Bonnet Bay

Bonnet Bay is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, as of Nov 2025, Bonnet Bay's estimated population is around 2,317. This reflects a growth of 79 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,238. The current resident population estimate by AreaSearch is 2,289, based on latest ERP data from ABS (June 2024) and address validations post-Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,050 persons per square kilometer, higher than the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Bonnet Bay's growth rate of 3.5% since the 2021 Census exceeded its SA3 area's growth rate of 2.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.0% to overall population gains in 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 by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the Bonnet Bay area is projected to grow by 137 persons, reflecting an increase of 5.7% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Bonnet Bay according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Bonnet Bay has recorded two dwelling approvals in the past five years. This indicates a fully developed suburb with limited new construction opportunities. The lack of new supply generally supports demand for established properties, potentially contributing to price stability.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Bonnet Bay's building activity is 94% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new properties typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. However, building activity has increased in recent years. Nationally, this area also records below-average building activity, reflecting its maturity and suggesting possible planning constraints.

Bonnet Bay has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

No infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the area. Key projects include 544-550 Box Road Jannali Mixed-Use Development, M6 Stage 2, Blaxland Riverside Estate, and Rail Service Improvement Program - T4 Illawarra & Eastern Suburbs Line.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Bonnet Bay places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Bonnet Bay has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.3%.

As of September 2025, 1,353 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, below Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Workforce participation is high at 66.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Major employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

However, healthcare & social assistance has lower representation than the regional average, at 12.0% versus 14.1%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and 2025, employment levels increased by 1.3%, with labour force growth of 1.4%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 3.2%. In contrast, Greater Sydney had employment growth of 2.1% and unemployment rose slightly to 4.4%. State-level data from NSW to 25-Nov-25 shows employment contracted by 0.03%, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, covering May-25 to May-30 and May-35, project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bonnet Bay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Bonnet Bay had a median income among taxpayers of $69,036 and an average of $93,366. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Bonnet Bay would be approximately $75,153 (median) and $101,638 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, Bonnet Bay ranks highly nationally in household, family, and personal incomes, between the 85th and 97th percentiles. The income bracket of $4000+ dominates with 34.3% of residents (794 people), unlike the metropolitan region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 30.9%. A substantial presence of higher earners is indicated by 51.5% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 87.6% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Bonnet Bay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bonnet Bay's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 98.9% houses and 1.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Sydney metro's 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bonnet Bay stood at 44.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 50.1% and rented ones at 5.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,600. Median weekly rent in Bonnet Bay was recorded at $700, compared to Sydney metro's $483. Nationally, Bonnet Bay's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Bonnet Bay features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 89.9% of all households, including 50.1% that are couples with children, 33.3% that are couples without children, and 5.8% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 10.1%, with lone person households at 9.5% and group households comprising 0.4%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.8.

Bonnet Bay shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 37.8% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA3 area rate of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.7%. Vocational credentials are held by 34.2% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (13.9%) and certificates (20.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bonnet Bay has 51 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that together offer 260 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 88 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 37 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about five weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Bonnet Bay is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Bonnet Bay shows superior health outcomes for both younger and older age groups, with low incidence of common health conditions. The private health cover rate stands at approximately 64% (1,477 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 61.6%, and the national average of 55.7%. Residents most commonly report arthritis (8.4%) and asthma (7.7%), while 70.3% claim no medical ailments, similar to Greater Sydney's 70.6%.

The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.4% (495 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 18.8%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Bonnet Bay are particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Bonnet Bay records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bonnet Bay's population, born in Australia, was 78.6%, with 93.4% being citizens and 89.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 61.9%. This figure is similar to Greater Sydney's 61.9%.

Top three ancestral groups were English (29.0%), Australian (24.9%), and Irish (10.3%). French ancestry was notably higher at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 0.5%. Welsh ancestry was also higher at 0.9%, versus 0.6%, and Polish ancestry was 1.1%, exceeding the regional average of 0.6%.

Bonnet Bay hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Bonnet Bay's median age is 44, surpassing Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group comprises 12.9% of Bonnet Bay's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 6.3%. Post-2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group grew from 11.3% to 13.3%, and the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 6.1% to 7.2%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort decreased from 13.9% to 12.7%. By 2041, Bonnet Bay's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 75 to 84 group is expected to grow by 36%, reaching 227 from 166. Those aged 65 and above are projected to constitute 70% of the population growth. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 and 15 to 24 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.