NSW · Byron Council
Main Arm, NSW, 2482
Desirability index
#237 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Main Arm is a small locality in the Byron area, home to around 640 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 535 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+19%), roughly 835.9 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $708, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 640
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,403
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 14 of 194
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 47.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 23 / 6 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $900
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 46
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)
- 535
- Against the person
- 152
- Against property
- 235
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 835.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 4 residents
- State safety percentile
- 31.3th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +18.9%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions40
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment58
- Malicious Damage To Property47
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault48
- Steal From Motor Vehicle38
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
61 public transport stops in this suburb
- 534 Main Arm Rd
- 766 Main Arm Rd
- 834 Main Arm Rd
- 950 Main Arm Rd
- Main Arm Rd After Durrumbul 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).
50 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure963 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation804 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Non-standard Housing950 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Additional Information Requested
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)804 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation804 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport286 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
August 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Residential AccommodationU 5 6 DURRUMBUL ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
May 2025
- Shed; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia466 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Deferred Commencement
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure832 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation804 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
2024· 11 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure963 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure128 SETTLEMENT ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
- Subdivision84 BLINDMOUTH ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
October 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure1036 THE POCKET ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
September 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Co-living; Non-standard Housing963 Main Arm Road, Main Arm 2482Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility915 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support249 SETTLEMENT ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Operational consent requested
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure154 SETTLEMENT ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Operational consent issued
- Multi-dwelling housing; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia84 BLINDMOUTH ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
April 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2/46 DURRUMBUL ROAD, MAIN ARMDetermined
February 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure1036 THE POCKET ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
2023· 2 proposals
September 2023
- Dual occupancy135 BLINDMOUTH ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
March 2023
- Other128 SETTLEMENT ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
2022· 7 proposals
August 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces2 MORAN CLOSE MAIN ARM 2482Determined
July 2022
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy804 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
April 2022
- Dual occupancy183 COOPERS LANE WEST MAIN ARM 2482Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Farm buildings; Shed195 COOPERS LANE WEST MAIN ARM 2482Deferred Commencement
March 2022
- Other3 46 DURRUMBUL ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
February 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 46 DURRUMBUL ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Operational consent issued
January 2022
- Other128 SETTLEMENT ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
2021· 11 proposals
December 2021
- Other963 Main Arm Road, Main Arm 2482Determined
October 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing2/-/DP627619Determined
- Review of determinationCoopers Lane West, Main ArmDetermined
- Other3 46 DURRUMBUL ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Determined
September 2021
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development; Change of use2 46 DURRUMBUL ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Withdrawn
- Secondary dwelling5 46 DURRUMBUL ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Withdrawn
July 2021
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing32 BLINDMOUTH ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Deferred Commencement
June 2021
- Modification ApplicationCoopers Lane West, Main ArmDetermined
May 2021
- Pools / decks / fencinglot 2, coopers lane west, main arm, 2482Determined
February 2021
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development468 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Deferred Commencement
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
7 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Main Arm General Store and CafeCafe
- Durrumbul HallDance
- Park
- Main Arm Post Office and BoxPost office
- Main Arm StoreRestaurant
890 Main Arm Road
- Durrumbul Public SchoolSchool
- Main Arm General StoreSupermarket
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
- 48.4/100
- Cohort rank
- #237 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
- 534 Main Arm Rdtransport
- 766 Main Arm Rdtransport
- 834 Main Arm Rdtransport
- 950 Main Arm Rdtransport
- Main Arm Rd After Durrumbul Rdtransport
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning3 46 DURRUMBUL ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Lodged 23 Feb 2022 · Operational consent issued
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facilityplanning915 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Lodged 30 Aug 2024 · Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Co-living; Non-standard Housingplanning963 Main Arm Road, Main Arm 2482Lodged 25 Sep 2024 · Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Non-standard Housingplanning950 MAIN ARM ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Lodged 10 Apr 2026 · Additional Information Requested
- Dual occupancyplanning135 BLINDMOUTH ROAD MAIN ARM 2482Lodged 11 Sep 2023 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- 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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