Median house price
$938k
-34% change
NSW · Wollongong Council
Port Kembla, 2505
Population
5,088
Growth (1 yr)
-0.8%
Growth (5 yr)
-1.8%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,308/wk
Employment rate
48.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$938,000
Languages at home
25%non-English
Most common: Macedonian, Italian, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Green suburb
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Port Kembla wears its coastal identity openly, a mid-sized suburb built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. The wider metro area and neighbouring suburbs stay within easy reach when you want a change of scene. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street.
Overseas-born and multilingual households are a noticeable part of the local population. Buses and trains are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range.
Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
Desirability sits around average overall, with community and employment, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drag compared with similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Port Kembla snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$520/wk
Houses $695 · Units $460
Population (Census)
5,088
-0.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.9%
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
#29
among Coastal & beach · Established
Safety
99th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
3rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
31st
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
- 43.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 46% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3185th in Australia
- State rank
- 970th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #29 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #95 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $460
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $695
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $520
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 48
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $938,000
- Median price change
- -34.4%
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
Population growth
-0.8% annual · -1.8% over 5 years · 3th percentile in NSW
Growth rates are from ABS Estimated Resident Population at SA2 level. Headcount uses 2021 Census when allocated ERP is too low relative to Census to display reliably.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 5,088
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,308
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 171 of 2,176
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 48.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,540 / 133 / 316 (+ 10 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)
- 883
- Against the person
- 99
- Against property
- 250
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 356.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 51 residents
- State safety percentile
- 99th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.9%
Most common offence types
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment32
- Malicious Damage To Property50
- Other Offences74
- Steal From Motor Vehicle35
- Transport Regulatory Offences295
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 952.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 31th
School list
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1058 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 177 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1013 · 53th percentile · LBOTE 46% · 149 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Warrawong Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 891 · 9th percentile · LBOTE 39% · 276 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- Kemblawarra Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 892 · 9th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 153 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 2.0 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
124 public transport stops in this suburb
- ENT Kembla Rd
- FTB To P2
- Lysaghts Station
- Port Kembla North Station, Platform 1
- Port Kembla Station, Platform 1
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
65 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 playgrounds · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 3 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 124 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 36/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.39
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.59
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.59
Food & drink(3)
- Cafe
- Central CanteenCafe
- Commercial HotelPub
Community(1)
- Port Kembla Senior Citizens CentreCommunity centre
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Shipp ParkPark
- Playground
- Sports field
Transport(11)
7 bus stops · 4 train stations
Other(19)
- Bench (2)
- Brand WorxClothes
- Port Kembla Court HouseCourthouse
- Port Kembla SteelworksFire station
- Port Kembla HotelHotel
- Bluescope SteelParking
- P20 - CO EngineeringParking
- P23 - Central LabParking
- P26 - CokemakingParking
- Parking (27)
- Steelhaven EntryParking
- VisitorsParking
- Picnic Table
- Port Kembla Police StationPolice
- Australia PostPost Box
- Australia PostPost office
- TelstraTelephone
- Ticket Validator (2)
- 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- King George V ParkPark
- Shipp ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Port Kembla Hospital (2.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Flat Products Medical CentreDoctor
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)
- 96
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 38.8
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· 31 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space55 PARKES STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 THIRD AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care32-34 DONALDSON STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
June 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space5 THIRD AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation101 PARKES STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
- Demolition; Hotel or motel accommodation; Advertising and signage; 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; Hours of operation and trading10-14 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support16 GALLIPOLI STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Additional Information Requested
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station48 ILLAWARRA STREET PORT KEMBLA NSW2505Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure1 Parker Street, Port Kembla NSWUnder Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 GRIFFITHS AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)132 MILITARY ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink22-26 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)81 PARKES STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure1 JUBILEE ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)23 SURFSIDE DRIVE PORT KEMBLA 2505Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 RESERVOIR STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure5 FIFTH AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 BLAND STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 SECOND AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation6 HORNE STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure87 PARKES STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Subdivision9 MARNE STREET PORT KEMBLADetermined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool35 FORSTER STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure42 DOVERS DRIVE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 SECOND AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation184 MILITARY ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Industrial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry10 DARCY ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premiseU 1 190 MILITARY ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 LAWARRA STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry233 Shellharbour Road Port KemblaDetermined
- Industrial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35 FIVE ISLANDS ROAD PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
2025· 13 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure31 FORSTER STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)9 ROBERTSON STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
November 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)57-61 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Business premises; Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia68-70 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Subdivision9 MARNE STREET PORT KEMBLADetermined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 SECOND AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink22-26 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space72-74 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Under Assessment
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station48 ILLAWARRA STREET PORT KEMBLA NSW2505Determined
- Demolition; Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise55 WENTWORTH STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Withdrawn
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool17 SECOND AVENUE PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development56 ILLAWARRA STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah44 BLAND STREET PORT KEMBLA 2505Determined
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
- Hill 60/ Illowra BatteryMilitary Road, Port KemblaSHR
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
- Cunningham
- Member of Parliament
- Alison BYRNES (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,139
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 32.5%Labor 67.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.5 km away).
Coalition 26.1%Labor 74.0%
6.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WarrawongLabor 73.9% · Coalition 26.1% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- CringilaLabor 77.4% · Coalition 22.6% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Port Kembla CentralLabor 75.1% · Coalition 24.9% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Warrawong CentralLabor 74.3% · Coalition 25.7% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- Port KemblaLabor 72.4% · Coalition 27.6% TPP (2025)2.9 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)
- 2/10
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 Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.