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Sales Activity
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Population
Population growth drivers in Merimbula - Tura Beach are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Merimbula - Tura Beach's population was 11,632 as of Aug 2025. This showed an increase of 119 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,513. The growth was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 11,618 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 119 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Merimbula - Tura Beach had a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outpacing its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 62.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections were used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Population projections indicated an above median growth of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Merimbula - Tura Beach expected to grow by 1,781 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 15.2% in total over the 17 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Merimbula - Tura Beach when compared nationally
Merimbula - Tura Beach has seen approximately 50 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 253 homes. As of FY26, there have been 5 approvals recorded so far. This results in an average of 1.4 new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction value for new dwellings is $526,000.
In this financial year, there have been $12.6 million in commercial approvals, showing moderate levels of commercial development compared to the rest of NSW. Merimbula - Tura Beach has around 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 71st percentile nationally, with a recent intensification in construction activity. The dwelling mix shows 49.0% detached dwellings and 51.0% medium to high-density housing, marking a shift from the current 75.0% houses, likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. There are approximately 206 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. By 2041, Merimbula - Tura Beach is projected to grow by 1,765 residents, with development keeping pace with this projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers may result from population expansion.
Looking ahead, Merimbula - Tura Beach is expected to grow by 1,765 residents through to 2041. Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Merimbula - Tura Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely to impact this area. Notable ones include Templo Merimbula, Club Sapphire Hotel and Conference Centre, Lakewood Lifestyle Village, and Supercheap Auto and BCF Merimbula. The following list details those most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Wolumla Structure Plan
Adopted structure plan providing a strategic framework for the development of approximately 1,096 new dwellings across three major land holdings in Wolumla. The plan guides infrastructure provision including transport networks, utilities, and community facilities to integrate new residential areas with the existing village. Council secured $50,380 in funding in July 2025 to prepare an infrastructure contributions plan. The development will effectively triple Wolumla's population over an estimated 25-year timeframe and addresses housing shortage in the Bega Valley Shire.
Lakewood Lifestyle Village
An 86-unit seniors housing facility in Merimbula approved by the NSW Land and Environment Court following a deemed refusal by the Bega Valley Shire Council. The amended proposal includes independent living units, communal and recreational facilities, parking, and landscaping, with a reduced scale to address community concerns about height, bulk, and visual impact.
Club Sapphire Hotel and Conference Centre
Proposal for a 100-room, four-plus star hotel and conference facility, approximately five to seven storeys, to be built atop the existing Club Sapphire. The development is part of the club's strategy to diversify income streams and reduce reliance on gaming revenue. It requires a planning proposal to amend the maximum building height on the site from 16m to 21m or 26m. The concept development application (DA) is on hold pending the finalisation of the planning proposal.
Templo Merimbula
A luxury short stay hotel precinct, renamed 'Mati' by the developer, consisting of a hotel and 14 townhouses, plus a restaurant. The design uses the natural slope of the emerald hill to maximize ocean views from the living spaces, and incorporates endemic planting and durable materials to blend with the coastal environment. The project was Development Application approved in 2024.
Ocean Drive Townhouse and Apartment Complex
Development Application (DA2021.365) to be determined by the Southern Regional Planning Panel (PPSSTH-173) for a complex of 27 townhouses and 32 apartments with basement parking on a site at 63 Ocean Drive and 460 Arthur Kane Drive, Merimbula. Concerns have been raised regarding density, bulk, and scale of the development. Council assessment staff provided non-support of the application and requested it be withdrawn as of May 2023. A Public Determination Meeting was scheduled for July 28, 2023.
Mirador Residential Development Stages 8, 9 and 13
The proposed action is the final stages (8, 9, and 13) of the Mirador residential development, involving the clearing of approximately 21.39 ha of native vegetation on a 52.5 ha site for low-density housing lots and associated infrastructure. The development is subject to a Federal environmental assessment due to potential significant impacts on threatened species and habitat, including the long-nosed potoroo and Merimbula Star-hair. The development is anticipated to accommodate between 126 and 252 residents upon completion and has an estimated start date of January 2025.
Shearwater Estate
New residential land subdivision and construction of homes in central Tura Beach. The estate offers spacious residential lots ranging from 900m2 to 1500m2 on level ground. Infrastructure like roads, power, water, and sewage are being installed, and new homes are being built/sold, indicating the project is in the construction phase.
Club Sapphire Residential Development (DA Approved - Site For Sale)
A previously approved residential development for a four-storey complex with 40 luxury apartments and 68 car spaces on a 4,084sqm site. The project was put on hold due to rising construction costs and the site is currently being advertised for sale by the developer. The site has Development Approval (DA) for the 40-unit residential flat building and strata subdivision.
Employment
Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 2.9%, Merimbula - Tura Beach has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally
Merimbula - Tura Beach has an unemployment rate of 2.9% as of June 2025. The area's workforce comprises 5,141 residents with a participation rate of 49.5%, which is below the Rest of NSW average of 56.4%.
Key industries include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and retail trade. Notably, accommodation & food services have a strong representation at 1.7 times the regional level, while mining has lower representation at 0.2% compared to the regional average of 2.5%. Over the past year, ending June 2025, labour force decreased by 3.6%, employment declined by 4.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1%, labour force grow by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points.
National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections suggest Merimbula - Tura Beach's employment mix may grow by approximately 6.4%% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data
Merimbula-Tura Beach had a median income of $44,236 and an average income of $57,377 in financial year 2022, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than the national averages for Rest of NSW, which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $49,814 (median) and $64,612 (average), based on a 12.61% increase since financial year 2022. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Merimbula-Tura Beach fall between the 16th and 24th percentiles nationally. The income distribution reveals that 28.7% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, consistent with the surrounding region's 29.9%. After housing costs, 86.0% of income remains, ranking at the 19th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Merimbula - Tura Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
In Merimbula-Tura Beach, as per the latest Census evaluation, 74.7% of dwellings were houses, with 25.4% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merimbula-Tura Beach stood at 51.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.3% and rented ones at 22.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in the area was $340, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $320. Nationally, Merimbula-Tura Beach's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,600 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $340 versus the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Merimbula - Tura Beach features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 64.9% of all households, including 19.4% couples with children, 37.3% couples without children, and 7.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.1%, with lone person households at 32.5% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.2.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Merimbula - Tura Beach shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist
Educational qualifications in Merimbula-Tura Beach show that 23.2% of residents aged 15 and over have university degrees, compared to 32.2% in New South Wales. The most common qualification is a bachelor's degree, held by 15.6% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15 and over holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (29.0%). Currently, 22.1% of the population is engaged in formal education, with 8.2% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 2.1% in tertiary education.
The four schools in Merimbula-Tura Beach have a combined enrollment of 1,419 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 992), offering balanced educational opportunities. These schools include two primary, one secondary, and one K-12 institution.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Merimbula-Tura Beach has 202 active public transport stops operating within its area. These stops are served by a mix of buses along 43 individual routes, collectively offering 542 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated excellent, with residents typically located 164 meters from the nearest stop.
On average, there are 77 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Merimbula - Tura Beach is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
Merimbula - Tura Beach faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low at approximately 48%, compared to the national average of 55.3%.
The most common conditions are arthritis (12.6%) and mental health issues (8.4%). About 60% report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over (34%, or 3,958 people), compared to Rest of NSW at 31.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Merimbula - Tura Beach is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Merimbula-Tura Beach had a low cultural diversity, with 84.5% born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 96.0% speaking English only at home as of the 2016 Census. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 48.0%. Judaism, however, was proportionally similar to the rest of NSW at 0.1%.
The top three ancestry groups were English (34.5%), Australian (29.0%), and Irish (9.4%). Notably, Dutch (1.6%) and Scottish (8.7%) were slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.4% and 8.6%, respectively. Welsh at 0.6% was also slightly higher than the regional average of 0.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Merimbula - Tura Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
Merimbula - Tura Beach has a median age of 53, which is higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Rest of NSW, Merimbula - Tura Beach has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 at 17.6%, but fewer residents aged 5-14 at 9.0%. This 65-74 concentration is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 10.9% to 12.2%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 8.7% to 9.9%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 16.3% to 14.3%, and the 65 to 74 group dropped from 18.7% to 17.6%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Merimbula - Tura Beach's age structure. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 101%, reaching 973 people from 483. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 cohort is projected to decline by 26 people.