Median house price
$9.4M
+40% change
NSW · Woollahra Council
Watsons Bay, 2030
Est. population · Jun 2025
594
Growth (1 yr)
-0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
-3.6%
Median age
40
Median income
$2,924/wk
Employment rate
57.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$9,400,000
Languages at home
10.2%non-English
Most common: Greek, Italian, Macedonian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Watsons Bay wears its coastal identity openly, a smaller community built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Many residents were born overseas or speak a language other than English at home.
Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses linking the suburb to surrounding areas. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Desirability rates good overall, led by community and employment, plus growth momentum, while local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus schools and education land closer to the middle of the pack for similar coastal suburbs.
At a glance
Watsons Bay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$1,300/wk
Houses $3,200 · Units $1,100
Population (ERP)
594
-0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
14.4%
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
#4
among Coastal & beach · Emerging
Safety
6th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
5th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
94th
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
- 56.5/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 20% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1383rd in Australia
- State rank
- 409th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #4 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #42 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $1,100
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $3,200
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $1,300
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 101
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $9,400,000
- Median price change
- +40.2%
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
594(June 2025)
-0.3% annual · -3.6% over 5 years · 5th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.3%
- 5-year growth
- -3.6%
- Change in 1 year
- -2
- Change in 5 years
- -22
- Growth rank in NSW
- 5th 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 (~600), extrapolated at -0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 883
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $2,924
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 45 of 312
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,384
- Employment rate
- 57.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 122 / 45 / 81 (+ 20 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)
- 15
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 25.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 221 residents
- State safety percentile
- 5.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -16.4%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault26
- Fraud33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment33
- Malicious Damage To Property38
- Other Offences32
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,145
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 94th
School list
- Vaucluse Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1145 · 94th percentile · LBOTE 38% · 217 students · Top SEA quarter 60% · 1.1 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
11 public transport stops in this suburb
- Hopetoun Av At Salisbury St
- Military Rd Opp Robertson Park
- Old South Head Rd At Salisbury St
- Old South Head Rd Opp Salisbury St
- Robertson Park, Military Rd
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
198 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
5 restaurants · 4 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 bars · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 1 libraries · 3 places of worship
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Great for outdoor family life — 6 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 11 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 22 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 56/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 4.53
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 13.59
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 6.8
Food & drink(12)
- Tucker BarBar
- BaithouseCafe
- Camp Cove KioskCafe
- Fish and ChipperyCafe
- Milk BarCafe
- Doyles Fishermans WharfFast food
- Watsons Bay HotelPub
- Bangkok Bay ThaiRestaurant
Unit 1 3 Military Road
- Doyles on the BeachRestaurant
- Dunbar HouseRestaurant
9 Marine Parade
- EsteriaRestaurant
- NauticaRestaurant
Shopping(1)
No named venues listed.
Community(1)
- Watsons Bay LibraryLibrary
8 Marine Parade
Health & services(1)
- Pharmacy and variety storePharmacy
Sport & outdoors(29)
- Camp Cove ReservePark
- Marine Biological Station ParkPark
- Park
- Robertson ParkPark
- The GapPark
- Victoria Wharf ReservePark
- Picnic area
- Playground
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (20)
Entertainment(13)
- Camp Cove Beach LookoutViewpoint
- Viewpoint (12)
Transport(6)
6 bus stops
Other(31)
- Head Lighthouse Keeper's CottageAttraction
- Bench (39)
- Bicycle Parking
- Binoculars
- Drinking water (6)
- Fountain
- GelatissimoIce Cream
- Fortifications 1854Information
- Gunning for AustraliaInformation
- Information (3)
- Life Boat StationInformation
- Lightkeeper's Cottage 1858Information
- Meet the localsInformation
- South Head Heritage TrailInformation
- The gunnery rangeInformation
- World War II Anti-Torpedo BoomInformation
- BoathouseOutdoor Seating
- Watsons Bay HotelOutdoor Seating
- Camp Cove Car ParkParking
- Parking (13)
- RANParking
- Parking Space (25)
- Picnic Table (10)
- HMAS Watson ChapelPlace of worship
- Our Lady Star of the SeaPlace of worship
341 Old South Head Road
- Place of worship
- Public toilets
- Recycling
- Shelter
- Shower (3)
- Waste Basket (14)
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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Camp Cove ReservePark
- Marine Biological Station ParkPark
- Robertson ParkPark
- The GapPark
- Victoria Wharf ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 20
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- HMAS Watson Chapel
- Our Lady Star of the Sea
341 Old South Head Road
- Place of worship
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH) (3.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Pharmacy and variety storePharmacy
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)
- 7
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 11.8
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
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 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· 9 proposals
August 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces3 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure28 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 SALISBURY STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32A PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
2025· 29 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development2 COVE STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation7 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Footpaths - outdoor dining; Food and drink premise10 MILITARY ROAD WATSONS BAY 2030Withdrawn
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces3 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 CLIFF STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Rejected
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation7 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading8 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Community facility; Hours of operation and trading8 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 COVE STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
June 2025
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Footpaths - outdoor dining; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading25 MILITARY ROAD WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise10 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences28 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Stairway13 ROBERTSON PLACE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces5 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 SALISBURY STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Landscaping structures; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators5 MARINE PARADE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
February 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 GAP ROAD WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 ROBERTSON PLACE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure186 HOPETOUN AVENUE WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)22 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
2024· 3 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 VICTORIA STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool3 PACIFIC STREET WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure331A OLD SOUTH HEAD ROAD WATSONS BAY 2030Determined
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)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- South Head Cultural Landscape (including RMP 9-inch 12-ton gun)Cliff Street Watsons BaySHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Wentworth
- Member of Parliament
- Allegra SPENDER (Independent)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,463
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.1%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 49.4%Labor 50.6%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 5.0 km away).
Coalition 64.8%Labor 35.1%
15.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Watsons BayLabor 35.2% · Coalition 64.8% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Vaucluse EastLabor 37.1% · Coalition 62.9% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- VaucluseLabor 25.5% · Coalition 74.5% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
- EdgecliffLabor 44.7% · Coalition 55.3% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
- Rose Bay CentralLabor 35.2% · Coalition 64.8% TPP (2025)3.7 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Woollahra Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.