Hillston
NSW 2675 • Rest of NSW
About Hillston
Hillston is a remote rural town on the banks of the Lachlan River in western New South Wales, serving as the administrative centre of Carrathool Shire approximately 683 kilometres west of Sydney and 110 kilometres north of Griffith. Founded in 1863, the town had a 2021 Census population of 1,547 with a relatively young median age of 36. The local economy is anchored by irrigation agriculture, dryland cropping, and sheep grazing, with the Lachlan River supporting farming across the surrounding plains of this vast shire covering nearly 4,000 square kilometres.
Hillston provides the essential services of a remote rural service town — supermarkets, schools, a local hospital, sporting clubs, and fuel — serving both the township and the broader pastoral communities of the district. The Lachlan River offers fishing and recreational activities, and the town has a genuine outback character with wide streets, community spirit, and a pace of life quite different from the coast. Public transport connections are very limited, and residents rely on private vehicles for access to regional centres; the Lachlan Valley Way connects the town to Griffith to the south and other outback communities beyond.
Hillston falls under postcode 2675 and is governed by the Carrathool Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Farrer, while state elections fall under the Murray electorate.
Location
Ad
Property Prices 2025
Median sale prices in Hillston for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.
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.
Income
ATO taxable income Postcode 2675
Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 2675, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 2675; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.
Census personal income 2016 vs 2021
Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)
2021 Census income breakdown
Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.
Housing 2021 Census
13 state housing + 7 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)
Transport & Commute
Bus Services
- NSW TrainLink coach (limited) — Griffith / Sydney 1.5 hr to Griffith; ~8 hr to Sydney
Commute to Sydney CBD
🛣️ Griffith (110km south) is the nearest major service centre; car is essential for all daily needs
Small town with a compact centre where local shops are walkable, but most errands and all regional travel require a car
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Hillston Central School ICSEA 9116967 2277 62-80 Moore St
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Aiden Street
Heritage-Listed Places
There is 1 heritage-listed place in or near Hillston, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.
Demographics
Population Growth
Gender Distribution (Census 2021)
Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census
School Sector Breakdown
Crime Statistics LGA-wide
These are the latest 2025 rates for the Carrathool Local Government Area, which contains Hillston. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.
Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)
Country of Birth 2021 Census
Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)
- 1. India 60
- 2. Malaysia 34
- 3. Fiji 23
- 4. South Korea 18
- 5. England 14
- 6. South Africa 13
- 7. Italy 9
- 8. New Zealand 8
- 9. China 6
- 10. Philippines 6
Ancestry 2021 Census
Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)