🔍

Canowindra

NSW 2804 • Rest of NSW

2,437
Population (2021)
$57,148
Median Household Income
765.38 km²
Area
$220/wk
Median Rent
RuralHistoricAgriculturalQuietAffordable

About Canowindra

Canowindra is a historic rural township in the Central West of New South Wales, situated approximately 40 kilometres south of Orange and around 280 kilometres west of Sydney, within the Cabonne Council area. With a population of 2,437, the town serves as the main centre for the surrounding pastoral and viticultural region, sitting at an elevation of 333 metres on the Belubula River. Household incomes are modest at around $1,099 per week, reflecting the predominantly agricultural and service-sector economy typical of regional NSW towns.

Canowindra is perhaps best known as the hot air ballooning capital of Australia, hosting the annual Age of Fishes Balloon Spectacular, and for the Canowindra Age of Fishes Museum which houses a world-class collection of Devonian fossil fish. The historic streetscape along Gaskill Street features well-preserved 19th-century buildings, and the surrounding Cowra-Orange wine corridor offers cellar doors and produce trails. The town provides essential services including a public school, hospital, supermarket, and community sports facilities, while low rents of around $220 per week make it genuinely affordable. There is no rail service, making a car essential for accessing Orange or further destinations.

Canowindra falls under postcode 2804 and is governed by Cabonne Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Orange electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2804
Urban Area
Blayney - Cabonne
LGA / Council
Cabonne
Federal Electorate
Calare
State Electorate
Orange
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-33.53°, 148.64°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
765.38 km²
Elevation
333m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$431K
41 sales · ▼ 6.3% 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)
$220
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,100
Avg Household Size
2.3 people
Median Age
48 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
1.5%

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

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Limited school and community transport only — Orange and surrounding areas 50-60 min to Orange

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
280 km
By Train
No direct rail; Orange station (40 km north) has NSW TrainLink services to Sydney (~3.5 hrs)
By Car (Peak)
2 hr 45 min - 3 hr 15 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
2 hr 30 min - 2 hr 45 min

🛣️ Orange is the nearest regional centre (40 km north) for rail connections, hospitals, and major retail. Car is essential for daily life in Canowindra.

Walkability Car-Dependent

The Gaskill Street town centre provides basic walkable amenities, but a car is essential for most errands and accessing services in Orange and beyond.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

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

Cliefden
Mandurama • SHR #01827
Escort Rock
The Escort Way, Eugowra • SHR #01827
Cliefden Caves Area Natural and Cultural Landscape
Mandurama • SHR #01996

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
93.5 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Motor vehicle theft
158.3 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Non-DV assault
122.3 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Robbery (unarmed)
nc / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
57.6 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
View all 62 offence types for Cabonne →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,258
Census 2021
2,437
▲ 7.9% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$27,664
Personal Income 2021
$31,668
▲ 14.5% 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
$31,668 / yr
$609/wk
Household
$57,148 / yr
$1099/wk
Family
$76,492 / yr
$1471/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,001
Born Overseas 155

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 33
  • 2. United States 27
  • 3. India 18
  • 4. New Zealand 14
  • 5. China 8
  • 6. Germany 8
  • 7. Thailand 8
  • 8. Nepal 7
  • 9. Ireland 5
  • 10. Philippines 4

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 1,018
English 971
Irish 329
Scottish 246
German 112
Australian Aboriginal 83
Italian 33
Chinese 23
Dutch 22
Maltese 20

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,811
Both parents born in Australia
197
Both parents born overseas
151
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
62.2%
No Religion
24.9%
Hinduism
0.5%
Buddhism
0.3%
Sikhism
0.2%
Islam
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
120 (4.9%)
5-14 years
302 (12.4%)
15-19 years
146 (6.0%)
20-24 years
102 (4.2%)
25-34 years
207 (8.5%)
35-44 years
229 (9.4%)
45-54 years
299 (12.3%)
55-64 years
366 (15.0%)
65-74 years
358 (14.7%)
75-84 years
227 (9.3%)
85+ years
74 (3.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Canowindra known for? +

Canowindra is known as the hot air ballooning capital of Australia, hosting the famous Age of Fishes Balloon Spectacular. It is also home to the Canowindra Age of Fishes Museum, which displays a remarkable collection of Devonian-era fossil fish, and features a well-preserved historic streetscape along Gaskill Street.

How far is Canowindra from Sydney? +

Canowindra is approximately 280 kilometres west of Sydney CBD, a drive of around 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on traffic and the route taken via Bathurst or Orange.

Does Canowindra have public transport? +

Canowindra does not have regular passenger rail or coach services. The nearest rail connections are at Orange, approximately 40 kilometres north, which has NSW TrainLink services to Sydney. A car is essential for most residents.

What is the population of Canowindra? +

According to the 2021 Census, Canowindra has a population of 2,437 residents, with a median age of 48. The broader Cabonne LGA is predominantly agricultural and pastoral in character.

Is Canowindra a good place to live? +

Canowindra suits those looking for an affordable, quiet rural lifestyle with genuine country-town character. It offers low median rents ($220/week), a strong community, and proximity to the Orange wine region, but limited employment opportunities and services make it best suited to retirees, remote workers, and those with ties to the agricultural sector.

What is the postcode for Canowindra? +

The postcode for Canowindra, NSW is 2804.

What is the average income in Canowindra? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Canowindra is about $609 per week (around $31,700 per year). The median household income is $1,099 per week and the median family income is $1,471 per week.

What is the median house price in Canowindra? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $431,000, down 6.3% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Canowindra? +

The median age in Canowindra is 48. The largest age group is 55–64 (366 residents, around 15%). Around 23% of residents are under 20 and about 27% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Canowindra a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Canowindra is part of the Cabonne 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 Canowindra? +

In Canowindra, the median weekly rent is $220, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,100 (2021 Census).