Median house price
$1.13M
+19% change
NSW · Bega Valley Council
Pambula, 2549
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,032
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.0%
Median age
54
Median income
$1,117/wk
Employment rate
46.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,125,000
Languages at home
2.9%non-English
Most common: Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- High desirability
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Pambula sits in Bega Valley Council as a regional smaller community that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Food and coffee punch above the usual for regional towns, giving the suburb a lived-in social scene.
There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. Daily life works well on foot, with buses also serving the suburb. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Reported crime has been falling recently. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Growth momentum, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities push the suburb to a good desirability read, even as community and employment look more ordinary among similar regional towns.
At a glance
Pambula snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$660/wk
Population (ERP)
1,032
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.1%
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
#18
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
3rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
52nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
27th
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
- 60.0/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 14% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1013th in Australia
- State rank
- 287th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #18 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #47 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,125,000
- Median price change
- +19.1%
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
1,032(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +3.0% over 5 years · 52th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.6%
- 5-year growth
- +3.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +6
- Change in 5 years
- +30
- Growth rank in NSW
- 52th 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 (~1,100), extrapolated at +1.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,002
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,117
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 58 of 443
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 46.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 276 / 84 / 11 (+ 8 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 22
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 11
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 21.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 200 residents
- State safety percentile
- 2.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -21.2%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order6
- Break And Enter Dwelling6
- Fraud7
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment8
- Malicious Damage To Property14
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 941
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 27th
School list
- Pambula Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 994 · 44th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 257 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Pambula Beach Flexible SchoolSpecial · Independent · ICSEA 888 · 9th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 52 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.3 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
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Pambula Preschoolkindergarten
- Shorebreakers Kindergarten Early Learning CentreMonaro Streetkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
49 public transport stops in this suburb
- Pambula Hospital, Merimbola St
- Pambula Post Office, Quondola St
- Pambula Post Office, Quondola St
- Quondola St Opp Pambula Post Office
- Quondola St Opp Pambula Post Office
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
86 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
4 restaurants · 5 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 1 bakeries · 3 places of worship
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Highly walkable for everyday errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb
- Well connected by public transport — 49 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 94/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 4.99
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 11.98
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2
Food & drink(12)
- Wild Rye BakeryBakery
- Cafe Pambula ToastCafe
- Milk BarCafe
- Pambula Deli BarCafe
17 Quondolo Street, Pambula
- Pie FaceCafe
- Shella's Vintage TearoomsCafe
- Fast food
- Top Pub - Commercial HotelPub
- ChilipadiRestaurant
- Longstocking breweryRestaurant
- McKay's OystersRestaurant
- WheelersRestaurant
Shopping(3)
- JD's Quality MeatsButcher
21 Quondolo Street, Pambula
- FoodworksSupermarket
19 Quondolo Street, Pambula
Community(6)
- Pambula Mens ShedCommunity centre
7-9 Merimbola Street, Pambula
- Pambula Town HallCommunity centre
- Pambula PreschoolKindergarten
- Shorebreakers Kindergarten Early Learning CentreKindergarten
1-3 Monaro Street, Pambula
- Pambula Beach Flexible Learning CentreSchool
- Pambula Public SchoolSchool
25 Oregon Street, Pambula
Health & services(4)
- Pambula District HospitalHospital
Merimbola Street
- Health WithinMedical clinic
- Pambula ChemistPharmacy
- Pambula Vet ClinicVeterinary
Sport & outdoors(4)
- Idlewilde Crescent ReservePark
- Park
- Jack Martin OvalSports field
- Sports field
Entertainment(1)
- Smith LookoutViewpoint
Transport(5)
5 bus stops
Other(40)
- Liquor WorksAlcohol
- Pambula Boarding KennelsAnimal Boarding
- Bendigo BankBank
- Sleep DoctorBed
- Bus Station
- Reflections Pambula - Holiday ParkCamp Site
Cnr Toallo Street & Munje Street
- Carpet CourtCarpet
- Pambula Community HealthCentre
Merimbola Street, Pambula
- Pambula's Country StoreClothes
- Mitre 10Doityourself
- Saphire Dry Cleaning & LaundryDry Cleaning
- Pambula Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
- Aloha EveFlorist
- Robert Smith HomemakersFurniture
- Garden
- United PambulaGas
- Bianchini GelatiIce Cream
- Health WithinMassage
- Fairway Motor InnMotel
- Idlewilde Town & Country Motor InnMotel
- The Colonial Motor InnMotel
- Panboola Waterbird SanctuaryNature Reserve
- Pambula NewsagencyNewsagent
- Imlay HouseNursing Home
- Pambula PlazaParking
- Parking (13)
- UnitedPetrol station
- Christ ChurchPlace of worship
- Pambula Baptist ChurchPlace of worship
- St. Peter'sPlace of worship
- Australia PostPost Box
- Pambula LPOPost office
27 Quondolo Street
- Public toilets
- Op ShopSecond Hand
- Outasight StorageStorage Rental
- TelstraTelephone
- Smash repairsTyres
- GoldfinchYes
- Pambula Community Mental HealthYes
Merimbola Street, Pambula
- Yes
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Idlewilde Crescent ReservePark
- Panboola Waterbird SanctuaryNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Christ Church
- Pambula Baptist Church
- St. Peter's
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
- 7
- Nearest hospital
- Pambula District Hospital (0.3 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Health WithinDoctor
- Imlay HouseNursing_Home
- Pambula ChemistPharmacy
- Pambula Community HealthMerimbola StreetCentre
- Pambula Community Mental HealthMerimbola StreetYes
- Pambula District HospitalMerimbola StreetHospital
- YesYes
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)
- 24
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 23.3
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
- 23° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 209 mm · ~26 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 188 mm · ~24 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 227 mm · ~28 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· 2 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure89 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)43 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
2025· 9 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; General industry10 SIR WILLIAM MCKELL DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)51 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 MARTIN STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 OREGON STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Function centre28-30 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure43 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Rejected
March 2025
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)43 BULLARA STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Advertising and signage; Service station; Take away food and drink; Shop39 Quondolo Street, PambulaUnder Assessment
January 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure48 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
2024· 13 proposals
October 2024
- Bed and breakfast accommodation; Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation36 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 BRUNKER STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Demolition190 ARTHUR KAINE DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Small bar; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Function centre; Food and drink premise28-30 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
June 2024
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise39 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure30 FRANCIS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 LITTLE GAHAN STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure65A OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises6 MCPHERSON CIRCUIT PAMBULA 2549Determined
January 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Small bar; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Function centre; Food and drink premise28-30 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Subdivision27 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Pub; Erection of a new structure18 QUONDOLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
2023· 12 proposals
December 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure68 Oaklands Road Pambula NSW 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure113 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure172 ARTHUR KAINE DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Determined
October 2023
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Artisan food and drink industry32 BULLARA STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 BRUNKER STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)10 BRUNKER STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
August 2023
- Change of use37 BULLARA STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
July 2023
- Alterations and additions to commercial development32-42 Bullara street PambulaDetermined
April 2023
- Dwelling22 Monaro Street, PambulaWithdrawn
- Shed43 OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
March 2023
- Shed43 TOALLO STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
February 2023
- Industrial development4 SIR WILLIAM MCKELL DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Withdrawn
2022· 4 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling65B OAKLANDS ROAD PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development176 ARTHUR KAINE DRIVE PAMBULA 2549Determined
November 2022
- Other25 BEGA STREET PAMBULA 2549Determined
- Change of use3/3 Mcpherson Circuit, Pambula, NSW, 2549Determined
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)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- OaklandsPrinces Highway, PambulaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Eden-Monaro
- Member of Parliament
- Kristy McBAIN (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,376
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.1 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 42.8%Labor 57.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 20.5 km away).
Coalition 40.9%Labor 59.1%
1.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -4.9 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- PambulaLabor 59.0% · Coalition 41.0% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Merimbula CentralLabor 60.8% · Coalition 39.2% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
- MerimbulaLabor 66.1% · Coalition 33.9% TPP (2025)6.0 km away
- Tura BeachLabor 57.3% · Coalition 42.7% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
- WolumlaLabor 63.6% · Coalition 36.4% TPP (2025)11.8 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
More in Bega Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.