
- Fowlers Rd opp Gowrie StBus stop
- Fowlers Rd opp Koonawarra Community CentreBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Gilba Road ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 5.0/100
- Cohort rank
- #704 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Byamee St Opp Aldinga Rdtransport
- Fowlers Rd Before Lakeside Drtransport
- Fowlers Rd Opp Gilba Rdtransport
- Koonawarra Community Centre, Fowlers Rdtransport
- Koonawarra Public School, Byamee Sttransport
- Gilba Road Reservegovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning24 KURRAWA CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Lodged 24 Mar 2025 · Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning127 WYNDARRA WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Lodged 14 Mar 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning17 KARINGAL CRESCENT KOONAWARRA 2530Lodged 11 Oct 2024 · Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahsplanning27 WYNDARRA WAY KOONAWARRA 2530Lodged 08 Jun 2022 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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