Median house price
$984k
+8.1% change
NSW · Shellharbour Council
Lake Illawarra, 2528
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,063
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.2%
Median age
43
Median income
$1,069/wk
Employment rate
45.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$984,000
Languages at home
10.2%non-English
Most common: Arabic, Spanish, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Lake Illawarra revolves around the coast at a genuine remove from Sydney. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Families have many nearby school and early-learning options to choose from.
Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
Desirability lands around average here: softer community and employment weighing on the result versus similar coastal suburbs, even with growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Lake Illawarra snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$665/wk
Houses $720 · Units $515
Population (ERP)
3,063
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.4%
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
#14
among Coastal & beach · Emerging
Safety
59th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
49th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
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
- 47.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 37% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2569th in Australia
- State rank
- 778th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #14 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #81 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $515
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $665
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 138
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $984,000
- Median price change
- +8.1%
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
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
3,063(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · -0.2% over 5 years · 49th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- -0.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +15
- Change in 5 years
- -6
- Growth rank in NSW
- 49th 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 (~3,050), extrapolated at -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,288
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,069
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 114 of 1,541
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 45.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 712 / 379 / 316 (+ 11 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian 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 Profile — Australian 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)
- 245
- Against the person
- 69
- Against property
- 95
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 80
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 48 residents
- State safety percentile
- 58.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +15.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order188
- Domestic Violence Related Assault130
- Fraud123
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
- Malicious Damage To Property161
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW 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
- 7
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 937
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 20th
School list
- Lake Illawarra South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 954 · 26th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 177 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
- Warilla North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 872 · 7th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 167 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Lake Illawarra High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 894 · 10th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 542 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Windang Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 988 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 203 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Peterborough SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 938 · 21th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 115 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Warilla Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 937 · 20th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 279 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Mount Warrigal Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 885 · 8th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 185 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
64 public transport stops in this suburb
- Peterborough Av At View St
- Pur Pur Av After Shellharbour Rd
- Pur Pur Av At Ocean St
- Pur Pur Av Before Stanley St
- Shellharbour Rd Opp Peterborough Av
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
81 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 fast food · 7 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb, 7 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 64 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 8 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.3
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.52
Food & drink(1)
- Pep's TakeawayFast food
3 Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra
Community(2)
- Lake Illawarra South Public SchoolSchool
119-129 Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra
- Lake Illawarra PCYCSocial Centre
156 Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra
Sport & outdoors(13)
- Elouera ParkPark
- Graham ParkPark
- Henderson ParkPark
- Keith Fletcher ParkPark
- Mrs Halls ParkPark
- Playground (7)
- Sports field
Transport(24)
24 bus stops
Other(16)
- Bbq (3)
- Shellharbour City CouncilBbq
- Bench (3)
- Car Master AutoCar repair
6 Commerce Drive
- Drinking water
- Cleaning TableFishing
- Fitness Station (2)
- Garden (3)
- Parking (11)
- Parking Space (2)
- 7-Eleven Lake IllawarraPetrol station
Unit 2 4 Peterborough Avenue, Lake Illawarra
- Picnic Table
- Public toilets
- Shelter (8)
- Slipway
- Waste Basket
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 insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Elouera ParkPark
- Graham ParkPark
- Henderson ParkPark
- Keith Fletcher ParkPark
- Mrs Halls ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Shellharbour Private Hospital (2.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 125
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 40.8
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 16 proposals
August 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure91 ADDISON AVE LAKE ILLAWARRA NSW 2528Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation180 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Under Assessment
June 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure91 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation17 ALBERT STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)15 REDDALL PARADE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure95 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 Reddall Parade, Lake IllawarraDetermined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13A Reddall Parade Lake IllawarraUnder Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure155 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation68 QUEEN STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation23 VIEW STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)74 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Withdrawn
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure7 ALBERT STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure89 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation42 PETERBOROUGH AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure34 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
2025· 22 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure36 ADDISON AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure9 DAY STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure155 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation33 THOMAS STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
September 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Heavy Industrial Storage EstablishmentUNIT 1 2 COMMERCE DR, LAKE ILLAWARRA NSW 2528Withdrawn
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care22 QUEEN STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation42 PETERBOROUGH AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
August 2025
- Demolition42 PETERBOROUGH AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure26 ANTHONY STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure34 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage173 REDDALL PARADE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home11 GIRRAWEEN AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)19 Albert st Lake Illawarra NSW 2528Determined
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure14 ANTHONY STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure166 PUR PUR AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Erection of a new structure; General industry6 COMMERCE DRIVE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure82 QUEEN STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
June 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Respite day care centre31 REDDALL PARADE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Withdrawn
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure34 DAY STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure82 QUEEN STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Withdrawn
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure91 ADDISON AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 KOTARI PARADE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
2024· 5 proposals
December 2024
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure14 ANTHONY STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Withdrawn
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool133 REDDALL PARADE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
- Demolition10 KING STREET LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
October 2024
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure26 PETERBOROUGH AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
September 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool15 ADDISON AVENUE LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
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 overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Whitlam
- Member of Parliament
- Carol BERRY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 130,093
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.1 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 43.8%Labor 56.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.3 km away).
Coalition 35.4%Labor 64.6%
8.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -5.4 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Warilla NorthLabor 67.5% · Coalition 32.5% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- Lake IllawarraLabor 62.8% · Coalition 37.2% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- Warilla EastLabor 64.1% · Coalition 35.9% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- Mount WarrigalLabor 68.1% · Coalition 31.9% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- Barrack HeightsLabor 63.6% · Coalition 36.4% TPP (2025)2.2 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Shellharbour Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.