Median house price
$1.08M
+2.9% change
NSW · Central Coast Council
Shelly Beach, 2261
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,376
Growth (1 yr)
+0.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.1%
Median age
47
Median income
$1,646/wk
Employment rate
53.6%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,080,000
Languages at home
3.7%non-English
Most common: Arabic, German, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Shelly Beach revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Neighbouring pockets and the city remain accessible for work, dining and weekends away from the beach. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Reported crime has been falling recently.
Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
Against similar coastal suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because parks and green space lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Shelly Beach snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$620/wk
Houses $680 · Units $520
Population (ERP)
1,376
+0.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.7%
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
#42
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
50th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
63rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
41st
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
- 42.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 49% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3407th in Australia
- State rank
- 1042nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #42 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #101 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $520
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $680
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $620
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 368
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,080,000
- Median price change
- +2.9%
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
1,376(June 2025)
+0.9% annual · +2.1% over 5 years · 63th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.9%
- 5-year growth
- +2.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +12
- Change in 5 years
- +28
- Growth rank in NSW
- 63th 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 (~1,450), extrapolated at +0.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,313
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,646
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 47 of 543
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,200
- Employment rate
- 53.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 415 / 60 / 0 (+ 17 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)
- 92
- Against the person
- 28
- Against property
- 36
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 47 residents
- State safety percentile
- 49.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -13%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order247
- Breach Bail Conditions456
- Domestic Violence Related Assault295
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment446
- Malicious Damage To Property380
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 987
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 41th
School list
- Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1057 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 606 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance CampusSecondary · Government · ICSEA 987 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 756 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Brooke Avenue Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 931 · 18th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 420 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.9 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
23 public transport stops in this suburb
- Grandview St After Shelly Beach Rd
- Shelly Beach Rd Opp Lindsay St
- TLSC The Entrance Campus, Central Coast Hwy
- TLSC The Entrance Campus, Yakalla St
- Yakalla St Before Grandview St
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
37 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 1 cafes · 1 places of worship · 1 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 23 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 34/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.76
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.52
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.76
Food & drink(2)
- MunchasCafe
- Seaspray RestaurantRestaurant
Community(2)
- Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary SchoolSchool
1A Shelly Beach Road
- Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance CampusSchool
Shelly Beach
Sport & outdoors(5)
- Shelly Beach Golf CourseGolf course
- Earl Street ReservePark
- Playground
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Transport(12)
12 bus stops
Other(10)
- Sun Valley Tourist ParkCaravan Site
- Drinking water
- Peter Clifford ReserveNature Reserve
- Parking (4)
- Picnic Table (4)
- Bateau Bay Baptist ChurchPlace of worship
8 Yakalla Street
- Public toilets
- Shower
- ShowersShower
- Uniting Nareen Gardens Lodge Bateau BaySocial Facility
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
- Earl Street ReservePark
- Peter Clifford ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Bateau Bay Baptist Church
8 Yakalla Street
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Long Jetty Healthcare Centre (1.6 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)
- 47
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.2
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
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 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· 10 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 EARL STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Under Assessment
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool101 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool108 OAKS AVENUE SHELLY BEACH 2261Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation136 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool23 PHILLIP STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 PHILLIP STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation130 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation34A GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation100 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation54 BELLEVUE STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
2025· 16 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development5 PHILLIP STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)19 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation136 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external); Supporting Development90 SHELLY BEACH ROAD SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure58 LIDDELL STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure110 OAKS AVENUE SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space37 WATERVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Withdrawn
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation70 BELLEVUE STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure112A GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space37 WATERVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure58 SHELLY BEACH ROAD SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
April 2025
- Demolition125 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Demolition37 WATERVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Swimming pool5 PHILLIP STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)136 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation34A GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
2024· 12 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 PHILLIP STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure76 BELLEVUE STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
November 2024
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)19 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
October 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club; Recreation facility (outdoor)86 BONNIEVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool49 BELLEVUE STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool8 PHILLIP STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure85 MCLACHLAN AVENUE SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Automotive/truck premises; Service station50 SHELLY BEACH ROAD SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)125 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure110 GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure112A GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Caravan park2 BATEAU BAY ROAD SHELLY BEACH 2261Withdrawn
2023· 3 proposals
December 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure19 PHILLIP STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14A GRANDVIEW STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure52 BELLEVUE STREET SHELLY BEACH 2261Determined
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)
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
- Dobell
- Member of Parliament
- Emma McBRIDE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,541
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.9 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.6%Labor 59.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.6 km away).
Coalition 39.9%Labor 60.1%
0.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Shelly BeachLabor 60.4% · Coalition 39.6% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Bateau Bay CentralLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Bateau Bay SouthLabor 62.4% · Coalition 37.6% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Long JettyLabor 62.3% · Coalition 37.7% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Killarney Vale SouthLabor 64.7% · Coalition 35.3% TPP (2025)1.8 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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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 Central Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.