🔍

West Nowra

NSW 2541 • Rest of NSW

1,504
Population (2021)
$77,636
Median Household Income
3.57 km²
Area
$350/wk
Median Rent
Family-FriendlyAffordableRural

About West Nowra

West Nowra is a small urban locality on the western fringe of the Nowra urban area, nestled within the Shoalhaven City Council area of the South Coast of New South Wales. Home to approximately 1,504 residents according to the 2021 Census, the suburb sits at around 68 metres elevation along the Shoalhaven River corridor, roughly 160 kilometres south of Sydney. The community has a notably high indigenous population, with Aboriginal Australians making up around 15% of residents, reflecting the deep Yuin cultural heritage of the broader Shoalhaven region. With a compact footprint of just 3.6 square kilometres, West Nowra retains a close-knit neighbourhood feel on the urban edge.

West Nowra offers an affordable lifestyle within easy reach of all the services Nowra has to offer, including supermarkets, hospitals, schools, and the Nowra town centre just a short drive east. The suburb's median weekly rent of around $350 makes it one of the more accessible addresses in the Shoalhaven, attracting young families, single-parent households, and long-term local residents. Community ties are strong, bolstered by local schools, parks, and access to the natural beauty of the Shoalhaven River and nearby Morton National Park. Residents enjoy proximity to the South Coast's beaches, bushwalking trails, and the agricultural hinterland that defines life along the NSW South Coast.

West Nowra falls under postcode 2541 and is governed by Shoalhaven Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Kiama electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2541
Urban Area
Nowra
LGA / Council
Shoalhaven
Federal Electorate
Gilmore
State Electorate
Kiama
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.88°, 150.58°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
3.57 km²
Elevation
68m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$678K
28 sales · ▼ 2.2% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$650K
11 sales · ▲ 0.4% 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)
$1,707
Avg Household Size
2.5 people
Median Age
33 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
5.5%

11 state housing + 20 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Bomaderry Station
3.5 km
45 min

Bus Services

  • Shoalhaven Transit local routes — Nowra CBD 10 min

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
160 km
By Train
Approx. 2.5-3 hrs via Bomaderry or Kiama
By Car (Peak)
2 hr 30 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
2 hr

🛣️ Most residents drive to Nowra; South Coast Line has limited direct services to Sydney

Walkability Car-Dependent

Car required for most trips; basic footpaths to local schools and parks

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There is 1 heritage-listed place in or near West Nowra, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Meroogal
35 West Street Nowra • SHR #00953

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
223.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 6.6%
Motor vehicle theft
175.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 2.2%
Non-DV assault
461.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 1.7%
Robbery (unarmed)
8.1 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
245.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 6.0%
View all 62 offence types for Shoalhaven →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,406
Census 2021
1,504
▲ 7.0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$30,056
Personal Income 2021
$39,000
▲ 29.8% 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
$39,000 / yr
$750/wk
Household
$77,636 / yr
$1493/wk
Family
$91,780 / yr
$1765/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,296
Born Overseas 121

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 40
  • 2. New Zealand 14
  • 3. Philippines 12
  • 4. India 7
  • 5. Scotland 5
  • 6. Malaysia 4
  • 7. North Macedonia 4
  • 8. South Africa 3
  • 9. Thailand 3

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 698
English 608
Australian Aboriginal 210
Scottish 133
Irish 123
German 36
Italian 35
Dutch 18
Filipino 17
Chinese 11

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,079
Both parents born in Australia
171
Both parents born overseas
160
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
45.4%
Christianity
44.9%
Sikhism
0.7%
Hinduism
0.4%
Islam
0.3%
Buddhism
0.2%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
117 (7.8%)
5-14 years
208 (13.8%)
15-19 years
91 (6.1%)
20-24 years
115 (7.6%)
25-34 years
252 (16.8%)
35-44 years
172 (11.4%)
45-54 years
151 (10.0%)
55-64 years
202 (13.4%)
65-74 years
122 (8.1%)
75-84 years
61 (4.1%)
85+ years
15 (1.0%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is West Nowra located? +

West Nowra is a suburb on the western edge of the Nowra urban area in the Shoalhaven region of NSW, approximately 160 km south of Sydney.

What is the population of West Nowra? +

According to the 2021 Census, West Nowra had a population of 1,504 residents.

How do I get from West Nowra to Sydney? +

Most residents drive, which takes around 2–2.5 hours. The nearest train station is Bomaderry (South Coast Line), though services are limited and typically require a connection at Kiama or Wollongong.

What is the median rent in West Nowra? +

The median weekly rent in West Nowra is approximately $350 per week, making it one of the more affordable addresses on the NSW South Coast.

What is the average income in West Nowra? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in West Nowra is about $750 per week (around $39,000 per year). The median household income is $1,493 per week and the median family income is $1,765 per week.

What is the median house price in West Nowra? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $677,500, down 2.2% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $650,000, up 0.4% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of West Nowra? +

The median age in West Nowra is 33. The largest age group is 25–34 (252 residents, around 17%). Around 28% of residents are under 20 and about 13% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is West Nowra a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. West Nowra is part of the Shoalhaven 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 West Nowra? +

In West Nowra, the median weekly rent is $350, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,707 (2021 Census).