🔍

Rock Forest

NSW 2795 • New South Wales

149
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Personal Income
92.40 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralAgriculturalHistoricSemi-Rural
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About Rock Forest

Rock Forest is a rural locality in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, situated within the Bathurst Regional Council area approximately 25 kilometres north-west of Bathurst and 35 kilometres from Orange. The locality covers around 92 square kilometres of mixed grazing and light-timber country, with a 2021 Census population of 149 residents. Its position between two of regional New South Wales's most significant inland cities gives Rock Forest a strategic rural character, with a median income broadly in line with similar agricultural localities in the region.

The countryside around Rock Forest is gently undulating to level pastoral land, used predominantly for grazing and lifestyle properties. Residents benefit from access to two well-serviced regional cities -- Bathurst to the south-east and Orange to the north-west -- both offering hospitals, universities, secondary schools, supermarkets, and diverse dining and retail options. The area is well known to those interested in Australian goldfields history, with Ophir -- the site of Australia's first payable gold discovery in 1851 -- located nearby off the Ophir Road.

Rock Forest falls under postcode 2795 and is governed by the Bathurst Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Calare, while state elections fall under the Orange electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2795
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Bathurst
Federal Electorate
Calare
State Electorate
Orange
Type
Locality
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-33.82°, 149.47°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
92.40 km²
Population Density
2 /km²
Elevation
0m

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💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 2795

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 2795, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$49,469
Median 2023–24
$59,577
▲ 20.4% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$69,914

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 2795; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Limited or no scheduled services — Bathurst / Orange Approx. 25-35 min by road to Bathurst

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
210 km
By Train
No direct service; Bathurst station (~25 km) connects to Sydney via Main Western Line (~2.5-3 hr)
By Car (Peak)
3-3.5 hr via Great Western Highway
By Car (Off-Peak)
2.5-3 hr

🛣️ Ophir goldfields site is nearby; Bathurst and Orange both within 35 km for full services

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

No walkable shops or services within Rock Forest; Bathurst and Orange provide all daily needs

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
149
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
251.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 11.1%
Motor vehicle theft
184.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
549.6 / 100k
2yr Down 20.6% 10yr Up 2.6%
Robbery (unarmed)
17.8 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
251.5 / 100k
2yr Down 31.5% 10yr Down 11.4%
View all 62 offence types for Bathurst →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rock Forest known for? +

Rock Forest is known for its location near the Ophir goldfields, the site of Australia's first payable gold discovery in 1851. Today it is a quiet rural locality popular for grazing properties and lifestyle blocks between Bathurst and Orange.

How far is Rock Forest from Bathurst? +

Rock Forest is approximately 25 kilometres north-west of Bathurst, making it around a 25-30 minute drive via Ophir Road or the Mitchell Highway.

Does Rock Forest have public transport? +

There is no regular bus or rail service to Rock Forest. Residents use private vehicles; Bathurst, approximately 25 km away, has a train station with services to Sydney on the Main Western Line.

What is the population of Rock Forest? +

The 2021 Census recorded a population of 149 residents in Rock Forest, living across approximately 92 square kilometres of Central Tablelands grazing country.

Is Rock Forest a good place to live? +

Rock Forest offers a quiet rural lifestyle with excellent access to the services of both Bathurst and Orange. It suits those seeking space and a country atmosphere while staying within commuting range of two well-equipped regional cities.

What is the postcode for Rock Forest? +

The postcode for Rock Forest is 2795, shared with Bathurst and surrounding Central Tablelands localities.

Is Rock Forest a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Rock Forest is part of the Bathurst 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.