Median house price
$1.13M
+19% change
NSW · Bega Valley Council
Pambula Beach, 2549
Est. population · Jun 2025
687
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.0%
Median age
54
Median income
$1,414/wk
Employment rate
50.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,125,000
Languages at home
1.1%non-English
Most common: Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Well away from Sydney, Pambula Beach is a coastal smaller community built around sand, sea and space. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Neighbourhood food and coffee spots add warmth to the local routine.
Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Reported crime has been falling recently. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer growth momentum, plus schools and education relative to similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Pambula Beach snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$660/wk
Population (ERP)
687
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
34.1%
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
#73
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
3rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
52nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
37th
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
- 36.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4419th in Australia
- State rank
- 1399th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #73 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #141 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
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
687(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
- +4
- Change in 5 years
- +20
- 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 (~700), extrapolated at +1.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 667
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,414
- Dwelling vacancy
- 34.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 150 of 440
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,700
- Employment rate
- 50.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 233 / 41 / 7
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)
- 15
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 7
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 21.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 222 residents
- State safety percentile
- 3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -16.4%
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)
- 964
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 37th
School list
- Lumen Christi Catholic CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 1040 · 64th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 692 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Pambula Beach Flexible SchoolSpecial · Independent · ICSEA 888 · 9th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 52 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.4 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
18 public transport stops in this suburb
- Culgoa Cres At Gwainurra Gr
- Jinjera Pde Opp Club Av
- Lumen Christi Catholic College, Culgoa Cres
- Sapphire Aquatic Centre, Pambula Beach Rd
- Winnunga St At Turtle Dove Lane
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
42 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 1 bars · 1 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 18 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 31/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 3
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3
Food & drink(2)
- Bar
- The Broken OarRestaurant
Shopping(1)
- Convenience store
Community(2)
- Pambula Surf Life Saving ClubCommunity centre
- Lumen Christi Catholic CollegeSchool
388 Pambula Beach Road
Sport & outdoors(5)
- Lions ParkPark
- Playground
- Pambula Beach Sports ComplexSports centre
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Entertainment(6)
- Viewpoint (6)
Transport(3)
3 bus stops
Other(12)
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (2)
- Discovery Holiday Park Pambula BeachCaravan Site
- Horse Riding
- Information
- Jiguma Nature AreaNature Reserve
- Parking (5)
- Picnic Table (4)
- Post Box
- Public toilets
- Shower (2)
- Waste Basket (2)
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Jiguma Nature AreaNature reserve
- Lions ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- 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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Pambula District Hospital (2.6 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
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)
- 16
- 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 (lodged 2020–2026).
44 planning-related records
2025· 9 proposals
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drinkPAMBULA BEACH ROAD PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure73 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 TALEEBAN STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Ancillary commercial development; Temporary structure; Hours of operation and trading190 PAMBULA BEACH ROAD PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; School64 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Residential Accommodation1 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure96 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure73 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure98A CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Fences56 PAMBULA BEACH ROAD PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah29 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 TALEEBAN STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah25 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah42 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure96 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
2023· 9 proposals
December 2023
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School64 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
November 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
May 2023
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces56 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
April 2023
- Other190 PAMBULA BEACH ROAD PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development45 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees60 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
February 2023
- Dual occupancy; Demolition10 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition28 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
2022· 6 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing21 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition27 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
September 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development3 BOOROO STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development18 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development15 BOOROO STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition4 KANANGRA STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
2021· 8 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development12 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development60 CULGOA CRESCENT PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
November 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development53 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development23 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
October 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces9 KANANGRA STREET PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development45 JINJERA PARADE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition27 WEEMILAH DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 2549Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Residential flat building; Alterations and additions to residential development; Other11 CORAKI DRIVE PAMBULA BEACH 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 · 2020–2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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 22.7 km away).
Coalition 40.2%Labor 59.8%
2.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -2.7 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- PambulaLabor 59.0% · Coalition 41.0% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
- Merimbula CentralLabor 60.8% · Coalition 39.2% TPP (2025)6.5 km away
- MerimbulaLabor 66.1% · Coalition 33.9% TPP (2025)6.7 km away
- Tura BeachLabor 57.3% · Coalition 42.7% TPP (2025)9.1 km away
- EdenLabor 50.6% · Coalition 49.4% TPP (2025)12.4 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)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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.