🔍

Balgownie

NSW 2519 • Rest of NSW

5,722
Population (2021)
$99,424
Median Household Income
3.69 km²
Area
$450/wk
Median Rent
Family-FriendlyVillage FeelEstablishedHeritageCoastal

About Balgownie

Balgownie is a leafy residential suburb in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, located just 4 kilometres north of Wollongong CBD. With a population of approximately 5,527, the suburb has a mature demographic profile with a median age of 40-59 and a high owner-occupier rate of 79%. It sits at the foot of the Illawarra Escarpment, offering a mix of heritage character homes and modern residences.

Balgownie is known for its charming village atmosphere, with a small strip of cafes, shops, and restaurants along Balgownie Road. The suburb is popular with families and professionals who appreciate its proximity to Wollongong while enjoying a quieter, more established neighbourhood feel. With median house prices around $1.15-1.38 million, it is one of the Illawarra's more sought-after suburbs, offering good schools and easy access to northern beaches.

Balgownie falls under postcode 2519 and is governed by Wollongong Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Keira electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2519
Urban Area
Wollongong
LGA / Council
Wollongong
Federal Electorate
Cunningham
State Electorate
Keira
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.39°, 150.87°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
3.69 km²
Elevation
43m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Balgownie for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$1.36M
65 sales · ▼ 2.9% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$918K
47 sales · ▼ 0.8% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$450
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,383
Avg Household Size
2.6 people
Median Age
42 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
6.3%

123 state housing + 11 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Fairy Meadow
1.8 km
22 min
Wollongong
4 km
South Coast Line
North Wollongong
2.5 km
30 min

Bus Services

  • Route 7, 9 — Wollongong CBD 10-15 min
  • Route 7 — Thirroul via Northern Suburbs 15 min

Commute to Sydney

Distance
80 km
By Train
1 hr 40 min from Fairy Meadow
By Car (Peak)
1 hr 30 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
1 hr 15 min

🛣️ Most residents commute to Wollongong (10 min) rather than Sydney.

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Village centre is walkable with cafes and shops on Balgownie Road. Train station is a moderate walk or short drive.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Wollongong Local Government Area, which contains Balgownie. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
216.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 5.9%
Motor vehicle theft
190.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
342.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
11.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
371.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 5.5%
View all 62 offence types for Wollongong →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
5,525
Census 2021
5,722
▲ 3.6% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$33,072
Personal Income 2021
$42,224
▲ 27.7% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$42,224 / yr
$812/wk
Household
$99,424 / yr
$1912/wk
Family
$120,692 / yr
$2321/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 4,409
Born Overseas 1,133

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. Italy 172
  • 2. England 159
  • 3. China 66
  • 4. New Zealand 54
  • 5. India 48
  • 6. North Macedonia 45
  • 7. Turkey 42
  • 8. Scotland 40
  • 9. Lebanon 33
  • 10. South Africa 30

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 1,976
Australian 1,884
Italian 786
Irish 587
Scottish 575
German 201
Chinese 125
Dutch 110
Macedonian 106
Greek 98

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,957
Both parents born in Australia
1,749
Both parents born overseas
810
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
54.8%
No Religion
36.2%
Islam
2.7%
Hinduism
1.1%
Buddhism
0.9%
Sikhism
0.1%
Judaism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
332 (5.8%)
5-14 years
719 (12.6%)
15-19 years
302 (5.3%)
20-24 years
331 (5.8%)
25-34 years
597 (10.4%)
35-44 years
727 (12.7%)
45-54 years
727 (12.7%)
55-64 years
748 (13.1%)
65-74 years
640 (11.2%)
75-84 years
461 (8.1%)
85+ years
128 (2.2%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Balgownie known for? +

Balgownie is known for its charming village atmosphere, with a small strip of cafes, shops, and restaurants along Balgownie Road.

How far is Balgownie from Sydney CBD? +

Balgownie is approximately 80 kilometres from Sydney CBD. The drive takes approximately 1 hr 30 min in peak hour and 1 hr 15 min off-peak.

Does Balgownie have public transport? +

The nearest train station is Fairy Meadow (1.8 km away, approximately 22 min walk) on the South Coast Line. Bus services include Route 7, 9, running to Wollongong CBD in approximately 10-15 min.

What is the population of Balgownie? +

According to the 2021 Census, Balgownie has a population of 5,722 residents. The suburb is part of the broader NSW metropolitan area.

Is Balgownie a good place to live? +

Balgownie is well-suited to families, offering a comfortable suburban lifestyle in NSW. The suburb is popular with families and professionals who appreciate its proximity to Wollongong while enjoying a quieter, more established neighbourhood feel.

What is the postcode for Balgownie? +

The postcode for Balgownie is 2519. It is located in New South Wales (NSW).

What is the average income in Balgownie? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Balgownie is about $812 per week (around $42,200 per year). The median household income is $1,912 per week and the median family income is $2,321 per week.

What is the median house price in Balgownie? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $1,360,000, down 2.9% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $918,000, down 0.8% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Balgownie? +

The median age in Balgownie is 42. The largest age group is 55–64 (748 residents, around 13%). Around 24% of residents are under 20 and about 21% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Balgownie a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Balgownie is part of the Wollongong LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Balgownie? +

In Balgownie, the median weekly rent is $450, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,383 (2021 Census).