NSW · Canterbury-Bankstown Council

Riverwood, NSW, 2210

Desirability index

34/100

#487 among Metro Sydney suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Riverwood is a mid-sized suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown area, home to around 12,793 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,568 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+15%), roughly 200.7 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $720 (flats $690, houses $875), 4 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, 2 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
12,793
Median age
40
Median household income / week
$1,210
Dwelling vacancy
7.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
397 of 5,171
Median monthly mortgage
$2,167
Employment rate
42.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
414 / 625 / 2,282

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Housing

Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$690
Houses (January to March 2026)
$875
All types (January to March 2026)
$720
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
165

Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
2,568
Against the person
467
Against property
751
Rate per 1,000 residents
200.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 27 residents
State safety percentile
15.9th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+15.4%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Bail Conditions302
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault147
  • Fraud145
  • Malicious Damage To Property175
  • Transport Regulatory Offences371

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
4
Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
1,035
  • Hannans Road Public SchoolPrimary
  • Riverwood Public SchoolPrimary
  • Southside Montessori SchoolPrimary
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

158 public transport stops in this suburb

  • CCP Thurlow St
  • CCP William Rd
  • ENT Belmore
  • Riverwood Station
  • STR Tp P1/2

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

2 active roadworks / incidents

  • RoadworksM5 Motorway westbound Off-ramp & On ramp, Belmore Road02 Jul 2026 – 06 Jul 2026
  • RoadworksM5 Motorway, Belmore Road12 Jul 2026 – 16 Jul 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closuresState road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

143 planning-related records

2026· 7 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure
    34 CAIRNS STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Additional Information Requested
  • May 2026

  • Attached dwelling; Medium Density Housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    2 16 JOSEPHINE STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Under Assessment
  • April 2026

  • Demolition; Seniors housing; Independent living units; Residential care facility; Erection of a new structure
    12-18 LEIGH AVENUE RIVERWOOD 2210Under Assessment
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry
    4 6 JINDALEE PLACE RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • February 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    45 WILLIAM ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    34 KENTUCKY ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • January 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure
    158 BROADARROW ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
2025· 19 proposals
  • October 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    26 KILLARA AVENUE RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Residential flat building; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure
    279 BELMORE ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Subdivision
    11 SOFALA STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Under Assessment
  • August 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    21 ELDON STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry; Hours of operation and trading
    30 WIGGS ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure
    158 BROADARROW ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Withdrawn
  • Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure
    34 CAIRNS STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • July 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    46 ELDON STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development
    4A COLERIDGE STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Withdrawn
  • Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure
    26 KILLARA AVENUE RIVERWOOD 2210Withdrawn
  • Subdivision
    17 MUNMURRA ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    1A TRUMAN AVENUE RIVERWOOD 2210Under Assessment
  • June 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Community facility
    5A HEDLEY STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • May 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    49 ELDON STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Withdrawn
  • March 2025

  • Subdivision
    11 SOFALA STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    8 SIRIUS PLACE RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • January 2025

  • Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure
    5 COLERIDGE STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    8 RUSSELL STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences; Pathways and paving
    138 BELMORE ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Withdrawn
2024· 19 proposals
  • December 2024

  • Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    9 LUPIN AVENUE RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
    169 BROADARROW ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Withdrawn
  • November 2024

  • Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    34 CAIRNS STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Dual occupancy; Demolition; Dual occupancy (attached)
    34 CAIRNS STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Community facility
    151 BELMORE ROAD NORTH RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • October 2024

  • Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Fences
    49 WILLIAM ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry
    6 JINDALEE PLACE RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • September 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    8 SIRIUS PLACE RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Demolition
    110 BELMORE ROAD NORTH RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • August 2024

  • Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure
    6 IDAHO PLACE RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • July 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    17 ROMILLY STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care
    15A UNION STREET RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • May 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    160 BROADARROW ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Storage premises
    10-12 WIGGS ROAD RIVERWOOD 2210Determined
2023· 21 proposals

21 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2022· 23 proposals

23 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2021· 39 proposals

39 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2020· 15 proposals

15 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

172 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Westpac ATMATM
  • Monte Carlo BakeryBakery
  • Bbq (4)
  • Bench (20)
  • Peter Bundy CyclesBicycle

    160 Belmore Road

  • Bicycle Parking (2)
  • Belmore Rd after Cairns StBus stop
  • Belmore Rd at Coleridge StBus stop
  • Belmore Rd at Roosevelt AvBus stop
  • Belmore Rd at Washington AvBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

14 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Basil Street ReservePark
  • Bennett ParkPark
  • Charles ReservePark
  • Kentucky Road ReservePark
  • Keppel Avenue ReservePark
  • Lillian Road ReservePark
  • McLaughlin OvalPark
  • Phillip Street ReserveNature reserve
  • Riverwood ParkPark
  • Riverwood Peace ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
1
Emergency department
Not in suburb
  • Galluzzo's Pharmacypharmacy

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
1/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Jennys Kindergartenkindergarten
  • Riverwood Community CentreBelmore Roadkindergarten

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
17
Parks (OSM)
16

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
34.0/100
Cohort rank
#487 among Metro Sydney suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • CCP Thurlow Sttransport
  • CCP William Rdtransport
  • ENT Belmoretransport
  • Riverwood Stationtransport
  • STR Tp P1/2transport
  • Jennys Kindergartenchildcarekindergarten
  • Riverwood Community CentrechildcareBelmore Roadkindergarten
  • Galluzzo's Pharmacyhealthpharmacy
  • Basil Street Reservegovernmentpark
  • Bennett Parkgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

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