🔍

Portland

NSW 2847 • Rest of NSW

2,447
Population (2021)
$59,800
Median Household Income
98.90 km²
Area
$250/wk
Median Rent
HistoricAffordableRural

About Portland

Portland is a small historic town in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, situated approximately 180 kilometres west of Sydney and 30 kilometres north-east of Lithgow in the City of Lithgow local government area. The town sits at an elevation of around 950 metres and had a population of 2,447 in the 2021 Census. Portland is widely regarded as Australia's first industrial city, built on the back of its iconic cement industry, and the remnants of the Portland Cement Works are listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Life in Portland revolves around its tight-knit working-class community, with affordable housing, heritage streetscapes, and a relaxed country pace. The town has a strong Indigenous presence, with Australian Aboriginal residents making up a notable portion of the population. Residents access everyday needs through local shops, Portland Central School, and a range of services, while the nearby city of Lithgow provides hospital, retail, and employment facilities. The scenic surroundings of the Central Tablelands — including Lake Lyell — make Portland attractive to those seeking affordable country living within a few hours of Sydney.

Portland falls under postcode 2847 and is governed by Lithgow Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Bathurst electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2847
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Lithgow
Federal Electorate
Calare
State Electorate
Bathurst
Type
Rural
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-33.36°, 149.97°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
98.90 km²
Elevation
949m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$540K
65 sales · ▲ 30.9% 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)
$250
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,272
Avg Household Size
2.3 people
Median Age
46 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
1.5%

14 state housing + 0 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Lithgow Station
30 km
N/A – car required

Bus Services

  • 686 — Lithgow 35 min

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
180 km
By Train
Drive to Lithgow Station (~30 min), then train to Central (~2h)
By Car (Peak)
2h 30min – 3h
By Car (Off-Peak)
2h – 2h 30min

🛣️ Passenger rail to Portland ceased in 1985; Lithgow is the nearest active station on the Blue Mountains/Western line

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Town centre services are walkable for residents near the main street; car required for most trips beyond the town centre and for travel to Lithgow

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 3 heritage-listed places in or near Portland, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Ben Bullen Railway Station group
Wallerawang-Gwabegar railway, Ben Bullen • SHR #01082
Raffan's Mill and Brick Bottle Kilns Precinct
Carlton Road, Portland • SHR #01738
Portland Cement Works Precinct
Williwa Street, Portland • SHR #01739

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Lithgow Local Government Area, which contains Portland. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
308.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 7.5%
Motor vehicle theft
178.4 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
564.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
4.8 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
212.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
View all 62 offence types for Lithgow →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,424
Census 2021
2,447
▲ 0.9% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$25,220
Personal Income 2021
$29,952
▲ 18.8% 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
$29,952 / yr
$576/wk
Household
$59,800 / yr
$1150/wk
Family
$80,548 / yr
$1549/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,043
Born Overseas 178

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 43
  • 2. New Zealand 25
  • 3. Philippines 11
  • 4. Scotland 11
  • 5. Germany 7
  • 6. Netherlands 7
  • 7. Croatia 6
  • 8. Cambodia 5
  • 9. Italy 5
  • 10. Canada 4

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 1,093
Australian 1,010
Irish 307
Scottish 228
Australian Aboriginal 173
German 94
Italian 35
Dutch 24
Maltese 21
Maori 16

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,810
Both parents born in Australia
230
Both parents born overseas
177
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
56.1%
No Religion
32.0%
Buddhism
0.9%
Islam
0.2%
Hinduism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
121 (4.9%)
5-14 years
294 (12.0%)
15-19 years
119 (4.9%)
20-24 years
118 (4.8%)
25-34 years
247 (10.1%)
35-44 years
278 (11.4%)
45-54 years
285 (11.6%)
55-64 years
372 (15.2%)
65-74 years
373 (15.2%)
75-84 years
191 (7.8%)
85+ years
49 (2.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Portland NSW known for? +

Portland NSW is known as Australia's first industrial city, built around its cement manufacturing industry. The Portland Cement Works Precinct is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

How far is Portland NSW from Sydney? +

Portland is approximately 180 kilometres west of Sydney, roughly a 2–2.5 hour drive via the Great Western Highway and Lithgow.

Is there a train to Portland NSW? +

Passenger rail services to Portland ceased in 1985. The nearest active train station is Lithgow, approximately 30 kilometres away, which is served by the Blue Mountains/Western line to Central Station.

What schools are in Portland NSW? +

Portland has Portland Central School (a government K–12 school) and St Joseph's School (a Catholic primary school) serving the local community.

What is the median house price in Portland NSW? +

Portland is one of the more affordable towns in regional NSW. The 2021 Census recorded a median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,272 and a median weekly rent of $250, well below the state average.

What is the average income in Portland? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Portland is about $576 per week (around $30,000 per year). The median household income is $1,150 per week and the median family income is $1,549 per week.

What is the median house price in Portland? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $540,000, up 30.9% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Portland? +

The median age in Portland is 46. The largest age group is 65–74 (373 residents, around 15%). Around 22% of residents are under 20 and about 25% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Portland a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Portland is part of the Lithgow 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.

What is the population of Portland? +

Portland had a population of 2,447 at the 2021 Census, up 0.9% from 2,424 in 2016.

How much is rent in Portland? +

In Portland, the median weekly rent is $250, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,272 (2021 Census).