NSW · Sutherland Shire Council
Menai, NSW, 2234
Desirability index
#190 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Menai is a mid-sized suburb in the Sutherland Shire area, home to around 10,419 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 631 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-12%), roughly 60.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $1,145, 5 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
- 10,419
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $2,575
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 103 of 3,530
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,600
- Employment rate
- 66.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 195 / 739 / 108
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)
- $1,300
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 42
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)
- 631
- Against the person
- 212
- Against property
- 242
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 60.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 49 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.8th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -12%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions33
- Domestic Violence Related Assault60
- Fraud72
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment86
- Malicious Damage To Property62
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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,082
- Aquinas Catholic CollegeSecondary
- Holy Family Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary
- Menai High SchoolSecondary
- Menai Public SchoolPrimary
- Tharawal Public 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
120 public transport stops in this suburb
- Allison Cres Opp Pioneer Dr
- Allison Cres Opp Schofield Pl
- Club Central Menai, Allison Cres
- Menai Community Health Centre, Allison Cres
- Menai Marketplace, Duncomb Pl
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).
246 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care1D ANZAC ROAD MENAI 2234Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 FERRIER DRIVE MENAI 2234Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure70 THE WOODS CIRCUIT MENAI 2234Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool111 MONASH ROAD MENAI 2234Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support10 BEAUMARIS DRIVE MENAI 2234Withdrawn
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure32 ROSEWALL DRIVE MENAI 2234Determined
2025· 26 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 MECKIFF CLOSE MENAI 2234Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise152-194 ALLISON CRESCENT MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 WINDLE PLACE MENAI 2234Determined
October 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Group home; Group home (permanent)56 CARTER ROAD MENAI 2234Determined
- Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading12-16 MACMAHON PLACE MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 BARNES CRESCENT MENAI 2234Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 LONG CLOSE MENAI 2234Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool27 LLANBERIS DRIVE MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 WINDLE PLACE MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 O'NEILL ROAD MENAI 2234Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 LANDY CLOSE MENAI 2234Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care593 OLD ILLAWARRA ROAD MENAI 2234Determined
- Place of public worship; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia593 OLD ILLAWARRA ROAD MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 NAGLE CLOSE MENAI 2234Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)231-233 ALLISON CRESCENT MENAI 2234Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation10 DAVIDSON ROAD MENAI 2234Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 MILLER PLACE MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 LLANBERIS DRIVE MENAI 2234Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 104-106 BEAUMARIS DRIVE MENAI 2234Determined
April 2025
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 BRADMAN ROAD MENAI 2234Determined
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise152-194 ALLISON CRESCENT MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 LLANBERIS DRIVE MENAI 2234Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support11 BEAUMARIS DRIVE MENAI 2234Determined
January 2025
- Subdivision14 BEAUMARIS DRIVE MENAI 2234Rejected
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Take away food and drink152-194 ALLISON CRESCENT MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 GROUT PLACE MENAI 2234Withdrawn
2024· 36 proposals
December 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses28 LINK CIRCUIT MENAI 2234Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 GOOLAGONG PLACE MENAI 2234Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 STOLLE CLOSE MENAI 2234Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure54 BEAUMARIS DRIVE MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 O'NEILL ROAD MENAI 2234Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 THE WOODS CIRCUIT MENAI 2234Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 ANDERSON PLACE MENAI 2234Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure70 THE WOODS CIRCUIT MENAI 2234Determined
2023· 31 proposals
31 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 48 proposals
48 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 60 proposals
60 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 39 proposals
39 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
57 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- Dan Murphy'sAlcohol
Building C, Menai Central Old Ilawarra Road
- Commonwealth BankBank
- WestpacBank
- Bbq
- Bicycle Parking
- Allison Cr after MacMahon PlBus stop
- Allison Cres after Mina RdBus stop
- Allison Cres opp Club Central MenaiBus stop
- Allison Cres opp Schofield PlBus 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
9 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Buckle ReservePark
- Konrads Place ReservePark
- Mathers Place ReservePark
- Menai Conservation ParkNature reserve
- Parc MenaiPark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
- Power Place ReservePark
- Sandy Point ReservePark
- The Woods Circuit ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Allison Crescent Medical Centreclinic
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Rise and Shine Kindergartenchildcare
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 47
- Parks (OSM)
- 11
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
- 73.7/100
- Cohort rank
- #190 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
- Allison Cres Opp Pioneer Drtransport
- Allison Cres Opp Schofield Pltransport
- Club Central Menai, Allison Crestransport
- Menai Community Health Centre, Allison Crestransport
- Menai Marketplace, Duncomb Pltransport
- Rise and Shine Kindergartenchildcarechildcare
- Allison Crescent Medical Centrehealthclinic
- Buckle Reservegovernmentpark
- Konrads Place Reservegovernmentpark
- Mathers Place Reservegovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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