NSW · Shoalhaven Council
North Nowra, NSW, 2541
Desirability index
75.2/100
How this score is calculated#112 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
North Nowra is a smaller suburban community in the Shoalhaven area, home to around 5,856 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 4,614 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, roughly 787.9 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $530 (flats $401, houses $550), 3 school and preschool sites in the area, 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 and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 5,856
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,411
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 120 of 2,347
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,719
- Employment rate
- 55.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 158 / 182 / 56
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)
- $401
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $550
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $530
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 296
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)
- 4,614
- Against the person
- 1,268
- Against property
- 1,696
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 787.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 5 residents
- State safety percentile
- 30.3th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -0.2%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions633
- Domestic Violence Related Assault305
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment444
- Malicious Damage To Property449
- Steal From Retail Store420
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 908
- Havenlee SchoolSpecial
- Illaroo Road Public SchoolPrimary
- North Nowra 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
143 public transport stops in this suburb
- Chittick Av Opp Soper Dr
- Harrison St At Lucas St
- Lucas St Opp Hoskin St
- McMahons Rd Opp Hansons Rd
- Yurunga Dr Opp Jarman 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).
132 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Co-living; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation155 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation22 SUTHERLAND DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)210 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)22 WALSH CRESCENT NORTH NOWRA 2541Operational consent issued
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport7 CRAWFORD DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)2 ASQUITH CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- 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 Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)3 PAGE AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 HARRISON STREET NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport12 MAYBERN CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)6 MORSCHEL AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space4 MORSCHEL AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure76 PITT STREET NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)108 PITT STREET NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 COREEN CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Subdivision132 MCMAHONS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Rejected
May 2025
- Home business; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 NARRIEN PLACE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Business identification sign2 HALCOT AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport17 KAREELA CRESCENT NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
April 2025
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Business identification sign201 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation140 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation208 YURUNGA DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure61 CRAMS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation226 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport8 SPOTTED QUOLL CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
2024· 24 proposals
December 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Medical centre; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia1 HANSONS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 COCONUT DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage103 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support22 WALSH CRESCENT NORTH NOWRA 2541Deferred Commencement
October 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure16 HANSONS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 HARRISON STREET NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure132 MCMAHONS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
September 2024
- Demolition149 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Additional Information Requested
- Residential care facility; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 JUDITH DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation24 SUTHERLAND DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
August 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)2 ASQUITH CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
July 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Shipping containers1 WEST CAMBEWARRA ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Centre-based child care; Hours of operation and trading12 CASTLE GLEN NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
June 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool23 JAMIESON ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)75 THE ESPLANADE CRONULLA 2230Determined
May 2024
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure82 PAGE AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
2023· 15 proposals
15 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 38 proposals
38 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 31 proposals
31 proposals lodged in 2021. 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: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
33 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Chittick Ave opp Soper DrBus stop
- Goolagong St at Page AveBus stop
- Gunyuma Cres at Hansons RdBus stop
- Gunyuma Cres at Wirruma ClBus stop
- Hansons Rd after McMahons RdBus stop
- Harrison St at Lucas StBus stop
- Hoskin St at Lucas StBus stop
- Illaroo Rd at Chittick AveBus stop
- Illaroo Rd before Page AveBus stop
- Illaroo Rd opp Pitt StBus 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
13 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Clarke ReservePark
- Crest ParkPark
- Gordon Cook Apex ParkPark
- Joe Hyam ReservePark
- Kvanstrom ReserveNature reserve
- Lee ParkPark
- Mahogany Creek ReserveNature reserve
- McMahons Road ReserveNature reserve
- North Nowra Rotary ParkPark
- Peak Avenue ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- AmcalMcMahons Roadpharmacy
- North Nowra DentalMcMahons Roaddentist
- North Nowra Medical CentreMcMahons Roaddoctor
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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)
- 21
- Parks (OSM)
- 12
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
- 75.2/100
- Cohort rank
- #112 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
- Chittick Av Opp Soper Drtransport
- Harrison St At Lucas Sttransport
- Lucas St Opp Hoskin Sttransport
- McMahons Rd Opp Hansons Rdtransport
- Yurunga Dr Opp Jarman Sttransport
- AmcalhealthMcMahons Roadpharmacy
- North Nowra DentalhealthMcMahons Roaddentist
- North Nowra Medical CentrehealthMcMahons Roaddoctor
- Clarke Reservegovernmentpark
- Crest Parkgovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- 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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