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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
The median house price in Birchgrove is $3.14m, with units at $1.73m. House values have moved 0.3% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Birchgrove has an estimated 3,309 residents, up from 3,228 at the 2021 Census — a change of 81 people, or 2.5%. That puts 5,609 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
An evaluation of regional ABS demographic figures alongside post-Census address verification by AreaSearch indicates that the suburb of Birchgrove has an estimated resident count of approximately 3,309 as of Aug 2026. This represents a gain of 81 people (2.5%) compared to the 2021 Census, when 3,228 people were recorded. These figures were established from the 3,309 resident estimate generated by AreaSearch after assessing address validations post-Census and the June 2025 ABS ERP figures. With 5,608 persons per square kilometer, the locality's population density sits within the top 10% across Australia, driving substantial demand for available land.
The 2.5% increase recorded in the suburb of Birchgrove since the census trails the broader SA3 area (4.1%) by 1.6 percentage points, showcasing solid underlying momentum. Overseas migration served as the primary catalyst for demographic expansion, accounting for roughly 72.0% of all recent population additions. SA2 geographic modeling utilizes 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia projections pegged to a 2022 baseline, supplemented where necessary by NSW State Government SA2 forecasts published in 2022 using 2021 as a base. Age-specific growth trajectories across these datasets are further projected across all districts for the 2032 to 2041 timeframe. Based on these combined SA2 projections, the suburb of Birchgrove is forecast to track slightly under the national median for statistical territories, expanding by 223 persons by 2041, which translates to a cumulative rise of 6.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential construction in the suburb remains exceptionally constrained, logging a mere 2 approvals over five years. Such low figures highlight an established, fully developed neighborhood with virtually no vacant land for greenfield building. This persistent lack of incoming residential supply tends to reinforce existing property valuations, focusing buyer interest almost entirely on established dwellings. Building activity in the suburb tracks 88.0% below regional average per person relative to Greater Sydney. Although local building work has seen a recent uptick, the long-term shortage of new residential additions continues to bolster pricing and buyer competition for existing homes.
These volumes sit below national averages as well, reflecting both the established nature of the locality and restrictive planning controls.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Birchgrove
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Birchgrove. A further 67 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $55.3 billion. 23 are already under construction and 29 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Regional project delivery, municipal planning, and civil works exert a major influence on local market dynamics. In total 4 high-impact infrastructure initiatives have been noted by AreaSearch, comprising the Western Harbour Tunnel, White Bay Power Station Redevelopment, Loyalty Square Balmain Revitalisation, and Bays West Precinct Redevelopment.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Western Harbour Tunnel
The Western Harbour Tunnel is a major 6.5 km twin three-lane motorway tunnel forming a third crossing of Sydney Harbour. As of May 2026, assembly of the massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) Patyegarang and Barangaroo is reaching critical milestones in the launch chambers under Birchgrove. TBM Patyegarang is scheduled for harbour launch in mid-2026, while Barangaroo is expected to follow later in the year. Over 76% of total project excavation is now complete, and more than 4,405 precast concrete segments have been produced at the Emu Plains support facility to line the harbour crossing section.
Google REVY Pyrmont
Adaptive re-use and commercial transformation of the heritage-listed Royal Edward Victualling Yard (REVY) Building C into an advanced technology workspace. The development integrates contemporary commercial additions and extensive heritage conservation to expand Google Australia's Pyrmont campus footprint.
Loyalty Square Balmain Improvement Works
Inner West Council public domain upgrade to Loyalty Square in Balmain under the Main Streets Revitalisation Program. The works include a new memorial wall or structure recognising local WWI fallen soldiers not listed on the 1916 memorial, retention of the existing memorial, relocation of plaques, removal of bollards and chains, renewed gardens, lighting improvements, and accessible public furniture. Council resolved in October 2025 to proceed with design and procurement, and the memorial wall wording and names update was noted in December 2025.Council records in early 2026 listed the project as in progress and scheduled for completion before Anzac Day 2026.
Rozelle Village Mixed-Use Precinct
Redevelopment of the former Balmain Leagues Club site into a 16-storey mixed-use precinct by PERIFA and Mitsubishi Estate Asia. Features 227 dwellings, including 59 affordable housing units, a 1,444 square metre public plaza, a new community club, supermarket, and retail spaces.
Rozelle Village
A major mixed-use precinct development on the former Balmain Leagues Club site in Rozelle. The project features 227 apartments (including 59 affordable homes), a new Wests Tigers Leagues Club, a full-line supermarket, retail and hospitality venues, a central public plaza, and activated laneways.
Central Barangaroo
Central Barangaroo is the final major stage of the Barangaroo waterfront renewal, connecting Barangaroo Reserve with Barangaroo South. Delivered by Aqualand in partnership with the NSW Government, the 5.2-hectare mixed-use precinct features residential apartments, retail and hospitality destinations, a new metro entry, and over two hectares of public open space. Early works and excavation are underway following planning consents, with the first major stage targeted for completion around 2030.
Waverton Peninsula Strategic Masterplan (Berrys Bay)
Transformation of former industrial land into nearly two hectares of public parklands. Current works involve earthworks, seawall rectification, and ground remediation. The project features a reimagined Woodleys Shed as a glass-walled indoor community pavilion, a continuous foreshore path, a new public plaza, and facilities for non-powered watercraft like kayaks. Delivered by Transport for NSW and ACCIONA as part of the Western Harbour Tunnel project to reconnect the community to the harbour foreshore.
Balmain Shores - Harbourwatch Building G
Final waterfront stage within the established Balmain Shores community on the former Balmain Power Station site in Rozelle, delivering around 60 high end apartments with direct frontages to Iron Cove, resort style indoor and outdoor pools, gym and landscaped foreshore walks linking to the Bay Run, King George Park and nearby Balmain village.
1,933 residents of Birchgrove are employed, from a labour force of 1,971. Unemployment sits at 1.9%, with participation at 70.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,762, about 83% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local workforce figures show strong representation in technology and high levels of educational attainment, alongside an unemployment rate standing at only 1.9%, according to AreaSearch aggregations. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,933, while joblessness sits 2.2% below the 4.1% recorded for Greater Sydney. Meanwhile, the labor participation rate aligns closely with the 68.9% benchmark across Greater Sydney. Census records showed 68.7% of employed locals working remotely from home, a metric influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time. Resident employment is heavily concentrated in professional & technical services, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance.
In particular, professional & technical roles show exceptional depth, tracking at 1.8 times the regional average. Conversely, retail trade accounts for just 5.1% of the local workforce, compared to 9.3% in Greater Sydney. The disparity between local resident counts and internal Census job counts underscores the area's predominantly residential character with limited commercial workspace. AreaSearch evaluations of ABS and SALM statistical data indicate that over the 12-month period, the local labor pool contracted by 1.6% alongside a 1.3% reduction in total employment, lowering the jobless rate by 0.3 percentage points. This trend diverged from Greater Sydney, which posted a 1.9% gain in employment, a 1.9% expansion in the workforce, and a minor dip in unemployment. Future labor demand can also be gauged from the Mar-26 Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts across five-year and ten-year horizons. Nationally, overall employment is projected to climb 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though sector trajectories vary. Weighting these industry projections against the local job structure indicates potential employment gains of 7.7% over five years and 15.3% over ten years, though this modeled calculation serves an illustrative purpose and excludes localized demographic adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Birchgrove is $3,603 a week (about $187,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,661 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $91,183 a year against an average of $169,838. The average runs 86% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to aggregated ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch, Birchgrove recorded a median taxpayer earnings figure of $91,183 and an average of $169,838. These results substantially exceed Greater Sydney, where the median reaches $60,817 and the average stands at $83,003. Factoring in a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 reach approximately $100,593 for the median and $187,365 for the average. In the 2021 Census, local individual, family, and household incomes placed between the 99th and 99th percentiles across Australia.
Income distribution shows 47.1% of the local population (1,558 individuals) situated in the $4000+ weekly bracket, whereas the wider regional market is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 category at 30.9%. Overall, 57.7% of earners bring in over $3,000/week, confirming exceptional affluence, with residents retaining 86.8% of income after servicing housing costs and placing the suburb in the 10th decile on the SEIFA index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Birchgrove had 1,285 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 28% detached houses and 18% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 28% rented and 42% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $700 a week and the median mortgage repayment $4,000 a month, a total housing cost higher than 97% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 19.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that Birchgrove's residential housing fabric consists of 28.4% detached houses alongside 71.5% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, semi-detached properties, and other residential formats), distinct from the Sydney metro profile of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Full property ownership reaches 41.8%, significantly outpacing Sydney metro, while 30.5% of homes carry a mortgage and 27.8% are occupied by tenants. Median mortgage repayments sit at $4,000 per month and median rent stands at $700 weekly, both well above the Sydney metro figures of $2,427 and $470. Compared against nationwide benchmarks, local mortgage commitments far exceed the Australian average of $1,863, with rental costs similarly outstripping the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Birchgrove counted 1,285 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 32% couples without children. 25% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the clear majority of local living arrangements at 72.4%, consisting of couples with children (32.7%), couples without children (32.1%), and single parent homes (6.7%). Non-family households represent the remaining 27.6%, comprising lone person occupants at 25.1% and shared group living arrangements at 2.2%. Average occupancy stands at 2.4 persons per dwelling, slightly below the 2.7 benchmark recorded for Greater Sydney.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
65.5% of adults in Birchgrove hold a university qualification, including 39.3% with a bachelor degree and 21.5% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 84% of areas nationally. A further 7.3% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 246 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,138 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in Birchgrove is exceptionally strong, with 65.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees, compared to 30.4% nationwide and 32.2% across NSW. Bachelor degrees represent the largest share at 39.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 21.5% and graduate diplomas at 4.7%. Technical and vocational credentials make up 15.8% of qualifications among residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.5%) and certificates (7.3%). General learning participation remains robust, with 26.2% of the local populace actively undertaking educational courses. Within this cohort, 9.6% are enrolled in primary education, 7.8% in secondary schooling, and 5.2% are attending tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Birchgrove reaches 14 stops on 5 routes, timetabled for about 1,600 services a week. The typical home sits about 170 m from its nearest stop. Ferries carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 0.9 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity within the suburb of Birchgrove is supported by 14 active stops spanning ferry and bus networks across 5 designated routes, which generate 1,591 weekly passenger trips. Commuter accessibility is notably strong, with residents situated an average of 169 meters from their closest transit point. Given the residential makeup, outward travel prevails: private vehicles serve as the main commuting mode at 70%, followed by 10% on foot and 8% via bus services. Private vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below regional norms, while 68.7% of working locals reported working from home during the 2021 Census under lockdown conditions.
Across all operating lines, network scheduling delivers an average of 227 trips per day, which equates to roughly 113 departures per week for each dedicated stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.5% of residents in Birchgrove report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 97% of areas nationally. 2.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 93.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Birchgrove exhibits exemplary health profiles across all age cohorts according to AreaSearch mortality and chronic illness assessments, marked by minimal chronic disease rates and an outstanding private health insurance coverage rate of approximately 94% across the community (3,099 people). This substantially outpaces both the Greater Sydney proportion of 59.9% and the Australian benchmark of 55.7%. Asthma (6.8%) and mental health conditions (5.8%) represent the primary diagnosed medical conditions locally, while 74.5% of residents report no long-term health afflictions, in line with the 74.6% benchmark in Greater Sydney. Residents aged 65 and over account for 22.5% of the local demographic (744 people), tracking above the 15.5% recorded across Greater Sydney, with senior wellness indicators aligning favorably with broader nationwide measures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
29.0% of Birchgrove residents were born overseas and 9.5% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.2%) and Australian (20.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics show 29.0% of local residents were born overseas, with 9.5% utilizing a non-English language at home. Christianity stands as the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 41.6% of residents. Judaism displays a distinct local presence at 0.7%, relative to 0.8% across Greater Sydney. Parental lineage data indicates English ancestry is the most widespread at 30.2%, substantially exceeding the 19.0% regional standard, followed by Australian heritage at 20.0% and Irish ancestry at 12.7% (compared to 6.1% regionally). Other notable ethnic representations include Scottish at 9.1% (versus 4.8% regionally), Welsh at 1.1% (versus 0.4% regionally), and French at 0.7% (versus 0.5% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Birchgrove is 46, older than 82% of areas nationally. 19.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Demographically, the suburb of Birchgrove displays a mature household distribution. Updated estimates as of August 2026 indicate that mature and early retiree residents (aged 45 - 64) comprise 30.1% of the population, compared to 22.6% regionally, while young to middle-aged adults (25 - 44) account for 22.1% against 31.4% across Greater Sydney. AreaSearch calculates a median age of 46 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census figure and tracking 9 years above Greater Sydney's Census median of 37 and higher than the national median of 38. Retirees and senior citizens (65+) have expanded from 20.4% to an estimated 22.5% post-Census.
Projections indicate this 65+ demographic will capture the bulk of future expansion to 2041, increasing by 231 residents (31%) to total 976, whereas youth, young adults, and mature working cohorts are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Birchgrove
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 1 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2025. | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,228 at the 2021 Census → 3,309 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL10373). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.