NSW · Shellharbour Council
Shell Cove, NSW, 2529
Desirability index
#50 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Shell Cove is a smaller suburban community in the Shellharbour area, home to around 7,591 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 2,366 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, roughly 311.7 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $760 (flats $650, houses $800), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, 1 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
- 7,591
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $2,452
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 133 of 2,582
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,386
- Employment rate
- 62.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 142 / 201 / 102
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian 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)
- $650
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $800
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $760
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 190
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 2,366
- Against the person
- 412
- Against property
- 883
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 311.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 18 residents
- State safety percentile
- 19.7th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +0.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions667
- Fraud135
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment161
- Steal From Motor Vehicle128
- Steal From Retail Store211
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW 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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,049
- Shell Cove Public SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
56 public transport stops in this suburb
- Cove Bvd Before Brindabella Dr
- Shellharbour Rd Before Cove Bvd
- Southern Cross Bvd After Banks Dr
- Southern Cross Bvd At Mornington Ct
- Southern Cross Bvd Before Monkhouse Pde
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Follow directions on site. Reduce your speed. Construction of Road crossings & Shared pathCove Boulevard18 Jun 2026 – 23 Oct 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State 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).
445 planning-related records
2026· 31 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 SEASIDE AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool33 NAUTICA CRESCENT SHELL COVE 2529Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool4 APOLLO DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport4 GALLEON AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure76 THE PROMONTORY DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool24 SEABOARD WAY SHELL COVE 2529Determined
April 2026
- Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure90 BRIGANTINE DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 WHIMBREL TERRACE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool19 THURSDAY AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 OCEANFRONT DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 LORD HOWE AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureLot 7114, 47 Seafaring Way SHELL COVE NSW 2529Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool60 SEAFARING WAY SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation50 PITT AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Minor building alterations (external)42 SOUTHERN CROSS BOULEVARD SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 SNELL AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 OCEANFRONT DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 SEABOARD WAY SHELL COVE 2529Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation6 PITT AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 OCEANFRONT DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure17 NAUTICA CRESCENT SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 OCEANFRONT DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 NAUTICA CRESCENT SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation27 NAUTICA CRESCENT SHELL COVE 2529Determined
January 2026
- Home business; Home occupation; Hours of operation and trading20 TROON AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Residential AccommodationCOVE BOULEVARD SHELL COVE 2529Under Assessment
- Signage; Advertising and signage1 KILLALEA DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)27 THE PROMONTORY DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool9 MAINSAIL AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool49 SEAFARING WAY SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation27 PITT AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
2025· 70 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 PITT AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool22 PITT AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure37 PITT AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 PITT AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure25 NAUTICA CRESCENT SHELL COVE 2529Determined
November 2025
- Signage; Advertising and signage1 KILLALEA DRIVE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Subdivision20 Quayside Avenue, Shell CoveDetermined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation6 PITT AVENUE SHELL COVE 2529Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7 NAUTICA CRESCENT SHELL COVE 2529Determined
2024· 40 proposals
40 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 56 proposals
56 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 101 proposals
101 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 105 proposals
105 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 42 proposals
42 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
82 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- BreadrocksBakery
- Bench (26)
- Bicycle Parking (2)
- Cove Bvd at Whitsunday DrBus stop
- Cove Bvd before Brindabella DrBus stop
- Cove Bvd opp Brindabella DrBus stop
- Cove Bvd opp Whitsunday DrBus stop
- Harbour Bvd after Aquatic DrBus stop
- Harbour bvd before Aquatic DrBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
20 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Anchorage ParkPark
- Bass Point ReservePark
- Brindabella WetlandsPark
- Condons ParkPark
- Endeavour ParkPark
- Harbour View ParkPark
- Hartog ParkPark
- James Cook ParkPark
- Mainsail ParkPark
- McKinnery ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Choice PharmacyCove Boulevardpharmacy
- Shell Cove Family Healthclinic
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Bass Point ReserveBoollwarroo Parade, Shell CoveSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Early Learning on Bribiekindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 38
- Parks (OSM)
- 21
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 88.4/100
- Cohort rank
- #50 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Cove Bvd Before Brindabella Drtransport
- Shellharbour Rd Before Cove Bvdtransport
- Southern Cross Bvd After Banks Drtransport
- Southern Cross Bvd At Mornington Cttransport
- Southern Cross Bvd Before Monkhouse Pdetransport
- Early Learning on Bribiechildcarekindergarten
- Bass Point ReserveheritageBoollwarroo Parade, Shell CoveSHR
- Choice PharmacyhealthCove Boulevardpharmacy
- Shell Cove Family Healthhealthclinic
- Anchorage Parkgovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.