Median house price
—
No data available
NSW · Council TBC
Whale Beach
Est. population · Jun 2025
326
Growth (1 yr)
-0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+0.3%
Median age
60
Median income
$3,285/wk
Employment rate
43.8%
Languages at home
3.1%non-English
Most common: Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Whale Beach is a coastal smaller community where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. City outings and nearby suburbs add variety without undoing the coastal pace of everyday life. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
With fewer amenities on hand, neighbouring suburbs do much of the shopping and service heavy lifting. Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
The overall desirability read is below average, pulled by softer growth momentum compared with similar coastal suburbs, though safety, plus community and employment remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Whale Beach snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
326
-0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
41.0%
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
#99
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Pop. growth
4th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
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
- 32.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5200th in Australia
- State rank
- 1675th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #99 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #170 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 57%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
326(June 2025)
-0.6% annual · +0.3% over 5 years · 4th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.6%
- 5-year growth
- +0.3%
- Change in 1 year
- -2
- Change in 5 years
- +1
- Growth rank in NSW
- 4th 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 (~350), extrapolated at +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 315
- Median age
- 60
- Median household income / week
- $3,285
- Dwelling vacancy
- 41%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 87 of 212
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,467
- Employment rate
- 43.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 118 / 0 / 0
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.
Family & Lifestyle
Public transport
14 public transport stops in this suburb
- Whale Beach Rd At Malo Rd
- Whale Beach Rd At Morella Rd
- Whale Beach Rd Before Surf Rd
- Whale Beach Rd Opp Malo Rd
- Whale Beach Rd Opp Surf 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
11 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 14 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 21/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.17
Sport & outdoors(4)
- Norma ParkPark
- Swimming pool (2)
- Whale Beach Rock PoolSwimming pool
Other(5)
- Bbq
- Parking (3)
- Whale Beach Parking AreaParking
- Shower
- Change RoomsToilets;Shower
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Norma ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- 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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Arcadia Pittwater Private Hospital (8.3 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)
- 4
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 12.3
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· 8 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure168 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure222B WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure256 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure225 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Under Assessment
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure279 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 MALO ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation199 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 RAYNER ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 MALO ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 BEAUTY DRIVE WHALE BEACH 2107Deferred Commencement
October 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation176 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 MORELLA ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure162 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies10 BEAUTY DRIVE WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool21 RAYNER ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure168 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 MORELLA ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure253 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Supporting Development193 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure186 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 RAYNER ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
January 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure287 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Demolition; Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure231 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure279 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure146 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
2024· 15 proposals
October 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah206 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure225 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure271 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Landscaping structures; Pathways and paving; Rainwater tanks; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Swimming pool283 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation32 RAYNER ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Demolition19 MORELLA ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure191 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development267 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure254 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 BEAUTY DRIVE WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
February 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure279 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool201 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure191 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 BEAUTY DRIVE WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 BEAUTY DRIVE WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
2023· 3 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure253 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Other Infrastructure204 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure279 WHALE BEACH ROAD WHALE BEACH 2107Withdrawn
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
- Mackellar
- Member of Parliament
- Sophie SCAMPS (Independent)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 129,339
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.3%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 53.7%Labor 46.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 6.0 km away).
Coalition 52.8%Labor 47.2%
0.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +47.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Palm BeachLabor 42.0% · Coalition 58.0% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Avalon BeachLabor 53.1% · Coalition 46.9% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- AvalonLabor 50.4% · Coalition 49.6% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
- Avalon SouthLabor 50.1% · Coalition 49.9% TPP (2025)3.0 km away
- Bilgola PlateauLabor 52.2% · Coalition 47.8% TPP (2025)3.9 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
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.