🔍

Cobar

NSW 2835 • Rest of NSW

3,603
Population (2021)
$94,432
Median Household Income
2186.32 km²
Area
$200/wk
Median Rent
RuralMining TownHistoricAffordable

About Cobar

Cobar is a remote outback town in central-western New South Wales, situated 712 kilometres northwest of Sydney at the junction of the Barrier Highway and the Kidman Way. Home to around 3,600 residents, it is the administrative centre of the Cobar Shire and serves as the main service hub for the vast surrounding pastoral and mining region. The town sits on the Cobar Peneplain at an elevation of 252 metres, characterised by flat red-earth country and sparse mulga scrub stretching to every horizon.

Cobar's economy is anchored by copper and gold mining, with the CSA Copper Mine and Peak Gold Mine long having been central to local employment and prosperity. The Great Cobar Heritage Centre tells the story of the town's rich mining history, while the Cobar Museum and surrounding national parks attract outback travellers. Residents enjoy a tight-knit community with essential services including supermarkets, medical facilities, a hospital, and well-regarded local schools, all providing a genuine bush lifestyle for families and workers drawn to the mining industry.

Cobar falls under postcode 2835 and is governed by Cobar Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Barwon electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2835
Urban Area
Cobar
LGA / Council
Cobar
Federal Electorate
Parkes
State Electorate
Barwon
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-31.48°, 145.79°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
2186.32 km²
Elevation
252m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$285K
114 sales · ▲ 20% 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)
$200
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,109
Avg Household Size
2.3 people
Median Age
36 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
7%

61 state housing + 27 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • NSW TrainLink Coach — Dubbo / Sydney 5–8 hrs to Sydney

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
712 km
By Train
No direct train service
By Car (Peak)
approx. 7–8 hrs
By Car (Off-Peak)
approx. 7 hrs

🛣️ Access via Barrier Highway (A32). NSW TrainLink coach connects to Dubbo for rail connection to Sydney.

Walkability Car-Dependent

Most amenities require a vehicle; the town centre is walkable for locals.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 2 heritage-listed places in or near Cobar, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Cobar Railway Station and yard
Nyngan-Cobar railway, Cobar • SHR #01114
Billagoe (Mount Drysdale) Cultural Landscape
Cobar- Bourke Road, Cobar • SHR #02057

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
373.6 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Motor vehicle theft
722.3 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Non-DV assault
747.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
24.9 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
373.6 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
View all 62 offence types for Cobar →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
3,990
Census 2021
3,603
▼ 9.7% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$39,260
Personal Income 2021
$48,724
▲ 24.1% 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
$48,724 / yr
$937/wk
Household
$94,432 / yr
$1816/wk
Family
$120,796 / yr
$2323/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,732
Born Overseas 279

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. New Zealand 48
  • 2. Philippines 21
  • 3. England 20
  • 4. India 20
  • 5. South Africa 15
  • 6. Papua New Guinea 11
  • 7. Egypt 7
  • 8. Ireland 7
  • 9. Pakistan 7
  • 10. United States 7

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 1,564
English 1,188
Australian Aboriginal 483
Irish 319
Scottish 261
German 104
Italian 60
Filipino 36
Chinese 33
New Zealander 32

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,434
Both parents born in Australia
370
Both parents born overseas
223
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
53.3%
No Religion
28.1%
Buddhism
0.8%
Islam
0.3%
Sikhism
0.3%
Hinduism
0.3%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
260 (7.2%)
5-14 years
500 (13.9%)
15-19 years
210 (5.8%)
20-24 years
205 (5.7%)
25-34 years
544 (15.1%)
35-44 years
455 (12.6%)
45-54 years
381 (10.6%)
55-64 years
468 (13.0%)
65-74 years
331 (9.2%)
75-84 years
181 (5.0%)
85+ years
68 (1.9%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cobar known for? +

Cobar is known for its copper and gold mining industry, particularly the CSA Copper Mine and Peak Gold Mine. It is also a popular stopover for outback travellers on the Barrier Highway.

How far is Cobar from Sydney? +

Cobar is approximately 712 kilometres northwest of Sydney, roughly a 7–8 hour drive via the Great Western Highway and Barrier Highway.

What schools are in Cobar? +

Cobar has several schools including Cobar Public School (government primary), Cobar High School (government secondary), and St John's Primary School (Catholic primary).

Is there a train to Cobar? +

There is no longer a passenger rail service to Cobar. The nearest rail connection is at Dubbo, which can be reached via NSW TrainLink coach service from Cobar.

What is the average income in Cobar? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Cobar is about $937 per week (around $48,700 per year). The median household income is $1,816 per week and the median family income is $2,323 per week.

What is the median house price in Cobar? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $285,000, up 20% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Cobar? +

The median age in Cobar is 36. The largest age group is 25–34 (544 residents, around 15%). Around 27% of residents are under 20 and about 16% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Cobar a safe area? +

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

Cobar had a population of 3,603 at the 2021 Census, down 9.7% from 3,990 in 2016.

How much is rent in Cobar? +

In Cobar, the median weekly rent is $200, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,109 (2021 Census).