Kiama Downs - Minnamurra

An assessment of population growth drivers in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra's population is 5,964 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census total of 6,063 people, a change inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures and validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 821 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 52.6% of overall gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, 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. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 179 persons based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 2.9% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra has granted approximately 16 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 80 homes. As of FY26, there have been 5 recorded approvals. The population has decreased during this period, suggesting new supply is keeping pace with demand and providing good options for buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $506,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with high-end properties. Compared to the rest of NSW, Kiama Downs - Minnamurra has significantly lower building activity, 70.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, this area also reflects below-average building activity, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity consists of 71.0% detached houses and 29.0% medium to high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. This represents a shift from the existing housing stock, which is currently 92.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse housing options.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 462 people, reflecting its quiet development environment. Future projections estimate Kiama Downs - Minnamurra to add 174 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three major projects expected to impact the region: Bombo Precinct, Akuna Street Mixed-Use Development, Shoalhaven Street Precinct, and New Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services. These are the key initiatives likely to have significant relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis places Kiama Downs - Minnamurra well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.1% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year. There were 3,092 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate of 1.7%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was relatively standard at 64.8%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, a high proportion of residents, 32.2%, worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction sectors. The area has a particular specialization in education & training with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented with only 0.6% of Kiama Downs - Minnamurra's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.8%, labour force increased by 0.2%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%, labour force fell by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kiama Downs - Minnamurra's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Kiama Downs - Minnamurra SA2 has a median income of $55,140 and an average income of $78,826. This is higher than the Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated incomes are approximately $60,025 (median) and $85,810 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Kiama Downs - Minnamurra's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 64th percentile nationally. The income distribution shows that 31.6% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% fall into this bracket. After housing costs, residents retain 86.8% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 91.5% houses and 8.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra stood at 48.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (38.5%) or rented (13.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,300, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent figures in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra were recorded at $490, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Kiama Downs - Minnamurra's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 81.7% of all households, including 37.5% couples with children, 34.9% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.3%, with lone person households at 17.1% and group households at 1.3%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra shows a significant surplus over broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 years and above, 30.8% have university qualifications compared to the SA3 area's 19.9% and Rest of NSW's 21.3%. This educational advantage is evident in various qualifications: bachelor degrees at 20.1%, postgraduate qualifications at 6.5%, and graduate diplomas at 4.2%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (13.2%) and certificates (27.1%).

Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including primary education at 10.0%, secondary education at 8.4%, and tertiary education at 3.7%.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra has 92 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 15 individual routes that collectively facilitate 1,785 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 102 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuters travel outward from this primarily residential area, with car being the dominant mode at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.8 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 32.2% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 255 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 19 weekly trips per stop.

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra shows excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 58% of the total population (around 3,482 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.3%) and mental health issues (7.9%). 68.0% of residents report having no medical ailments, higher than the 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally typical. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.4% (1,576 people), compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Senior health outcomes are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Kiama Downs-Minnamurra has a cultural diversity below average, with 87.1% of its population born in Australia, 92.6% being citizens, and 96.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 53.8%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (32.1%), Australian (29.1%), and Scottish (10.0%).

Notably, Macedonian (0.4%) and Irish (9.8%) groups are overrepresented in Kiama Downs-Minnamurra compared to regional averages.

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra has a median age of 44 years, similar to Rest of NSW's 43 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Kiama Downs - Minnamurra has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (15.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (6.4%). This 65-74 concentration is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.7% to 8.4%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 10.7% to 13.0%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 14.4% to 11.3%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 8.5% to 6.4%. By 2041, Kiama Downs - Minnamurra's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 25%, reaching 627 people from the current 502. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.