NSW · Sutherland Shire Council
Waterfall, NSW, 2233
Desirability index
#636 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Waterfall is a small locality in the Sutherland Shire area, home to around 522 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 684 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-3%), roughly 1310.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $843 (flats $700, houses $900), 1 school and preschool site in the area, 11 public transport stops within the suburb, 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
- 522
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,232
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 5 of 177
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,383
- Employment rate
- 63.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 12 / 0 / 6
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)
- $700
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $900
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $843
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 94
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)
- 684
- Against the person
- 235
- Against property
- 262
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 1,310.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 2 residents
- State safety percentile
- 37.8th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -3%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault63
- Fraud55
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment68
- Malicious Damage To Property85
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault54
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
- 1,031
- Waterfall 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
11 public transport stops in this suburb
- LFT To P1/2
- Waterfall Station
- Waterfall Station, Access Rd, McKell Av
- Waterfall Station, Platform 1
- Waterfall Station, Platform 2
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).
12 planning-related records
2025· 4 proposals
August 2025
- Medium Density Housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 4-6 KOORABAN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)5 4-6 KOORABAN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 WARABIN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facilityMCKELL AVENUE WATERFALL 2233Deferred Commencement
2024· 1 proposal
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facilityMCKELL AVENUE WATERFALL 2233Determined
2022· 2 proposals
October 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 KOORABAN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
March 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees1901 PRINCES HIGHWAY WATERFALL 2233Withdrawn
2021· 3 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development29 YANAGANG STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
September 2021
- Telecommunications and communication facilitiesMCKELL AVENUE WATERFALL 2233Deferred Commencement
January 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development47 YANAGANG STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
2020· 2 proposals
December 2020
- Pools / decks / fencing46 YANAGANG STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
October 2020
- Alterations and additions to residential development17 WARABIN STREET WATERFALL 2233Determined
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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Picnic Table
- Public toilets
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
- Alan Benn ReservePark
- Camp Coutts carparkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
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)
- 15
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 14.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #636 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
- LFT To P1/2transport
- Waterfall Stationtransport
- Waterfall Station, Access Rd, McKell Avtransport
- Waterfall Station, Platform 1transport
- Waterfall Station, Platform 2transport
- Alan Benn Reservegovernmentpark
- Camp Coutts carparkgovernmentpark
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning3 KOORABAN STREET WATERFALL 2233Lodged 10 Oct 2022 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning29 YANAGANG STREET WATERFALL 2233Lodged 09 Dec 2021 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning47 YANAGANG STREET WATERFALL 2233Lodged 29 Jan 2021 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · 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
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