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

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the resident count of Kiama Downs - Minnamurra is close to 5,928 in May 2026. This represents a contraction of 135 individuals (2.2%) from the 2021 Census, which registered 6,063 people. This population shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 5,923 in June 2025 alongside 7 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The current population translates to a density of 816 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical values observed across various benchmark regions. International migration was the chief driver of population gains, representing roughly 63.2% of recent overall growth.

Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are implemented by AreaSearch for each SA2. For SA2 territories where this is unavailable, SA2 projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied instead. Age cohort growth rates from these datasets are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking at future population trends, growth is expected to align with the lower quartile of national regional areas, with the total population projected to expand by 184 persons by 2041 based on recent annual ERP statistics, representing a 3.0% cumulative rise over the 16 years.

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

Building approvals in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra average approximately 16 new residential properties per year, with a total of 80 homes approved over the preceding 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 13 approvals have been logged. With the local population experiencing a downward trend, the volume of new construction has likely matched market demand, maintaining options for prospective buyers, while newly approved builds carry an average value of $506,000, suggesting developers are concentrating on higher-end products in the premium sector.

Residential building activity in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra is substantially lower than the Rest of NSW average, sitting 70.0% below the per capita regional baseline. This restricted supply pipeline typically bolsters demand and supports valuations for established properties. Activity also falls below the national benchmark, highlighting the established profile of the community and pointing to possible planning constraints. The composition of new approvals consists of 71.0% detached houses and 29.0% apartments or townhouses, maintaining the low-density profile of the suburb with an emphasis on stand-alone homes that appeal to buyers seeking space. This represents a notable shift from the established housing stock (which currently stands at 92.0% houses), reflecting a scarcity of vacant land parcels and matching changing lifestyle preferences and budget constraints. The presence of 462 people per dwelling approval highlights a quiet development landscape with low building activity.

Based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, Kiama Downs - Minnamurra is projected to gain 179 residents by 2041. Given ongoing development trends, the supply of new housing is expected to easily accommodate this demand, preserving favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population expansion beyond current forecasts.

Kiama Downs - Minnamurra has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning changes represent significant drivers of neighborhood change. AreaSearch has tracked 3 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Key developments include the Bombo Precinct, the Akuna Street Mixed-Use Development, the Shoalhaven Street Precinct, and the New Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services, with the most relevant details provided in the listings below.

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.

Employment conditions in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

The local workforce in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra is highly educated and exhibits strong representation in essential services industries, an unemployment rate of only 2.3%, and a 2.4% increase in employment over the preceding year. There were 3,149 employed residents in March 2026, while the local unemployment rate sat 1.8% below the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, and the participation rate was exceptionally high at 66.1% compared to 60.6% for Regional NSW. Census data indicates that 32.2% of working residents operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Most working residents are employed in healthcare & social assistance, education & training, or construction. The locality exhibits a strong concentration in education & training, with its employment proportion measuring 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing represents a minimal portion of the workforce at 0.6% compared to 5.3% across the region. Comparison of the Census working population against the resident workforce suggests the local area offers relatively few jobs internally.

AreaSearch assessment of SALM and ABS figures reveals that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the employed population grew by 2.4% while the overall labor force expanded by 2.6%, causing a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. This diverged from Regional NSW, where employment shrank by 0.9%, the labor force decreased by 0.4%, and the unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment projections from May-25 offer additional context on expected future demand. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce composition to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of expansion vary by industry sector. Applying these sectoral trends to the local employment structure suggests Kiama Downs - Minnamurra could experience employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming a basic weighted calculation that excludes localized population projections.

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

Aggregated taxpayer records from the ATO for the 2023 financial year show that the Kiama Downs - Minnamurra SA2 recorded a median taxpayer income of $55,140 and an average income of $78,826. These figures stand well above the national averages and compare to regional benchmarks of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) across Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current income estimates for March 2026 are approximately $60,830 for the median and $86,961 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in the area ranked around the 64th percentile nationally. The data shows that 31.6% of residents (representing 1,873 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is similar to the regional proportion of 29.9%. Residents retain 86.8% of their income after meeting housing costs, indicating strong disposable income, and the area is situated in the 7th decile for the SEIFA income index.

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

According to the latest Census, residential dwellings in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra consisted of 91.5% standalone houses and 8.5% other housing types (including apartments, townhouses, and alternative structures), compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwelling types in Regional NSW. Home ownership levels were exceptionally high at 48.1% of dwellings owned outright, with the remaining properties being purchased under a mortgage (38.5%) or rented (13.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,300 was significantly above the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent stood at $490 compared to the regional figure of $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra are considerably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well above the national median of $375.

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

Families make up the vast majority of households at 81.7%, consisting of couples with children at 37.5%, couples without children at 34.9%, and one-parent families at 8.9%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 18.3%, with single-person households at 17.1% and group households making up 1.3%. The median household size of 2.7 persons is larger than the Regional 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

The level of education in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra is significantly higher than regional averages, with 30.8% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 19.9% in the SA3 and 21.3% in Rest of NSW. This educational profile positions the workforce well for knowledge-based employment. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 6.5% and graduate diplomas at 4.2%. Vocational and technical qualifications are also common, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications such as advanced diplomas (13.2%) and certificates (27.1%).

Enrolment rates in formal education are high, with 28.7% of the population actively studying. This cohort includes 10.0% of residents attending primary school, 8.4% in high school, and 3.7% enrolled in tertiary studies.

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

Analysis of local transit options shows 92 active transport stops within Kiama Downs - Minnamurra, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops support 15 separate routes, which run 1,785 passenger services weekly. Transport access is highly rated, with the average distance to the nearest stop being 102 meters. Due to the residential character of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area, with private cars being the primary mode of travel for 96% of commuters. Average vehicle ownership is 1.8 cars per household, which is above the regional norm. Additionally, 32.2% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Across all transit routes, service frequency averages 255 journeys per day, translating to roughly 19 departures weekly for each individual transit stop.

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

Analysis of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates by AreaSearch reveals highly positive health outcomes in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra, with very low rates of common illnesses across all age cohorts. Additionally, private health insurance coverage is high, with approximately 58% of the population (~3,461 people) holding cover, compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent issues in the community, affecting 9.3 and 7.9% of residents respectively. However, 68.0% of the population reported no chronic health issues, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health statistics for working-age residents are typical. Residents aged 65 and over constitute 26.8% of the population (1,586 people), which exceeds the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Seniors in the area display strong health profiles, with national rankings aligning closely with the broader 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 exhibits lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with 87.1% of residents born in Australia, 92.6% holding citizenship, and 96.0% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 53.8% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three most common backgrounds are English (32.1%), Australian (29.1%), and Scottish (10.0%). Some ethnic heritages show notable local variations, with Macedonian heritage represented at 0.4% (matching the 0.4% regional rate), Irish ancestry at 9.8% (compared to 8.8% regionally), and Maltese background at 0.6% (compared to 0.4% regionally).

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

The median age of 44 years in Kiama Downs - Minnamurra is close to the Regional NSW average of 43 and well above the national median of 38. The area has a higher share of residents aged 65 - 74 (15.5%) but fewer residents aged 25 - 34 (6.0%) than Regional NSW, with the 65 - 74 cohort sitting well above the national average of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 grew from 10.7% to 13.7%, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 5.7% to 8.7%. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 group declined from 14.4% to 11.7%, and the 25 to 34 cohort dropped from 8.5% to 6.0%. By 2041, demographic shifts are expected, with the 75 to 84 cohort projected to grow by 25% (127 people) to reach 642 from 514, while the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 groups are anticipated to contract.