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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Population
Bellambi is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends
As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Bellambi is around 4,223. This reflects an increase of 184 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,039. The growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 4,174 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,844 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Bellambi's population growth of 4.6% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the broader SA3 area (4.5%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 61.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated for national regional areas. The suburb of Bellambi is expected to increase by 177 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 3.0% over the 17 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Bellambi according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
Bellambi recorded approximately 24 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 121 homes. In FY-26 so far, 84 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.7 people moved to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of new homes was $517,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market segment.
This financial year, $1.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to Rest of NSW, Bellambi maintains similar construction rates per person, preserving market equilibrium. However, development activity has moderated recently. Building activity shows 44.0% standalone homes and 56.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living and affordability for various buyer groups.
With around 256 people per approval, Bellambi reflects a low density area. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates an increase of 128 residents. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Bellambi has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects that could impact the region. Notable ones are 79 Dobbie Avenue Townhouses, Murray Road Shared Cycleway, Bellambi Estate Renewal Project, and Corrimal Transport Oriented Development Area. The following list details those most relevant:.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Illawarra Offshore Wind Zone
The Illawarra Offshore Wind Zone is a Commonwealth-declared area covering 1,022 square kilometres in the Pacific Ocean, located 20km to 45km off the NSW coast between Wombarra and Kiama. Declared on 15 June 2024, the zone has a potential generation capacity of 2.9 GW, enough to power approximately 1.8 million homes. Following a competitive application process in late 2024, Corio Generation Australia was awarded the first feasibility licence in December 2025. This allows for seven years of detailed environmental assessments, geotechnical surveys, and community consultation to determine the technical and commercial viability of a large-scale floating offshore wind farm.
Bellambi Estate Renewal Project
A long-term, staged urban renewal led by Homes NSW to transform the aging Bellambi social housing estate (built in the 1950s-60s) into a modern mixed-use community. The project aims to deliver up to 2,500 new social, affordable, and market homes, with at least 30 percent dedicated to social housing. The proposal includes building heights of 3 to 6 storeys, a new local center with retail and services, a public plaza with beach access, improved streetscapes, and upgraded community open spaces. A State Assessed Rezoning Proposal is currently on public exhibition until March 13, 2026.
Rail Service Improvement Program (Mortdale-Kiama)
The Rail Service Improvement Program (formerly More Trains, More Services) is a multi-billion-dollar NSW Government initiative to modernize the rail network for the Mariyung fleet. The Mortdale to Kiama package involves infrastructure upgrades including the Mortdale Maintenance Centre (active maintenance and shunting works in February 2026), platform extensions at Kiama (completed), and ongoing signaling, power supply, and station improvements at Thirroul and Shellharbour Junction to enable increased service frequency on the T4 Illawarra and South Coast lines.
Corrimal Transport Oriented Development Area
The Transport Oriented Development Program enables higher density residential development within 400m of Corrimal station, allowing residential flat buildings up to 22m height with FSR 2.5:1 and shop top housing up to 24m, requiring a minimum 2% affordable housing contribution in perpetuity for developments over 2000 sqm GFA, to increase housing supply near public transport.
More Trains More Services Stage Two - Mortdale to Kiama Capital Works
Package of rail upgrades along the T4 Illawarra and South Coast lines between Mortdale and Kiama to support more frequent services and new trains. Works include platform extensions (e.g. Kiama), new and expanded stabling yards (e.g. Waterfall, Wollongong, Kiama), track and turnout changes, power and overhead wiring upgrades, signalling, and Mortdale Maintenance Centre upgrades.
Bellambi Social Housing Development
Transformation of four aging cottages into a two-storey building comprising eighteen new, accessible, and high-quality social housing units (8 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom), with 16 car and two motorbike on-grade parking spaces, and extensive landscaped areas. The project was completed as part of the NSW Government's $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW package, at a cost of $9.74 million.
Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project
Revised underground expansion of Russell Vale Colliery using bord and pillar mining methods to extract up to 3.7 million tonnes of coal over a five-year period (MP09_0013). Approved by the NSW Independent Planning Commission in December 2020. The project has undergone extensive environmental assessment and was subject to public debate due to its location within the Greater Sydney Water Catchment. Operations were subsequently halted in January 2024 under a NSW Resources Regulator prohibition notice following multiple underground ignition events, and Wollongong Resources announced closure of the Russell Vale Colliery in February 2024. Any future activity would require compliance with regulator directions and updated approvals.
Freight Rail Access to Port Kembla (Maldon to Dombarton / SWIRL options)
Program of works to improve freight rail access to Port Kembla, including investigation of the Maldon to Dombarton (also known as South West Illawarra Rail Link, SWIRL) corridor and complementary network upgrades to address capacity constraints on existing lines and better connect Port Kembla to Western Sydney intermodals.
Employment
Employment conditions in Bellambi face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally
Bellambi has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 10.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.3%. As of December 2025, 1,712 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 6.1%, significantly higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.
Workforce participation lagged at 54.4% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. A high 26.5% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts were considered. Key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Notably, education & training had employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.
However, agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented with only 0.5% of Bellambi's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 1.3% while labour force decreased by 0.2%, resulting in a 1.3 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Bellambi's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data
The suburb of Bellambi had a lower than average income level nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended 30 June 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $44,384 and the average income stood at $56,139. This compared to figures for Regional NSW which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended 30 June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $48,316 (median) and $61,113 (average) as of September 2025. Census data revealed household, family and personal incomes in Bellambi all fell between the 12th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income analysis showed that 27.1% of the population (1,144 individuals) had incomes within the $400 - $799 range, differing from patterns across the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 range dominated with 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Bellambi, with only 78.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Bellambi displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Bellambi's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 51.4% houses and 48.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bellambi stood at 20.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented ones at 54.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, above Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Bellambi was $252, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Bellambi's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $252 compared to the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Bellambi features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 63.4% of all households, including 21.2% couples with children, 20.1% couples without children, and 20.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.6%, with lone person households at 33.4% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Bellambi fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 19.3%, significantly lower than the SA3 area average of 33.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 40.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 29.9%. Educational participation is high, with 30.4% currently enrolled in formal education.
This includes 10.1% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Bellambi has 28 operational public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 46 different routes, facilitating 1,904 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average located 136 meters from their nearest transport stop. Primarily residential, most Bellambi residents commute outward, with the car being the dominant mode of transport at 90%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high 26.5% of Bellambi residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.
Service frequency across all routes averages 272 trips per day, equating to approximately 68 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Bellambi is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts
Bellambi faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions that affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (around 2,076 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.
Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 11.6 and 10.2% of residents respectively. However, 60.6% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. The working-age population experiences notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (777 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
In terms of cultural diversity, Bellambi records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Bellambi's cultural diversity was found to align with the broader regional average. Its population composition included 86.4% citizens, 79.9% born in Australia, and 88.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 49.1%.
Islam, however, showed significant overrepresentation at 2.5%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (28.7%), Australian (27.2%), and Other (7.8%). Notable divergences existed in Welsh representation at 0.8% (vs regional 0.5%), Australian Aboriginal at 6.0% (vs 4.6%), and Spanish at 0.6% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Bellambi's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms
The median age in Bellambi as of 2021 is 37 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 make up a significant portion (16.3%) of Bellambi's population, while those aged 65-74 constitute a smaller proportion (10.1%). Between 2021 and the present day, the percentage of people aged 25-34 has increased from 14.4% to 16.3%, and the 75-84 age group has grown from 5.6% to 6.7%. Conversely, the 45-54 age cohort has decreased from 12.4% to 11.2%, and the 55-64 age group has dropped from 13.1% to 11.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate that Bellambi's population aged 25-34 is expected to increase by 91 people (13%), rising from 688 to 780 individuals. Meanwhile, both the 45-54 and 5-14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.