Old Bar is a rural locality in New South Wales, in Mid-Coast Council.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Open-space access is better than in most comparable places, well above typical levels for rural localities. Green cover is a relative strength, and population growth is an exceptional strength. Trade-offs centre on lower socio-economic advantage and higher crime.
Overall, Old Bar suits people prioritising daily services and open space over socio-economic advantage.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Rural locality · compared with rural localities in New South Wales (2685)
Strengths
Green cover is a relative strength
Population growth is a relative strength
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Socio-economic advantage sits below the peer median
Reported crime in the wider postcode 2430 is elevated relative to comparable places
What stands out
Old Bar Beach
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★☆☆☆☆
Professionals★☆☆☆☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★☆☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Old Bar compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$690k
+4.5% change
Median rent
$510/wk
Houses $550 · Units $400
Population (ERP)
5,533
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.6%
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
#321
among Country & regional · Mature
Crime rate
74th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
85th
percentile in NSW
Rented dwellings
27%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
44th
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
41.0/100 — Average
National rank
4152nd in Australia
State rank
1420th in NSW
Peer rank
#321 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#565 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
95%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$400
Houses (January to March 2026)
$550
All types (January to March 2026)
$510
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
263
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$690,000
Median price change
+4.5%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
+1.9% annual · +10.7% over 5 years · 85th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.9%
5-year growth
+10.7%
Change in 1 year
+101
Change in 5 years
+536
Growth rank in NSW
85th 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 (~6,200), extrapolated at +2.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
5,126
Median age
50
Median household income / week
$1,170
Dwelling vacancy
8.6%
Unoccupied private dwellings
198 of 2,310
Median monthly mortgage
$1,690
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$358
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
46.9% / 25.8% / 27.3%
Employment rate
44.9%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
9.9% / 0.2% / 74.3%
Walked or cycled to work
3.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,734 / 304 / 66 (+ 8 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
14.9% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 23% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified14.9% · 27.8% NSW
Diploma qualified9.3% · 9.3% NSW
Trade / vocational23% · 15% NSW
Year 12 or below52.8% · 47.9% NSW
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce17%
Engineering and related technologies16.8%
Society and culture14.9%
Health14.5%
Education14%
Architecture and building8.3%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$49,146
26th percentile in NSW · -16% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$55,015
24th percentile in NSW · -15% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
12.0%
36th percentile in NSW · -13% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$71,220
51st percentile in NSW · +12% vs Australia
Residents with business income
9.0%
31st percentile in NSW · -13% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2430 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
19,420
Taxpayers reporting net rent
2,331
Median net rent
$2,483
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,812
Taxable income vs state median
-12%
Salary / wages vs state median
-12%
Rental investment vs state median
-14%
Super vs state median
+1%
Business income vs state median
-10%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in NSW, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
3.1% speak a language other than English at home; 10.4% born overseas
Language at home
4,676 English only · 150 other
Non-English at home
3.1%
Born overseas
499 (10.4%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
365 (7.1%)
Australian citizens
4,714
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
11
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Australian Indigenous languages11 · 18%
German9 · 14.8%
Italian8 · 13.1%
Afrikaans6 · 9.8%
Korean5 · 8.2%
Spanish5 · 8.2%
Croatian4 · 6.6%
Japanese4 · 6.6%
Religion
52.2%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 52.2%, while 38.2% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
38.2%
32.8%
Christianity
52.2%
47.6%
Other / not stated
9.5%
19.6%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Anglican
20.7%
11.9%
Catholic
18.2%
22.4%
Uniting Church
3.3%
2.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.6%
1.9%
Christian (not further defined)
2%
2.4%
Jehovah's Witnesses
2%
0.3%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 2430, which is shared with other suburbs.
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
558
Against the person
163
Against property
185
Rate per 1,000 residents
100.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 31 residents
State crime-rate percentile
73.6th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-10.8%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
26
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
4.7
Most common offence types
Breach Apprehended Violence Order35
Breach Bail Conditions79
Domestic Violence Related Assault46
Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment57
Malicious Damage To Property53
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
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
1
Median school ICSEA
994
Median ICSEA percentile
44th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
2
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
Old Bar Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 994 · 44th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 480 students · Top SEA quarter 15%View on My School →
School catchments
Mitchells Island PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Old Bar PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Taree HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
NSW government school intake zones — NSW Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Well connected by public transport — 227 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
32/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.2
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.37
Food & drink(1)
Old Bar TavernBar
Everyday services(1)
Metro PetroleumPetrol station
Sport & outdoors(2)
Old Bar BeachBeach
Sports field
Camping & holiday parks(1)
Campground
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(1)
Parking
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Health access
Nearest hospital
Manning Base Hospital (11.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
1
Residential aged-care places
90
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Aged-care services
Banyula LodgeOLD BARResidential
Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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.
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
28° / 16°
Rainfall
372 mm · ~46 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
23° / 12°
Rainfall
329 mm · ~41 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
17° / 6°
Rainfall
148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
23° / 11°
Rainfall
218 mm · ~27 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
9 HAWKINS CLOSE OLD BAR 2430Additional Information Requested
Subdivision
27 FOREST LANE OLD BAR 2430On Exhibition
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
7 LEWIS STREET OLD BAR 2430Under Assessment
Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
2 SPOTTED GUM DRIVE OLD BAR 2430Under Assessment
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
40 MARRA DRIVE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
20 HAWKINS CLOSE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Hot water systems
6 BULAR CLOSE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Secondary dwelling; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
12 RUSHBY DRIVE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Attached dwelling; Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
13 CRESTVIEW AVENUE OLD BAR 2430Under Assessment
August 2026
Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
29 CORKWOOD STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
62 MARRA DRIVE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)
102 WATERMAN STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
July 2026
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
7 FREYA COURT OLD BAR 2430Determined
Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
158 HERON ROAD OLD BAR 2430Determined
Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Non-standard Housing
34 KOLINDA DRIVE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Subdivision
1 SUNSET CRESCENT OLD BAR 2430Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
2 SPOTTED GUM DRIVE OLD BAR 2430Determined
June 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
13 TIRRIKI STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
7 DRIFTWOOD BOULEVARD OLD BAR 2430Determined
Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (indoor)
106 FOREST LANE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
28 CARRABEEN DRIVE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club
1 BELFORD STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
16 MYLES CLOSE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
39 HALL STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
Shed; Erection of a new structure
91 MANNING POINT ROAD OLD BAR 2430Determined
Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
24 Hawkins Close, Old Bar, 2430Determined
Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (indoor)
106 FOREST LANE OLD BAR 2430Determined
May 2026
Shed; Erection of a new structure
9 BULAR CLOSE OLD BAR 2430Determined
April 2026
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
19 Ondaroo Crest Old Bar 2430Determined
Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
7 CRESTVIEW AVENUE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
2 CUBBAROO STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
March 2026
Subdivision
9 DRIFTWOOD BOULEVARD OLD BAR 2430Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development
23 WYDEN STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
2 SUNSET CRESCENT OLD BAR 2430Withdrawn
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)
11 BELFORD STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
1 CORKWOOD STREET OLD BAR 2430Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
6 PEONY AVENUE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Shed; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies
11 CRESTVIEW AVENUE OLD BAR 2430Determined
Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
21 AUVERGNE WAY OLD BAR 2430Determined
2025· 1 proposal
December 2025
Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Heritage listings as established streetscape
Data sources & freshness
State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
Federal electorate
Lyne
Member of Parliament
Alison PENFOLD (The Nationals)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
129,584
Turnout (2025)
92.9%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+4.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.8%Labor 40.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 11.8 km away).
Coalition 54.3%Labor 45.7%
5.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Old BarLabor 47.4% · Coalition 52.6% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
CundletownLabor 37.8% · Coalition 62.2% TPP (2025)7.8 km away
Mitchells IslandLabor 39.2% · Coalition 60.8% TPP (2025)8.4 km away
PurfleetLabor 52.4% · Coalition 47.6% TPP (2025)9.0 km away
Diamond BeachLabor 44.4% · Coalition 55.6% TPP (2025)9.1 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.
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 (12%)