NSW · Coffs Harbour Council
Woolgoolga, 2456
Current weather
18.7°CMainly clear
77% humidity · 15.3 km/h wind · 21.6° / 14.7° today · 0.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- River access
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Woolgoolga is a quieter mid-sized suburb in Coffs Harbour, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with growth momentum and transport and access holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 6,151
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,190
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 227 of 2,545
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 48.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 223 / 307 / 79
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 · 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)
- $545
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $665
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 124
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 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)
- 420
- Against the person
- 112
- Against property
- 165
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 68.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 55 residents
- State safety percentile
- 46.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +13.8%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order88
- Breach Bail Conditions76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment113
- Malicious Damage To Property102
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 · 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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 969
- St Francis Xavier Primary SchoolPrimary
- Woolgoolga High SchoolSecondary
- Woolgoolga Public SchoolPrimary
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 · 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
168 public transport stops in this suburb
- Moore St Before Nash St
- Nelson St After Nightingale St
- Nelson St After Queen St
- Newmans Rd After Shearer Dr
- Newmans Rd At McIntosh Cres
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Follow directions on site. Exercise caution. Water main construction works will be undertaken between the water reservoir in Wedding Bells Road (ROW), along Tramway Drive & Solitary Islands Way, Safety Beach to approximately 20 July, 2026 (weather dependent). Traffic controllers will be on site to direct motorists.Wedding Bells Way (ROW), Solitary Islands Way11 Feb 2026 – 20 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
582 planning-related records
2026· 34 proposals
June 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 Woopi Drive, WOOLGOOLGA (Lot 602)Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure31 SHEARER DRIVE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 HIGH STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Subdivision; Residential AccommodationBARK HUT ROAD WOOLGOOLGA 2456Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home14 NELSON STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation50 Woopi Drive Woolgoolga NSW 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 GITA PLACE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure26 WOOPI DRIVE WOOLGOOLGADetermined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 STANNER CLOSE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool137 NEWMANS ROAD WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- SubdivisionNEWMANS ROAD WOOLGOOLGA 2456Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development40 Woopi Drive, Woolgoolga NSW 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development46 Woopi Drive, Woolgoolga NSW 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development38 Woopi Drive, Woolgoolga NSW 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure47 PULLEN STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)15 SHEARER DRIVE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 GITA PLACE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool4 ST ANDREWS DRIVE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Subdivision2 TONNAGE PLACE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 NIGHTINGALE STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Subdivision1 KIM CLOSE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 PARKER CLOSE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Storage premises; Rural supplies12 TONNAGE PLACE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation23 LANDRIGAN CLOSE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)7 TONNAGE PLACE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Subdivision6-8 MOORE STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Under Assessment
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Shop56 BEACH STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 GITA PLACE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 SCARBOROUGH STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool64 NEWMAN STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)18 ARKAN AVENUE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry1 HAWKE DRIVE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- SubdivisionNEWMANS ROAD WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry9 TONNAGE PLACE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
2025· 6 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure44 OCEAN STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool243 WOOLGOOLGA CREEK ROAD WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Subdivision29 HAWKE DRIVE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure50 GITA PLACE WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 HIGH STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 BULTITUDE STREET WOOLGOOLGA 2456Determined
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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Parking
- Woolgoolga Swim SchoolSwimming pool
209 Newmans Road, Woolgoolga
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Centennial OvalPark
- Forestry Management Areas in Coffs Harbour (FMZ1) Protected AreaNature reserve
- Woolgoolga Beach ReservePark
- Woolgoolga Creek ParkPark
- Woolgoolga Headland Beach ReservePark
- Woolgoolga Lions ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 4
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Optometristoptometrist
- Sullivan Nicolaides PathologyMarket Streetlaboratory
- Woolgoolga Coastal Chemistpharmacy
- Woopi Medical Centredoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- The First Sikh Temple 6 Hastings Street, WoolgoolgaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Billabong Kids CentralSunset Avenuekindergarten
- Rainbow Cottagekindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 45.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 36% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2396th in Australia
- State rank
- 756th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #75 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #193 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime88
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime76
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime113
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime102
- Moore St Before Nash Sttransport
- Nelson St After Nightingale Sttransport
- Nelson St After Queen Sttransport
- Newmans Rd After Shearer Drtransport
- Newmans Rd At McIntosh Crestransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Coffs Harbour Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.