🔍

Bombala

NSW 2632 • Rest of NSW

1,372
Population (2021)
$66,404
Median Household Income
119.71 km²
Area
$215/wk
Median Rent
RuralHistoricAffordableRetirees

About Bombala

Bombala is a historic township in the Snowy Monaro region of far south-eastern New South Wales, situated at an elevation of 757 metres on the Bombala River. With a population of approximately 1,370, it serves as the main service centre for the surrounding agricultural district within the Snowy Monaro Regional Council area. The town is roughly 90 kilometres south of Cooma and 120 kilometres from the coast.

Life in Bombala revolves around the pastoral industry, with sheep and cattle grazing dominating the surrounding tablelands. The town itself has a charming heritage streetscape, a small hospital, schools, and essential retail services. Bombala is particularly known for its Platypus Reserve on the Bombala River, which attracts visitors keen to spot wild platypus in their natural habitat. The area appeals to those seeking a rural lifestyle at an affordable price point far from metropolitan pressures.

Bombala falls under postcode 2632 and is governed by Snowy Monaro Regional Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Monaro electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2632
Urban Area
Snowy - Monaro
LGA / Council
Snowy Monaro Regional
Federal Electorate
Eden-monaro
State Electorate
Monaro
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-36.89°, 149.25°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
119.71 km²
Elevation
757m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$440K
25 sales · ▲ 35.4% 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)
$215
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,083
Avg Household Size
2.1 people
Median Age
47 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
1.1%

6 state housing + 0 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Regional coach — Cooma / Canberra 1.5–2 hrs to Canberra

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
310 km
By Train
N/A – no rail service
By Car (Peak)
4.5–5 hrs to Sydney
By Car (Off-Peak)
4.5 hrs

🛣️ Bombala is a remote rural town; Canberra is the nearest major city at ~2 hrs. NSW TrainLink coaches serve Cooma–Canberra corridor.

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Compact town centre is walkable; surrounding rural areas require a vehicle

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 3 heritage-listed places in or near Bombala, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Bombala Railway Station and yard group
Goulburn-Bombala railway • SHR #01091
Crankies Plain Bridge
Main Road 91 Bombala • SHR #01466
Bundian Way
Mount Kosciuszko to Eden , Kosciuszko • SHR #01906

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
125.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr —
Motor vehicle theft
89.7 / 100k
2yr Down 16.7% 10yr —
Non-DV assault
287.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
4.5 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
125.6 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
View all 62 offence types for Snowy Monaro Regional →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,387
Census 2021
1,372
▼ 1.1% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$31,096
Personal Income 2021
$37,700
▲ 21.2% 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
$37,700 / yr
$725/wk
Household
$66,404 / yr
$1277/wk
Family
$89,024 / yr
$1712/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,129
Born Overseas 105

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 26
  • 2. Germany 10
  • 3. New Zealand 10
  • 4. Ireland 9
  • 5. South Korea 8
  • 6. Nepal 5
  • 7. Thailand 5
  • 8. Vietnam 5
  • 9. India 4
  • 10. Fiji 3

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 619
English 553
Irish 152
Scottish 144
German 66
Australian Aboriginal 29
Dutch 13
Italian 10
Welsh 9
Greek 8

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,011
Both parents born in Australia
131
Both parents born overseas
105
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
59.7%
No Religion
28.3%
Buddhism
0.8%
Islam
0.4%
Hinduism
0.2%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
56 (4.1%)
5-14 years
181 (13.2%)
15-19 years
60 (4.4%)
20-24 years
65 (4.7%)
25-34 years
138 (10.1%)
35-44 years
146 (10.6%)
45-54 years
160 (11.7%)
55-64 years
184 (13.4%)
65-74 years
212 (15.5%)
75-84 years
127 (9.3%)
85+ years
49 (3.6%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bombala famous for? +

Bombala is well known for its Platypus Reserve on the Bombala River, one of the most reliable spots in Australia to see wild platypus.

How far is Bombala from Canberra? +

Bombala is approximately 185 km from Canberra, roughly a 2-hour drive via the Monaro Highway.

What LGA is Bombala in? +

Bombala is part of the Snowy Monaro Regional Council.

Is there a hospital in Bombala? +

Yes. Bombala has a small district hospital, Bombala Multi Purpose Service, providing basic health services to the local community.

What is the average income in Bombala? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Bombala is about $725 per week (around $37,700 per year). The median household income is $1,277 per week and the median family income is $1,712 per week.

What is the median house price in Bombala? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $440,000, up 35.4% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Bombala? +

The median age in Bombala is 47. The largest age group is 65–74 (212 residents, around 15%). Around 22% of residents are under 20 and about 28% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Bombala a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Bombala is part of the Snowy Monaro Regional 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.

What is the population of Bombala? +

Bombala had a population of 1,372 at the 2021 Census, down 1.1% from 1,387 in 2016.

How much is rent in Bombala? +

In Bombala, the median weekly rent is $215, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,083 (2021 Census).