🔍

Joadja

NSW 2575 • New South Wales

139
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
84.91 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
HistoricHeritageRuralSouthern Highlands

About Joadja

Joadja is a historic rural locality in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, located approximately 20 kilometres north-west of Moss Vale and around 110 kilometres south-west of Sydney CBD within the Wingecarribee Shire Council area. With a population of 139 at the 2021 Census spread across nearly 85 square kilometres, the locality is sparsely settled and carries a distinctive heritage character. Joadja is notable for the remnants of its 19th-century shale oil and kerosene works, which operated from the 1870s to the early 1900s and represent one of Australia's most intact industrial heritage sites from the colonial era.

The Joadja Creek historic precinct — a largely intact ghost town featuring original workers' cottages, a church, schoolhouse, and industrial ruins from the Scottish-founded shale oil operation — draws heritage enthusiasts and day-trippers from Sydney. The locality is also home to Joadja Estate, a boutique whisky and gin distillery that has become a popular destination in the Southern Highlands. Residents access shops, schools, and services in Moss Vale, Bowral, and Mittagong, with Sydney reachable in around two hours via the Hume Highway or the Southern Highlands Freeway.

Joadja falls under postcode 2575 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Wollondilly electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2575
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
N/A
Federal Electorate
Whitlam
State Electorate
Wollondilly
Type
Locality
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.35°, 150.34°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
84.91 km²
Elevation
0m

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Moss Vale
22 km
N/A — drive required

Bus Services

  • Limited regional services — Moss Vale / Bowral ~30 min to Moss Vale

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
110 km
By Train
Drive ~22km to Moss Vale station; NSW TrainLink South Highlands Line to Sydney Central (~2hr)
By Car (Peak)
1.5–2.5 hr
By Car (Off-Peak)
1.5–2 hr

🛣️ Hume Highway and Southern Highlands Freeway (M31) provide the main road link to Sydney; Canberra is ~200km south

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

No local shops or services — a car is essential for all daily needs; Moss Vale and Bowral provide the nearest retail and services

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

  • 🏫
    Alpine Public School
    undefined
    GovernmentPrimaryCoed
  • 🏫
    Colo Vale Public School ICSEA 952
    4889 4250 Wattle St
    GovernmentPrimaryCoedNon-Denominational
  • 🏫
    Hill Top Public School ICSEA 935
    4889 8227 Linda St
    GovernmentPrimaryCoedNon-Denominational
  • 📚
    Frensham
    2575 FRENSHAM JUNIOR SCHOOL Old Bowral Road
    IndependentSecondaryGirlsNon-Denominational
  • 📚
    Gib Gate
    Old Bowral Road
    IndependentPrimaryCoedNon-Denominational
  • 🏫
    Highlands School ICSEA 860
    4872 3088 2 Maxted Street
    GovernmentPrimary/Secondary CombinedCoedNon-Denominational
  • 🏫
    Mittagong Public School ICSEA 992
    21 Pioneer St
    GovernmentPrimaryCoedNon-Denominational
  • ⛪
    St Michael's Primary School
    55 Alfred St
    CatholicPrimaryCoed
  • 🏫
    Tangara School ICSEA 971
    4871 1636 Bong Bong Rd
    GovernmentPrimary/Secondary CombinedCoedNon-Denominational

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
139
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
N/A
Personal Income 2021
N/A
▲ 0% increase

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Joadja known for? +

Joadja is best known for its remarkably intact 19th-century ghost town — the remains of a Scottish-founded shale oil and kerosene works that operated from the 1870s to 1904, including original workers' cottages, a church, and industrial ruins listed on the NSW State Heritage Register. The area is also home to Joadja Estate, a boutique whisky and gin distillery.

How far is Joadja from Sydney? +

Joadja is approximately 110 kilometres south-west of Sydney CBD, a drive of around 1.5–2 hours via the Hume Highway or Southern Highlands Freeway. The nearest service towns, Moss Vale and Bowral, are about 20–25 kilometres away.

Does Joadja have public transport? +

There is no bus or rail service directly to Joadja. The nearest train station is Moss Vale, approximately 22 kilometres away on the NSW TrainLink South Highlands Line, which connects to Sydney Central in around two hours. A car is essential for getting around.

What is the population of Joadja? +

Joadja had a population of approximately 139 residents at the 2021 Census, spread across nearly 85 square kilometres of the Southern Highlands. It is one of the smaller localities in the Wingecarribee Shire.

Is Joadja a good place to live? +

Joadja offers a rare combination of deep historical character, Southern Highlands natural beauty, and a quiet rural lifestyle within roughly two hours of Sydney. It suits those who value heritage, privacy, and open space over urban convenience, and who are comfortable with car-dependent living.

What is the postcode for Joadja? +

The postcode for Joadja is 2575, shared with Moss Vale, Exeter, and surrounding Southern Highlands localities in New South Wales.