NSW · Wollongong Council
Stanwell Tops, NSW, 2508
Desirability index
#419 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Stanwell Tops is a small locality in the Wollongong area, home to around 517 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 315 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+7%), roughly 609.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $765, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 517
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $2,663
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 8 of 172
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,625
- Employment rate
- 63.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 8 / 0 / 4
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $795
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)
- 315
- Against the person
- 99
- Against property
- 98
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 609.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 5 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.7th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +7.1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault19
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property27
- Steal From Motor Vehicle19
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
Public transport
20 public transport stops in this suburb
- Annesley Av At Stirling St
- Bald Hill Lookout
- Bendena Gardens At Plateau Rd
- Bendena Gardens At Stonehaven Rd
- Stonehaven Rd At Annesley Av
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
29 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure185 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Pending Court Appeal
2025· 4 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool39 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space30 SOUTHVIEW AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
June 2025
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia31 STONEHAVEN ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Under Assessment
2024· 3 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
October 2024
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)10 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
March 2024
- Advertising and signage; Function centre; Recreation facility (outdoor)51 BENDENA GARDENS STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
2023· 5 proposals
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development32 STONEHAVEN ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development6A LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing18 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
April 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs17 SOUTHVIEW AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development22 BENDENA GARDENS STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
2022· 5 proposals
November 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development22 BENDENA GARDENS STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development16 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
September 2022
- Bed and breakfast accommodation31 STONEHAVEN ROAD, STANWELL TOPSWithdrawn
April 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition31 STONEHAVEN ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development22 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
2021· 7 proposals
November 2021
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development22 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
- Alterations and additions to residential development6 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
September 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces26 longview crescent, stanwell topsDetermined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees22 SOUTHVIEW AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
August 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces34 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Withdrawn
June 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development38 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
March 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development5 PLATEAU ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
2020· 4 proposals
November 2020
- Alterations and additions to residential development17 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
October 2020
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees34 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
September 2020
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces26 LONGVIEW CRESCENT STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development38 ANNESLEY AVENUE STANWELL TOPS 2508Determined
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
12 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (5)
- Annesley Ave opp Stirling StBus stop
- Bendena Gardens at Stonehaven RdBus stop
- Bendena Gardens opp Plateau RdBus stop
- Stonehaven Rd at Annesley AveBus stop
- Stonehaven Rd opp Annesley AveBus stop
- Parking (2)
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Henry Hallorhan ParkPark
- The Tops Conference CentrePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
- Otford railway tunnel (former)Illawarra Railway, OtfordSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 43.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #419 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Annesley Av At Stirling Sttransport
- Bald Hill Lookouttransport
- Bendena Gardens At Plateau Rdtransport
- Bendena Gardens At Stonehaven Rdtransport
- Stonehaven Rd At Annesley Avtransport
- Otford railway tunnel (former)heritageIllawarra Railway, OtfordSHR
- Henry Hallorhan Parkgovernmentpark
- The Tops Conference Centregovernmentpark
- Advertising and signage; Function centre; Recreation facility (outdoor)planning51 BENDENA GARDENS STANWELL TOPS 2508Lodged 06 Mar 2024 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning32 STONEHAVEN ROAD STANWELL TOPS 2508Lodged 16 Aug 2023 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- 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.