🔍

Coledale

NSW 2515 • Rest of NSW

1,372
Population (2021)
$134,472
Median Household Income
2.10 km²
Area
$600/wk
Median Rent
CoastalBeachsideFamily-FriendlyHistoric

About Coledale

Coledale is a small coastal suburb in the Wollongong local government area, situated on the Illawarra escarpment approximately 15 kilometres north of Wollongong CBD and 65 kilometres south of Sydney. With a population of 1,372 across 2.1 square kilometres, Coledale is wedged between the dramatic cliffs of the Illawarra Escarpment and the Tasman Sea, giving it one of the most spectacular natural settings of any Sydney-region suburb. The suburb is part of a string of northern Illawarra villages — alongside Austinmer, Thirroul, and Scarborough — that share a distinctive character of coastal living beneath towering rainforest-clad cliffs.

Coledale has a strong community of families and professionals drawn to its surf beach, saltwater rock pool, and access to the Illawarra Escarpment's bushwalking trails. The suburb is served by Coledale railway station on the South Coast Line, making it popular with Sydney commuters seeking an affordable sea-change. The local hotel and cafes along the Lawrence Hargrave Drive strip serve the village well. With high proportions of children (5–14) and owner-occupiers, and median household incomes of $2,586 per week, Coledale punches above its size in both desirability and community spirit.

Coledale falls under postcode 2515 and is governed by Wollongong Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Heathcote electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2515
Urban Area
Wollongong
LGA / Council
Wollongong
Federal Electorate
Cunningham
State Electorate
Heathcote
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.29°, 150.94°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
2.10 km²
Elevation
78m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$2.1M
22 sales · ▼ 23.6% 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)
$600
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,600
Avg Household Size
2.8 people
Median Age
42 years

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Coledale Station
0.3 km
4 min

Bus Services

  • 35 — Wollongong via coastal villages 25 min

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
65 km
By Train
~1 hr 15 min to Central via South Coast Line
By Car (Peak)
1 hr 10 min – 1 hr 30 min via M1 and Lawrence Hargrave Drive
By Car (Off-Peak)
55-65 min

🛣️ Coledale Station is a well-used commuter stop on the South Coast Line. Direct trains run to Central and Town Hall. Wollongong CBD is about 20 minutes south by train.

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Village centre, beach, and station are all walkable. The suburb is linear along the coast with easy walking between local amenities.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There is 1 heritage-listed place in or near Coledale, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Scarborough Railway Station group
First Street, Scarborough • SHR #01241

🌳 Parks & Reserves

There are 5 parks and reserves in Coledale.

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Wollongong Local Government Area, which contains Coledale. 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
1,260
Census 2021
1,372
▲ 8.9% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$43,160
Personal Income 2021
$52,052
▲ 20.6% 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
$52,052 / yr
$1001/wk
Household
$134,472 / yr
$2586/wk
Family
$153,452 / yr
$2951/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,117
Born Overseas 203

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 55
  • 2. New Zealand 26
  • 3. United States 12
  • 4. Scotland 11
  • 5. Chile 10
  • 6. Germany 9
  • 7. France 6
  • 8. Ireland 6
  • 9. Canada 5
  • 10. Singapore 5

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 552
Australian 519
Irish 232
Scottish 209
German 64
Dutch 42
Australian Aboriginal 38
Italian 35
Chinese 19
New Zealander 19

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

819
Both parents born in Australia
267
Both parents born overseas
229
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
54.8%
Christianity
37.7%
Judaism
0.4%
Hinduism
0.4%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
59 (4.3%)
5-14 years
223 (16.3%)
15-19 years
100 (7.3%)
20-24 years
71 (5.2%)
25-34 years
113 (8.2%)
35-44 years
166 (12.1%)
45-54 years
215 (15.7%)
55-64 years
219 (16.0%)
65-74 years
153 (11.2%)
75-84 years
49 (3.6%)
85+ years
14 (1.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Coledale have a train station? +

Yes — Coledale Station is on the South Coast Line and provides direct trains to Wollongong (about 20 min) and Sydney Central Station (about 75 min).

What is Coledale known for? +

Coledale is known for its surf beach, saltwater ocean pool, the dramatic Illawarra Escarpment backdrop, and its village atmosphere. It is part of the sought-after 'northern villages' strip between Sydney and Wollongong.

How far is Coledale from Sydney CBD? +

Coledale is approximately 65 kilometres south of Sydney CBD. By train it takes about 1 hour 15 minutes; by car about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on traffic.

What is the median rent in Coledale? +

The median weekly rent in Coledale is $600, according to the 2021 Census.

What LGA is Coledale in? +

Coledale is part of the Wollongong City Council local government area.

What is the average income in Coledale? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Coledale is about $1,001 per week (around $52,100 per year). The median household income is $2,586 per week and the median family income is $2,951 per week.

What is the median house price in Coledale? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $2,100,000, down 23.6% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Coledale? +

The median age in Coledale is 42. The largest age group is 5–14 (223 residents, around 16%). Around 28% of residents are under 20 and about 16% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Coledale a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Coledale 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.

What is the population of Coledale? +

Coledale had a population of 1,372 at the 2021 Census, up 8.9% from 1,260 in 2016.

How much is rent in Coledale? +

In Coledale, the median weekly rent is $600, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,600 (2021 Census).