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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 Bonnet Bay is $1.79m. House values have moved 2.0% 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
Bonnet Bay has an estimated 2,314 residents, up from 2,238 at the 2021 Census — a change of 76 people, or 3.4%. That puts 2,048 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
Analysis of ABS population updates for the wider region, along with post-Census address validation by AreaSearch, places the population of the suburb of Bonnet Bay at approximately 2,314 in May 2026. This represents an addition of 76 people (3.4%) relative to the 2,238 residents recorded during the 2021 Census. This growth is calculated from an estimated resident population of 2,309, which AreaSearch derived from the June 2025 ABS ERP release and subsequent address monitoring. This population size results in a density of 2,047 persons per square kilometer, a level that ranks above the national average among locations assessed by AreaSearch.
The 3.4% expansion rate since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA3 region (3.1%), positioning the suburb as a local growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver, accounting for roughly 63.0% of the overall population gains in recent times. AreaSearch incorporates SA2 projections published by ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024 using a 2022 baseline. For areas where these figures are unavailable, projections at the SA2 level from the NSW Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied. Demographic growth projections by age bracket from these datasets are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, population growth is projected to track slightly below the national median for statistical areas. Specifically, consolidated SA2 projections suggest the suburb of Bonnet Bay will add 129 residents by 2041, representing a total increase of 5.4% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Over the last five years, only two residential development approvals have been recorded in Bonnet Bay. This highlights a mature residential area with scarce opportunities for new builds. The lack of incoming supply typically underpins demand for existing homes and helps maintain price stability. Bonnet Bay exhibits significantly lower construction activity compared to Greater Sydney. Although building work has picked up recently, the scarcity of new additions generally bolsters demand and valuations for established homes. This level of activity also sits below the national average, pointing to the suburb's established nature and prospective planning limits.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Bonnet Bay
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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 23 current infrastructure and development projects close to Bonnet Bay, worth an estimated $5.47 billion. 5 are already under construction and 6 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities. 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
Local infrastructure projects, planning initiatives, and major developments have a significant impact on local performance. In total, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are expected to affect this area. The main regional projects include the 544-550 Box Road Jannali Mixed-Use Development, M6 Stage 2, Blaxland Riverside Estate, and the Rail Service Improvement Program - T4 Illawarra & Eastern Suburbs Line, with the details of the most relevant listed below.
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
Illawong Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment
Redevelopment and expansion of Illawong Village Shopping Centre including refurbishment of the existing centre, additional retail floor space, new specialty tenancies, upgraded public domain, improved parking and associated site works. The project received planning approval and has progressed into the delivery phase.
Sutherland Public School Hall Upgrade
Construction of a new multipurpose hall at Sutherland Public School, including a stage, indoor sports court, canteen, storage, amenities, out of hours school care (OOSH) facilities and a covered outdoor learning area. Major external construction is now complete, with the steel frame and roof installed and internal mechanical, electrical, data and hydraulic services underway. Part of the NSW Government's 9.2 billion dollar investment in new and upgraded schools. Forecast completion by Day 1 Term 1 2027.
Grand Vermont
New residential development at 48 Vermont Street featuring contemporary apartments with premium finishes, rooftop gardens and proximity to Sutherland train station
President Private Hospital Redevelopment
An 87 million dollar State Significant Development redeveloping President Private Hospital into a modern healthcare facility for the Sutherland Shire. The works involve demolition of single-storey buildings (including the heritage-listed Hotham House) and construction of a new three-storey clinical building with two basement car park levels. The redeveloped hospital will provide 110 inpatient beds for surgical, medical and rehabilitation care, a 72-bed mental health unit, a refurbished theatre complex with an additional operating theatre, a new entry from Hotham Road, and an upgraded wellness centre with hydrotherapy pool.The project was initially refused by the Independent Planning Commission in late 2022 over heritage and amenity concerns, but proceeded after a successful Land and Environment Court appeal in 2024. As of late 2025, inpatient services have been closed, the site has been fenced, and demolition and construction works have commenced. Day rehabilitation services continue to operate during the staged build, which is expected to support around 700 healthcare and construction jobs.
Workway Trade Centre
A purpose-built trade centre bringing together specialist trade retailers, premium workshops, and storage units into one seamlessly connected hub. The $50 million development features 3 dedicated trade retail tenancies, 13 premium workshops, and 10 spacious workstores for tools, materials and machinery. Located in Kirrawee's thriving industrial precinct with high-clearance heights from 3m to 5.4m, secure 24/7 access, and prime street exposure on Waratah Street. ARB Corporation, Australia's largest 4x4 accessories manufacturer and distributor, is the anchor tenant with a 15-year lease.Groundworks are complete and the project has moved into Stage 2 of construction, remaining on schedule. Designed to simplify and support the modern needs of trades, from sole traders to national operators.
Adelong Sutherland
Residential development at 552-556 President Avenue featuring modern apartments with quality finishes, communal facilities and convenient access to transport and shopping
544-546 Box Road Jannali Mixed-Use Development
Five-storey mixed-use development at the corner of Box Road and Roberts Street in the Jannali Town Centre, approximately 160m from Jannali Station. Following an earlier refused planning proposal for an 8-9 storey scheme and a deemed refusal of the development application by Sutherland Shire Council, the developer appealed to the Land and Environment Court. In April 2026, the court approved amended plans comprising ground-floor retail, a 59-space childcare centre, medical centre, six commercial premises and four residential apartments, with basement parking for 29 vehicles.The height limit exceedance was found to be justified by the commissioner.
Sutherland Co-Living Development
A six-storey co-living development with 83 rooms (mix of single and double occupancy), communal areas, two basement parking levels with 18 car spaces, 18 motorcycle spaces, and 16 bicycle spaces. Each room includes a kitchenette and en-suite facilities. Approved by the Land and Environment Court in April 2025 following council deemed refusal. Designed to provide modern, affordable housing for young professionals and key workers near Sutherland train station.
1,353 residents of Bonnet Bay are employed, from a labour force of 1,368. Unemployment sits at 1.1%, with participation at 72.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,815, about 78% 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
Data compiled by AreaSearch across statistical areas reveals a highly educated local workforce with a strong concentration of professionals, a low unemployment rate of 1.1%, and steady employment patterns over the past year. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,353, while the unemployment rate sat 3.0% below the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%. Workforce participation is typical, sitting at 72.0% compared to 69.1% for Greater Sydney. Census responses indicated a high proportion of residents working from home at 52.5%, though this figure may be influenced by pandemic-related lockdowns. Local employment is heavily weighted toward professional and technical services, healthcare and social assistance, and education and training.
However, healthcare and social assistance is underrepresented at 12.0% compared to the regional benchmark of 14.1%. Comparing the census working population against resident numbers indicates that this highly residential suburb offers few local jobs. Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS data aggregated from the surrounding statistical area, both employment and the labour force grew by 0.3% during the year ending March 2026, which maintained a stable unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment and labour force growth of 1.9%, with a slight decline in unemployment. Five-year and ten-year national employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future demand. By mapping these national projections against the local workforce structure, future growth patterns can be estimated. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expansion rates vary widely by industry. Weighting these sectoral projections to the local workforce mix suggests local employment could grow by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this serves as a basic weighted extrapolation rather than a local population projection.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Bonnet Bay is $3,087 a week (about $161,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,104 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $69,036 a year against an average of $93,366. 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 the latest postcode-level ATO data released for financial year 2023, taxpaying residents in Bonnet Bay earn a median income of $69,036 and an average of $93,366. This is exceptionally high on a national scale, compared to the Greater Sydney median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $76,161 for the median and $103,001 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in the suburb ranked between the 85th and 97th percentiles nationally.
Income distribution shows the $4000+ weekly bracket is the most common, accounting for 34.3% of residents (793 people), whereas the metropolitan area is dominated by the $1,500 - 2,999 range at 30.9%. High earners are highly represented, with 51.5% earning more than $3,000 weekly, pointing to significant household purchasing power. After paying for housing, households retain 87.6% of their income, and the suburb ranks in the 10th decile on the SEIFA index of relative advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Bonnet Bay had 735 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 1% apartments. 50% are owned with a mortgage, 5% rented and 45% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $700 a week and the median mortgage repayment $3,000 a month, a total housing cost higher than 89% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 22.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data shows that housing in Bonnet Bay is dominated by separate houses, which make up 98.9% of properties, with other options like semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings accounting for 1.1%. This stands in contrast to the Greater Sydney split of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership is also far higher than the Sydney metropolitan average, with 44.6% owning their homes outright, while the rest are paying off a mortgage (50.1%) or renting (5.2%). The median mortgage repayment of $3,000 per month is considerably higher than the Sydney metro median of $2,427, and the median weekly rent of $700 also exceeds the metropolitan benchmark of $470.
Nationally, these mortgage payments are much higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and rent levels are well above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Bonnet Bay counted 735 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.0 people each. 50% are couples with children, more than in 95% of areas nationally, against 33% couples without children. 10% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households represent 89.9% of the local area, consisting of couples with children at 50.1%, couples without children at 33.3%, and single-parent households at 5.8%. Non-family households account for the remaining 10.1%, with single-person households at 9.5% and group households at 0.4%. The average household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
37.8% of adults in Bonnet Bay hold a university qualification, including 25.7% with a bachelor degree and 8.4% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 89% of areas nationally. A further 20.3% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 192 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,097 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
The educational profile of the suburb is distinct within the region, as university completion rates for residents aged 15+ stand at 37.8%, exceeding both the national average of 30.4% and the SA3 average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 25.7%, with postgraduate qualifications at 8.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.7%. Technical and trade qualifications are also common, with 34.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 13.9% and certificates at 20.3%. Enrolment rates in education are high, with 27.6% of the local population engaged in study.
This includes primary school students at 10.0%, secondary school students at 7.5%, and tertiary students at 5.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Bonnet Bay reaches 51 stops on 5 routes, timetabled for about 260 services a week. The typical home sits about 90 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 2.0 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 options include 51 active bus stops within Bonnet Bay. These stops are served by 5 distinct routes, which combine to deliver 260 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is excellent, with residents living an average of 88 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area, with private cars being the main transport mode at 88%, followed by trains at 10%. Average vehicle ownership is 2.0 per household, which is higher than the regional average. A high proportion of residents work from home, at 52.5% in the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Service frequency across all routes averages 37 trips per day, which translates to roughly 5 weekly trips for each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
70.3% of residents in Bonnet Bay report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 91% of areas nationally. 2.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 63.8% 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
Health outcomes in Bonnet Bay are strong, based on AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and chronic disease data, showing low rates of common health conditions across all ages. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, with approximately 64% of the population (1,475 people) covered, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.4% and 7.7% of the population, respectively. However, 70.3% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The population under 65 shows better health than average.
The suburb has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over (490 people), which is higher than the 15.5% share in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes for these older residents are strong, with national rankings aligning with the overall population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Bonnet Bay is largely Australian-born, at 78.6% of residents, with 10.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (29.0%) and Australian (24.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Bonnet Bay is similar to the broader metropolitan average, with 78.6% of residents born in Australia, 93.4% holding citizenship, and 89.8% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the main religion, practiced by 61.9% of residents, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney. Looking at parent countries of birth, the top ancestral lines are English at 29.0% (higher than the regional average of 19.0%), Australian at 24.9% (above the regional average of 17.8%), and Irish at 10.3%. Certain smaller groups show higher representation than the region, including French at 1.1% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Welsh at 0.9% (compared to 0.4%), and Polish at 1.1% (compared to 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Bonnet Bay is 44, older than 76% of areas nationally. 20.2% 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
The median age of 44 in Bonnet Bay is older than the Greater Sydney median of 37 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 12.7% compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25 - 34 bracket is less common at 6.5%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket rose from 11.3% to 13.7% of the population, and the 75 to 84 bracket grew from 6.1% to 7.3%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 bracket fell from 13.8% to 12.7%. Projections for 2041 suggest significant demographic shifts, led by a 19% increase (57 people) in the 55 to 64 group, growing from 300 to 358.
The aging trend is clear, with those aged 65 and over accounting for 69% of the projected growth, while the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 groups are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Bonnet Bay
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| 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 May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,238 at the 2021 Census → 2,314 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 May 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 (SAL10467). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.