Median house price
$1.17M
+7.1% change
NSW · Shellharbour Council
Oak Flats, 2529
Est. population · Jun 2025
8,026
Growth (1 yr)
+0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.8%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,488/wk
Employment rate
53.8%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,173,000
Languages at home
8.4%non-English
Most common: Spanish, Macedonian, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
In Shellharbour Council, Oak Flats is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Distance from the metro area around Sydney is part of the appeal, with regional hubs closer to hand than the city. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street.
Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer community and employment, plus safety compared with similar metro suburbs, though schools and education remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Oak Flats snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$760/wk
Houses $800 · Units $650
Population (ERP)
8,026
+0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.2%
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
#190
among Metro Sydney · Established
Safety
55th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
45th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
35th
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
- 54.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 23% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1673rd in Australia
- State rank
- 490th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #190 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #362 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $800
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $760
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 190
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,173,000
- Median price change
- +7.1%
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
8,026(June 2025)
+0.3% annual · +4.8% over 5 years · 45th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.3%
- 5-year growth
- +4.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +28
- Change in 5 years
- +371
- Growth rank in NSW
- 45th 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 (~8,300), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 6,840
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,488
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 112 of 2,651
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 53.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,088 / 390 / 52 (+ 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)
- 593
- Against the person
- 103
- Against property
- 221
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 73.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 66 residents
- State safety percentile
- 55.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions667
- Fraud135
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment161
- Steal From Motor Vehicle128
- Steal From Retail Store211
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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 974
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 35th
School list
- Oak Flats Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 959 · 28th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 416 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Balarang Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 974 · 35th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 268 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Corpus Christi Catholic High SchoolSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1045 · 66th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 1,126 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Oak Flats High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 932 · 19th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 648 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Nazareth Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1052 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 413 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.5 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
97 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Stanford Dr 1
- CCP Stanford Dr 2
- ENT Stanford Dr
- Oak Flats Station
- Oak Flats Station, Stanford Drive
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
134 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 pubs · 2 fast food · 2 bakeries · 1 libraries · 1 places of worship · 6 playgrounds · 1 dog parks
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 13 parks mapped in suburb, 6 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 97 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 21 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 42/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.15
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.88
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.9
Food & drink(6)
- Oak Flats Hot BreadBakery
- TipTop BakeryBakery
Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- Cafe
- Chicken KingFast food
- Fast food
- Lakeview Hotel/MotelPub
4 Government Road, Oak Flats
Shopping(2)
- Shellharbour Meats & SmallgoodsButcher
152 New Lake Entrance Road, Oak Flats
- Reddy ExpressConvenience store
Community(6)
- Oak Flats Neighbourhood CentreCommunity centre
- Oak Flats LibraryLibrary
65 Central Avenue, Oak Flats
- Balarang Public SchoolSchool
Oak Flats
- Corpus Christi Catholic High SchoolSchool
- Oak Flats High SchoolSchool
Oak Flats
- Oak Flats Public SchoolSchool
Oak Flats
Sport & outdoors(33)
- Oak Flats Dog ParkDog park
Kingston Street, Oak Flats
- Hippisley ParkPark
- Jilba ParkPark
- Koona Bay ReservePark
- Nalong ParkPark
Nalong Place, Oak Flats
- Nob Hill ParkPark
- Oak ReservePark
Oak Flats
- Park (4)
- Ranyard ParkPark
- Skiway ParkPark
- Playground (6)
- Oak Flats Swimming PoolSports centre
- Geoff Shaw OvalSports field
- Shane Lee FieldSports field
- Sports field
- Blue Haven Pools & SpasSwimming pool
- Shellharbour City CouncilSwimming pool
- Swimart Pool & Spa ServicezSwimming pool
Unit 1a 144 Lake Entrance Road, Oak Flats
- Swimming pool (6)
- toddlers poolSwimming pool
Transport(23)
21 bus stops · 2 train stations
Other(34)
- Bench (5)
- Bike Lockers - Oak Flats Station, Stanford DrBicycle Parking
- Burson Auto PartsCar Parts
123 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- HG Auto SalvageCar Parts
117 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- Lion BatteriesCar Parts
Unit 1 111 Industrial Road
- RepcoCar Parts
152 New Lake Entrance Road
- Illawarra Service CentreCar repair
Unit 2 111 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- O'Brien's Auto Glass ShellharbourCar repair
109 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- Quicktech Auto Electrics & Air ConditioningCar repair
117 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- Summer Winter SceneClothes
Unit 1b 144 Lake Entrance Road, Oak Flats
- Mack 'n MeDisability Equipment
Unit 2 144 Lake Entrance Road, Oak Flats
- Drinking water
- Bloomz on CentralFlorist
- Clark RubberHardware
Unit 2 150 New Lake Entrance Road
- Go SkatingIce Rink
137 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- Beacon LightingLighting
146 New Lake Entrance Road
- Loading Dock
- Motel (4)
- Parking (22)
- ShellPetrol station
- Oak Flats Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
- Kennards Hire Oak FlatsPlant Hire
125 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- Lake Illawarra Police StationPolice
6 Pioneer Drive, Oak Flats
- Australia PostPost office
- Public toilets
- Southern Ocean SeafoodsSeafood
Unit 2 129 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- Shelter
- Slipway (3)
- Drummond GolfSports
Unit 3 152 New Lake Entrance Road, Oak Flats
- Telephone
- Ticket Validator
- Atlas Rubber and Ceramic TilingTiles
127 Industrial Road, Oak Flats
- Vending machine
- 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
9 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Balarang ReservePark
- Hippisley ParkPark
- Jilba ParkPark
- Koona Bay ReservePark
- Nalong ParkPark
- Nob Hill ParkPark
- Oak ReservePark
- Ranyard ParkPark
- Skiway ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 18
- Parks (OSM)
- 13
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Oak Flats Anglican Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Shellharbour Hospital (1.7 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Shellharbour HospitalPublic hospital
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)
- 244
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.4
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· 29 proposals
August 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structureLot 02, 8 Government Road, Oak FlatsUnder Assessment
July 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure16 NEWTON CRESCENT OAK FLATS 2529Under Assessment
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure1 19 GRIFFITHS STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
June 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; General industry114 INDUSTRIAL ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Under Assessment
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure15 LEAMINGTON ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
- Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure1A DEAKIN STREET OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool36A TIMBS ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure47 GRIFFITHS STREET OAK FLATS 2529Under Assessment
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure35 PARKES STREET OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah7 KANA PLACE OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 NEWTON CRESCENT OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation65 DEAKIN STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure31 TARRA CRESCENT OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure14 BARTON STREET OAK FLATS 2529Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool30 MALIN ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Demolition; Industrial development; Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure; General industry126 INDUSTRIAL ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure83 BARTON STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 LAKE ENTRANCE ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)6 HORSLEY ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure38 TARRA CRESCENT OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Residential Accommodation4 52 HOPETOUN STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure65 BRIDGE AVENUE OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure87 LAKE ENTRANCE ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure10 LAKE ENTRANCE ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading17 MINDA CRESCENT OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (external)122-124 BARTON STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation77 FISHER STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Subdivision; Minor building alterations (external)122-124 BARTON STREET OAK FLATS 2529Withdrawn
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)13 WATSON STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
2025· 14 proposals
December 2025
- Place of public worship; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure59-61 PARKES ST OAK FLATSDeferred Commencement
- Respite day care centre; Hours of operation and trading70 THE ESPLANADE OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure18 TIMBS ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure92 THE BOULEVARDE OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Demolition; Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure4 GOVERNMENT ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure125 CENTRAL AVENUE OAK FLATS 2529Additional Information Requested
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Dual occupancy (detached)Lot 02, 8 Government Road Oak Flats NSW 2529Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)53 FISHER STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure106 WENTWORTH STREET OAK FLATS 2529Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation51 HORSLEY ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Subdivision19 DAVID AVENUE OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 HORSLEY ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure143 THE BOULEVARDE OAK FLATS 2529Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation33 LAKE ENTRANCE ROAD OAK FLATS 2529Determined
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 3.4 km away).
Coalition 40.1%Labor 59.9%
3.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -4.3 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Oak FlatsLabor 59.4% · Coalition 40.6% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- Oak Flats EastLabor 62.0% · Coalition 38.0% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- Albion Park RailLabor 59.7% · Coalition 40.3% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- BlackbuttLabor 62.2% · Coalition 37.8% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- Barrack HeightsLabor 63.6% · Coalition 36.4% TPP (2025)2.3 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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.