🔍

Haywards Bay

NSW 2530 • Rest of NSW

1,280
Population (2021)
$120,016
Median Household Income
1.17 km²
Area
$590/wk
Median Rent
LakesideFamily-FriendlyQuietCommuter BeltMid-Range

About Haywards Bay

Haywards Bay is a small lakeside suburb situated on the western shore of Lake Illawarra, approximately 15 kilometres south of Wollongong's city centre within the City of Wollongong local government area. With a population of 1,280 and an area of just 1.17 square kilometres, it is a compact, low-lying residential community at only 4 metres above sea level. The suburb attracts a mix of families and older established residents, with a median age of 38 and household incomes around the regional average.

Living in Haywards Bay means direct access to the calm waters of Lake Illawarra, popular for fishing, kayaking, and leisure walks along the foreshore. The suburb sits within easy reach of Dapto's shopping and services, and the broader Wollongong region's beaches, restaurants, and employment hubs. A multicultural community with English, Italian, and Macedonian heritage well represented, Haywards Bay offers a quiet, family-friendly atmosphere with the natural appeal of a lakeside address.

Haywards Bay falls under postcode 2530 and is governed by Wollongong Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Shellharbour electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2530
Urban Area
Wollongong
LGA / Council
Wollongong
Federal Electorate
Whitlam
State Electorate
Shellharbour
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.55°, 150.80°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
1.17 km²
Elevation
4m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$1.17M
16 sales · ▲ 8.1% 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)
$590
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,383
Avg Household Size
3.1 people
Median Age
38 years

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Dapto Station
5.5 km
~65 min walk / 10 min drive

Bus Services

  • Busways South Coast local routes — Wollongong / Dapto 15-25 min to Dapto

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
90 km
By Train
Drive or bus to Dapto (~10 min), then train to Sydney Central (~1 hr 20 min)
By Car (Peak)
80-110 min via M1 / Princes Motorway
By Car (Off-Peak)
65-80 min

🛣️ Wollongong CBD is approximately 15 km north; M1 motorway provides freeway access to Sydney

Walkability Car-Dependent

Most daily errands require a car; the lakeside foreshore is walkable but shops and services are concentrated in nearby Dapto or Wollongong

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Wollongong Local Government Area, which contains Haywards Bay. 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
1,006
Census 2021
1,280
▲ 27.2% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$41,028
Personal Income 2021
$43,732
▲ 6.6% 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
$43,732 / yr
$841/wk
Household
$120,016 / yr
$2308/wk
Family
$125,372 / yr
$2411/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,031
Born Overseas 224

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 56
  • 2. New Zealand 16
  • 3. China 12
  • 4. Germany 9
  • 5. Vietnam 9
  • 6. Chile 8
  • 7. Wales 8
  • 8. Iran 7
  • 9. North Macedonia 7
  • 10. Philippines 7

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 527
English 514
Irish 100
Scottish 86
Italian 66
German 44
Macedonian 39
Australian Aboriginal 36
Spanish 29
Chinese 22

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

719
Both parents born in Australia
339
Both parents born overseas
194
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
62.7%
No Religion
30.4%
Islam
1.8%
Buddhism
1.1%
Hinduism
0.3%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
91 (7.1%)
5-14 years
201 (15.7%)
15-19 years
88 (6.9%)
20-24 years
66 (5.2%)
25-34 years
119 (9.3%)
35-44 years
203 (15.9%)
45-54 years
181 (14.1%)
55-64 years
138 (10.8%)
65-74 years
139 (10.9%)
75-84 years
52 (4.1%)
85+ years
9 (0.7%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Haywards Bay known for? +

Haywards Bay is known for its peaceful position on the western shore of Lake Illawarra, offering residents direct waterfront access for fishing, kayaking, and leisurely foreshore walks. It is a quiet, family-oriented suburb within the City of Wollongong.

How far is Haywards Bay from Sydney? +

Haywards Bay is approximately 90 kilometres south of Sydney CBD, making it about a 65–80 minute drive in off-peak conditions via the M1/Princes Motorway, or around 1 hour 30 minutes by train from Dapto Station.

Does Haywards Bay have public transport? +

Haywards Bay is served by local Busways South Coast bus routes, with Dapto Station on the South Coast rail line approximately 5.5 kilometres away. From Dapto, trains run regularly to Wollongong and Sydney, making Haywards Bay viable for commuters willing to drive to the station.

What is the population of Haywards Bay? +

According to the 2021 Census, Haywards Bay has a population of 1,280 residents across an area of approximately 1.17 square kilometres, making it a small, compact suburb with a tight-knit community feel.

Is Haywards Bay a good place to live? +

Haywards Bay is well-suited to families and those seeking a quiet lakeside lifestyle within commuting distance of Wollongong. The waterfront setting on Lake Illawarra is a genuine drawcard, though residents will need a car for most daily errands as local shops are limited.

What is the postcode for Haywards Bay? +

The postcode for Haywards Bay, New South Wales is 2530.

What is the average income in Haywards Bay? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Haywards Bay is about $841 per week (around $43,700 per year). The median household income is $2,308 per week and the median family income is $2,411 per week.

What is the median house price in Haywards Bay? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $1,165,000, up 8.1% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Haywards Bay? +

The median age in Haywards Bay is 38. The largest age group is 35–44 (203 residents, around 16%). Around 30% of residents are under 20 and about 16% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Haywards Bay a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Haywards Bay 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 Haywards Bay? +

In Haywards Bay, the median weekly rent is $590, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,383 (2021 Census).