🔍

Fairy Meadow

NSW 2519 • Rest of NSW

7,512
Population (2021)
$73,164
Median Household Income
3.42 km²
Area
$390/wk
Median Rent
CoastalUniversity AreaMulticulturalGrowth SuburbFamily-Friendly

About Fairy Meadow

Fairy Meadow is a suburb in the City of Wollongong, New South Wales, located in the Illawarra region approximately 81 kilometres south of Sydney and just 4 kilometres north of Wollongong city centre. With a population of 7,512 (2021 census) across 4.4 square kilometres, it is a mainly low-density residential area with commercial and industrial properties along the Princes Highway. The suburb is home to a diverse, multicultural community with families, young professionals, students, and retirees contributing to its character.

Fairy Meadow is popular with tourists and surfers thanks to its long beach and stunning views of Mount Keira and Mount Kembla. The suburb hosts the University of Wollongong Innovation Campus on George Hanley Drive and has seen significant recent development including apartment complexes. Local schools include Fairy Meadow Demonstration School and nearby Balgownie Public School. The Princes Highway strip provides shopping, dining, and services, while the natural backdrop of the Illawarra Escarpment adds to the area's appeal.

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

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2519
Urban Area
Wollongong
LGA / Council
Wollongong
Federal Electorate
Cunningham
State Electorate
Wollongong
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.40°, 150.90°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
3.42 km²
Elevation
9m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$1.26M
81 sales · ▲ 5% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$650K
95 sales · ▲ 9.2% 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)
$390
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,167
Avg Household Size
2.4 people
Median Age
38 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
7.3%

199 state housing + 21 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Fairy Meadow
0.2 km
3 min
Towradgi
1.5 km
18 min
North Wollongong
2.5 km
30 min
Balgownie (bus)
1.2 km
15 min

Bus Services

  • 1, 1A — Wollongong CBD 10-15 min
  • 6, 8 — University of Wollongong 5-10 min
  • 76 — Thirroul via northern suburbs 20 min

Commute to Wollongong CBD

Distance
4 km
By Train
5 min
By Bus
10-15 min
By Car (Peak)
10 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
7 min

🛣️ Train to Sydney CBD takes ~90 min; excellent local connectivity to Wollongong

Walkability Very Walkable

Princes Highway shops, train station, and beach are all within walking distance for most residents

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Coles
    118 - 126 Princes Hwy Fairy Meadow 2519 NSW
  • Woolworths
    66 Princes Highway Fairy Meadow 2519 NSW
  • ALDI
    102 - 110 Princess Highway, Fairy Meadow NSW 2519

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

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

Balgownie Migrant Workers Hostel: Huts 201, 204 and 210
Squires Way, Fairy Meadow • SHR #01767

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Wollongong Local Government Area, which contains Fairy Meadow. 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
7,405
Census 2021
7,512
▲ 1.4% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$25,844
Personal Income 2021
$35,048
▲ 35.6% 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
$35,048 / yr
$674/wk
Household
$73,164 / yr
$1407/wk
Family
$97,344 / yr
$1872/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 5,151
Born Overseas 1,937

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 223
  • 2. India 190
  • 3. Italy 177
  • 4. Vietnam 130
  • 5. China 127
  • 6. Turkey 91
  • 7. New Zealand 77
  • 8. Philippines 53
  • 9. Croatia 44
  • 10. Thailand 42

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 2,367
Australian 2,326
Italian 722
Irish 681
Scottish 663
Chinese 269
German 238
Indian 187
Australian Aboriginal 168
Dutch 164

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

3,360
Both parents born in Australia
2,676
Both parents born overseas
1,037
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
47.8%
No Religion
35.8%
Islam
4.7%
Buddhism
2.0%
Hinduism
2.0%
Sikhism
0.2%
Judaism
0.0%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
347 (4.6%)
5-14 years
778 (10.4%)
15-19 years
384 (5.1%)
20-24 years
792 (10.5%)
25-34 years
1,110 (14.8%)
35-44 years
869 (11.6%)
45-54 years
902 (12.0%)
55-64 years
858 (11.4%)
65-74 years
709 (9.4%)
75-84 years
543 (7.2%)
85+ years
230 (3.1%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fairy Meadow known for? +

Fairy Meadow is popular with tourists and surfers thanks to its long beach and stunning views of Mount Keira and Mount Kembla.

How far is Fairy Meadow from Sydney CBD? +

Fairy Meadow is approximately 4 kilometres from Sydney CBD. The drive takes approximately 10 min in peak hour and 7 min off-peak.

Does Fairy Meadow have public transport? +

The nearest train station is Fairy Meadow (0.2 km away, approximately 3 min walk) on the South Coast line (Illawarra). Bus services include 1, 1A, running to Wollongong CBD in approximately 10-15 min.

What is the population of Fairy Meadow? +

According to the 2021 Census, Fairy Meadow has a population of 7,512 residents. The suburb is part of the broader NSW metropolitan area.

Is Fairy Meadow a good place to live? +

Fairy Meadow is well-suited to families, offering a comfortable suburban lifestyle in NSW. The suburb hosts the University of Wollongong Innovation Campus on George Hanley Drive and has seen significant recent development including apartment complexes.

What is the postcode for Fairy Meadow? +

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

What is the average income in Fairy Meadow? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Fairy Meadow is about $674 per week (around $35,000 per year). The median household income is $1,407 per week and the median family income is $1,872 per week.

What is the median house price in Fairy Meadow? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $1,260,000, up 5% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $650,000, up 9.2% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Fairy Meadow? +

The median age in Fairy Meadow is 38. The largest age group is 25–34 (1,110 residents, around 15%). Around 20% of residents are under 20 and about 20% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Fairy Meadow a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Fairy Meadow 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 Fairy Meadow? +

In Fairy Meadow, the median weekly rent is $390, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,167 (2021 Census).