🔍

Koonawarra

NSW 2530 • Rest of NSW

3,732
Population (2021)
$65,416
Median Household Income
2.23 km²
Area
$350/wk
Median Rent
SuburbanFamily-FriendlyAffordableCommuter BeltEstablished

About Koonawarra

Koonawarra is a residential suburb within the City of Wollongong on the New South Wales Illawarra coast, located approximately 85 kilometres south of Sydney CBD. The suburb has a population of 3,732 with a median age of 36 and a median household income of $1,258 per week, reflecting its working-class residential character. It has a notable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community making up around 10 percent of the population, and housing consists predominantly of detached family homes.

Koonawarra is well positioned for access to the broader Wollongong urban area, with schools, shops, and community services available in neighbouring suburbs. The scenic Illawarra escarpment provides a striking backdrop, and the suburb is within easy reach of Lake Illawarra and local beaches. Bus services connect residents to Wollongong's town centre and rail network, with Dapto railway station providing access to the Illawarra Line for train services north to Sydney.

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

📰 Featured In

📰 NSW Suburbs with the Most Housing Commission

📍 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
-34.51°, 150.81°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
2.23 km²
Elevation
9m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$779K
48 sales · ▲ 5.3% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$765K
5 sales · ▲ 19.7% 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)
$350
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,733
Avg Household Size
2.6 people
Median Age
36 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
22.9%

300 state housing + 6 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Dapto
2.2 km
N/A

Bus Services

  • Illawarra Bus Routes — Wollongong CBD 15-20 min

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
85 km
By Train
Train from Dapto; approx 90 min to Sydney Central via Illawarra Line
By Car (Peak)
90-110 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
75-90 min

🛣️ Wollongong CBD approximately 10 min by car; M1 Princes Motorway for Sydney commute

Walkability Car-Dependent

Most errands require a car; limited walkable retail within the suburb itself

🛒 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 Koonawarra. 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
3,667
Census 2021
3,732
▲ 1.8% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$23,920
Personal Income 2021
$30,368
▲ 27.0% 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
$30,368 / yr
$584/wk
Household
$65,416 / yr
$1258/wk
Family
$76,336 / yr
$1468/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,918
Born Overseas 572

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 220
  • 2. Scotland 40
  • 3. New Zealand 30
  • 4. Philippines 30
  • 5. Chile 18
  • 6. Germany 14
  • 7. North Macedonia 14
  • 8. Netherlands 12
  • 9. Italy 10
  • 10. Turkey 9

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 1,565
Australian 1,423
Scottish 355
Australian Aboriginal 350
Irish 296
German 126
Italian 88
Dutch 74
Filipino 52
Macedonian 51

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,159
Both parents born in Australia
807
Both parents born overseas
498
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
46.1%
Christianity
43.8%
Islam
0.6%
Buddhism
0.5%
Hinduism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
233 (6.2%)
5-14 years
536 (14.4%)
15-19 years
243 (6.5%)
20-24 years
270 (7.2%)
25-34 years
512 (13.7%)
35-44 years
440 (11.8%)
45-54 years
452 (12.1%)
55-64 years
433 (11.6%)
65-74 years
355 (9.5%)
75-84 years
206 (5.5%)
85+ years
50 (1.3%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Koonawarra known for? +

Koonawarra is a residential suburb within the City of Wollongong on the New South Wales Illawarra coast, located approximately 85 kilometres south of Sydney CBD.

How far is Koonawarra from Sydney CBD? +

Koonawarra is approximately 85 kilometres from Sydney CBD. The drive takes around 90-110 min during peak hour and 75-90 min off-peak. By train, the journey takes approximately Train from Dapto; approx 90 min to Sydney Central via Illawarra Line.

Does Koonawarra have public transport? +

Koonawarra is served by Dapto station (2.2 km, approximately N/A walk) on the Illawarra Line. Local bus services including Illawarra Bus Routes also connect residents to Wollongong CBD.

What is the population of Koonawarra? +

According to the 2021 Census, Koonawarra has a population of approximately 3,732 residents.

Is Koonawarra a good place to live? +

Koonawarra is considered a good place for families, with a suburban setting and access to schools, parks, and local services. Its community character makes it appealing to households at various life stages.

What is the postcode for Koonawarra? +

The postcode for Koonawarra in NSW is 2530.

What is the average income in Koonawarra? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Koonawarra is about $584 per week (around $30,400 per year). The median household income is $1,258 per week and the median family income is $1,468 per week.

What is the median house price in Koonawarra? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $779,250, up 5.3% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $765,000, up 19.7% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Koonawarra? +

The median age in Koonawarra is 36. The largest age group is 5–14 (536 residents, around 14%). Around 27% of residents are under 20 and about 16% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Koonawarra a safe area? +

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

In Koonawarra, the median weekly rent is $350, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,733 (2021 Census).