NSW · Hawkesbury Council
Lower Portland, NSW, 2756
Desirability index
#807 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Lower Portland is a small locality in the Hawkesbury area, home to around 711 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,324 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-3%), roughly 3268.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $630 (flats $495, houses $700), 2 school and preschool sites in the area, limited but present public transport access, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 711
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,965
- Dwelling vacancy
- 20%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 53 of 265
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,342
- Employment rate
- 58.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 14 / 5 / 0
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)
- $495
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $630
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 157
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)
- 2,324
- Against the person
- 694
- Against property
- 816
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 3,268.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 1 residents
- State safety percentile
- 53.2th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -2.7%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions331
- Domestic Violence Related Assault157
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment251
- Malicious Damage To Property173
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault144
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 884.5
- Portland Central SchoolCombined
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School PortlandPrimary
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
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- 1073 River Rd
- 1073 River Rd
- 1930 Wheelbarrow Ridge Rd
- 1930 Wheelbarrow Ridge Rd
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- OtherLower Portland Ferry, River Road07 Jul 2026 – 08 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
214 planning-related records
2026· 13 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 Williwa Street PORTLANDUnder Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure1324 RIVER ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation203 PORTLAND SUNNY CORNER ROAD PORTLAND 2847Determined
April 2026
- Temporary building, structure or use; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support315 RIVER ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 Williwa Street PORTLANDDetermined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure90 LIMESTONE CREEK ROAD PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Subdivision38 WILLIWA STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 MARTINDALE PLACE PORTLAND 2847Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure25 PARK STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure955 PIPERS FLAT ROAD PORTLAND 2847Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 Williwa Street PORTLANDDetermined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure677 GREENS ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation51 WALLERAWANG ROAD PORTLAND 2847Determined
2025· 28 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 LAURIE STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation91 PEAT PLACE LOWER PORTLAND 2756Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure478 CLIFTONVILLE ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Withdrawn
October 2025
- Subdivision25 DRUMKEEN LANE PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure615 RIVER ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1162 WEST PORTLAND ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation82 PARK VIEW AVENUE PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support38 WILLIWA STREET PORTLAND 2847Under Assessment
- Subdivision273 PORTLAND CULLEN BULLEN ROAD PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Extensive agriculture615 RIVER ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure90 LIMESTONE CREEK ROAD PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure237B PORTLAND CULLEN BULLEN ROAD PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 BELL STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Mobile food and drink outlet; Outdoor dining - general; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise38 WILLIWA STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure1324 RIVER ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure3 MARY AVENUE PORTLAND 2847Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 Williwa Street PORTLANDDetermined
- Subdivision495 BACK CULLEN BULLEN ROAD PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Subdivision23 LIME STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space16 DULHUNTY STREET PORTLAND 2847Additional Information Requested
- Farm buildings; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure615 RIVER ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading766 RIVER ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure60 WOLGAN STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool109 HEBRON ROAD LOWER PORTLAND 2756Determined
January 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure445 BACK CULLEN BULLEN ROAD PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Subdivision6-8 WOLGAN STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
- Subdivision20 PURCHAS STREET PORTLAND 2847Determined
2024· 36 proposals
36 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 44 proposals
44 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 49 proposals
49 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 41 proposals
41 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 3 proposals
3 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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Ferry Terminal (2)
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
- Skeleton Rocks ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- 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
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 14.5/100
- Cohort rank
- #807 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
- 1073 River Rdtransport
- 1073 River Rdtransport
- 1930 Wheelbarrow Ridge Rdtransport
- 1930 Wheelbarrow Ridge Rdtransport
- Skeleton Rocks Reservegovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportplanning38 WILLIWA STREET PORTLAND 2847Lodged 11 Sep 2025 · Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Mobile food and drink outlet; Outdoor dining - general; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premiseplanning38 WILLIWA STREET PORTLAND 2847Lodged 31 Jul 2025 · Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structureplanning25 PARK STREET PORTLAND 2847Lodged 23 Feb 2026 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structureplanning23 Williwa Street PORTLANDLodged 19 Jun 2026 · Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structureplanning23 Williwa Street PORTLANDLodged 03 Mar 2026 · 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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