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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
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Sales Activity
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Population
Blackheath - Megalong Valley is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends
Blackheath-Megalong Valley's population is 5,886 as of November 2025. This figure shows a growth of 122 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,764. The increase is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 5,830 in June 2024 and an additional 45 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 42 persons per square kilometer. The area's growth rate of 2.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's 1.2%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this population growth.
AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends suggest lower quartile growth nationally, with the area expected to expand by 46 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a decline of 0.2% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Blackheath - Megalong Valley, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally
Blackheath-Megalong Valley averaged approximately 21 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with a total of 107 homes approved during this period. In FY-26, up until now, 8 dwellings have been approved. The average population growth associated with these approvals is 0.5 people per year over the past five financial years.
This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for future population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new homes in the area is $302,000, aligning with regional patterns. In FY-26, $2.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Blackheath-Megalong Valley shows 84.0% higher new home approvals per capita.
This offers buyers greater choice but building activity has slowed in recent years. The majority of new developments consist of standalone homes (86.0%) with attached dwellings making up the remaining 14.0%, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking space, particularly families. As of now, there are an estimated 376 people per dwelling approval in the area, reflecting its quiet development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Blackheath-Megalong Valley should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Blackheath - Megalong Valley has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally
Nine projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Great Western Highway Upgrade - Katoomba to Lithgow (2021-2024), Mount Victoria Station Upgrade (scheduled for completion in 2023), Mount Victoria Memorial Park Playspace and Court Upgrades (commencing 2022), and Katoomba Cultural Centre and Civic Precinct Upgrade (planned for 2022-2025).
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
High Speed Rail - Newcastle to Sydney (Stage 1)
The first stage of the proposed National High Speed Rail network aims to connect Newcastle to Sydney via the Central Coast, reducing travel time to approximately one hour with trains reaching speeds up to 320 km/h. The project is focused on the development phase, which includes design refinement, securing planning approvals, and corridor preservation. It is being advanced by the Australian Government's High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA). Stations are planned for Broadmeadow, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, and Central Sydney. The long-term vision is a national network connecting Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
State-wide NSW planning reforms via amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy to enable more diverse low and mid-rise housing (dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses, manor houses and residential flat buildings up to 6 storeys) in well-located areas within 800 m of selected train, metro and light-rail stations and town centres. Stage 1 (dual occupancies in R2 zones statewide) commenced 1 July 2024. Stage 2 (mid-rise apartments, terraces and dual occupancies near stations) commenced 28 February 2025. Expected to facilitate up to 112,000 additional homes over the next five years.
Mariyung Fleet (New Intercity Fleet)
The Mariyung Fleet is a 610-carriage double-deck electric train fleet being delivered by RailConnect NSW (UGL, Hyundai Rotem, Mitsubishi Electric Australia) for Transport for NSW. Named after the Darug word for emu, the fleet commenced passenger services on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line on 3 December 2024, followed by the Blue Mountains Line on 13 October 2025. Services on the South Coast Line are scheduled to commence in 2026. The fleet features modern amenities including spacious 2x2 seating, charging ports, improved accessibility with wheelchair spaces and accessible toilets, CCTV emergency help points, and dedicated spaces for luggage, prams and bicycles. The trains operate in flexible 4-car, 6-car, 8-car or 10-car formations. The fleet replaces aging V-set trains that entered service in the 1970s and serves approximately 26 million passenger journeys annually across the electrified intercity network. Supporting infrastructure includes the new Kangy Angy Maintenance Facility, platform extensions, and signaling upgrades at multiple stations.
Katoomba Cultural Centre and Civic Precinct Upgrade
Upgrade of the Katoomba Cultural Centre and Civic Precinct as part of the wider Katoomba Town Centre Upgrade program. The project focuses on improving the civic and cultural heart of Katoomba around Parke Street, Civic Place and Katoomba Street, delivering new and enhanced public spaces, community and cultural infrastructure, safer and more accessible links between the Cultural Centre, Katoomba Civic Centre and the main street, plus landscaping, public art, outdoor dining and event spaces. Planning and design are underway, with construction expected to commence after detailed design is completed and overall town centre works targeted for completion around 2027.
Echo Point Precinct Upgrade
Multi stage upgrade of the Echo Point visitor precinct at Katoomba, including the new sandstone gathering place amphitheatre, new Prince of Wales Lookout and accessible night lit boardwalk completed in 2020, together with current works to improve visitor facilities, walking tracks, lighting, signage, traffic management and parking at Echo Point and connected lookouts funded through Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants and Council investment, including the purchase of The Lookout retail and hospitality plaza.
Wallerawang 9 Battery Energy Storage System
A 500MW/1,000MWh Battery Energy Storage System to be developed in two stages (Stage 1: 300MW/2hrs, Stage 2: 300MW/4hrs) on the site of the former Wallerawang Power Station. The BESS will connect to the adjacent 330kV TransGrid Wallerawang Substation to provide grid stability, firming capacity for renewable energy, and frequency control ancillary services. Shell Energy acquired development rights from Greenspot in January 2023 and is progressing grid connection approvals and modifications to the existing development approval. Construction is scheduled to begin from 2025 onwards, subject to Final Investment Decision. The project will create up to 100 construction jobs during peak construction period and up to 5 operational jobs.
Great Western Highway Upgrade - Katoomba to Lithgow
Targeted upgrades on the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow to improve safety, traffic flow and resilience. Active works in 2023-2025 include the Medlow Bath Upgrade (1.2 km widening to four lanes and a new pedestrian bridge with lifts) and the Coxs River Road Upgrade at Little Hartley (2.4 km four-lane realignment and new grade-separated interchange). The Medlow Bath pedestrian bridge opened in April 2025; the road works and Coxs River Road Upgrade are expected to complete in late 2025. Broader duplication proposals, including the Blackheath to Little Hartley tunnel, remain paused pending funding.
Mount Victoria Station Upgrade
Accessibility and safety upgrade to Mount Victoria Station under the NSW Government's Safe Accessible Transport program. The project includes new lifts and a ramp, upgrades to the existing footbridge and toilets, a new waiting room, and improved interchange access for buses, taxis and cyclists. Community consultation on early concept designs occurred in 2024-2025. As of May 2025 funding for delivery is not yet available; pending funding, the next steps would include a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for planning approval and detailed design before construction.
Employment
While Blackheath - Megalong Valley retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.3%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking
Blackheath - Megalong Valley has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 is 3.3%, which is 0.9% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.
Workforce participation stands at 50.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, the area has a high concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, finance & insurance employs only 2.8% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 7.3%.
The labour force decreased by 4.0%, and employment declined by 3.1% during the year to September 2025, resulting in a 1.0 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%. State-level data from NSW as of 25-Nov shows employment contracted by 0.03%, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that Blackheath - Megalong Valley's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch
The median taxpayer income in Blackheath - Megalong Valley SA2 is $43,408 and the average is $60,859 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages; Greater Sydney's median income is $56,994 with an average of $80,856. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%, estimated incomes are approximately $48,882 (median) and $68,533 (average). Incomes in Blackheath - Megalong Valley rank modestly according to 2021 Census figures; household income is at the 27th percentile, family income at the 29th, and personal income at the 33rd. The majority of residents, 28.6% or 1,683 people, fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket, similar to regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe; only 84.6% of income remains after housing costs, ranking at the 22nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Blackheath - Megalong Valley is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
In Blackheath-Megalong Valley, as per the latest Census, 96.5% of dwellings were houses, with 3.5% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Sydney metro's 92.3% houses and 7.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blackheath-Megalong Valley stood at 48.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.2% and rented ones at 20.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below Sydney metro's average of $2,033. Weekly rent in the area averaged $380, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Blackheath-Megalong Valley's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Blackheath - Megalong Valley features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 61.1% of all households, including 18.4% couples with children, 30.8% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.9%, with lone person households at 35.9% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of Blackheath - Megalong Valley exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
Educational attainment in Blackheath-Megalong Valley shows significant superiority over broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 40.1% possess university qualifications, compared to 23.9% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 33.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 12.9%, while certificates comprise 20.4%.
Educational participation is notably high, with 25.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.3% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Blackheath-Megalong Valley has 100 operational public transport stops. These are served by 16 different routes, offering a total of 1,060 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 224 meters.
On average, there are 151 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 10 weekly trips per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Blackheath - Megalong Valley is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
Health data shows significant challenges for Blackheath-Megalong Valley, with high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 50% (~2,943 people) have private health cover, lower than Greater Sydney's 54.4% and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (10.4%) and mental health issues (9.6%), with 61.0% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 64.1% in Greater Sydney.
The area has a higher percentage of residents aged 65 and over at 30.8% (1,814 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 24.3%. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
In terms of cultural diversity, Blackheath - Megalong Valley records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Blackheath-Megalong Valley's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, with 77.5% of residents born in Australia, 88.9% being citizens, and 92.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 37.7%. Judaism is overrepresented at 0.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.2%.
The top three ancestry groups are English (30.6%), Australian (22.6%), and Irish (12.3%). Scottish representation is notably higher at 10.6% versus the regional average of 9.0%. Hungarian and Welsh representations also diverge slightly, at 0.6% and 0.8%, respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Blackheath - Megalong Valley ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
Blackheath-Megalong Valley has a median age of 52, which is higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and significantly above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group shows strong representation at 16.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's figure, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.3%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group grew from 9.5% to 12.0%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 6.7% to 7.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 10.5% to 8.8%. By 2041, Blackheath-Megalong Valley is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 30%, reaching 919 people from 704. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising all of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 25 to 34 age cohorts.