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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 Catalina is $725k, with units at $660k. House values have moved 3.5% 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
Catalina has an estimated 2,625 residents, up from 2,522 at the 2021 Census — a change of 103 people, or 4.1%. That puts 678 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
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Catalina has an estimated resident population of roughly 2,625, according to broader regional ABS updates evaluated alongside new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census. When compared against the 2,522 residents recorded at the 2021 Census, this demonstrates an addition of 103 people (4.1%). The revised estimate builds upon an Estimated Resident Population of 2,614 established from the June 2025 ABS ERP figures, combined with 43 validated new addresses confirmed following the Census. The suburb's density stands at 678 persons per square kilometer, offering generous local space along with capacity for future residential expansion.
With a 4.1% rate of increase since the 2021 census, Catalina outpaced the broader SA3 area (2.8%), positioning it at the forefront of regional expansion. Interstate migration was the core catalyst behind these gains, generating approximately 69.0% of recent population additions. Population modelling for the suburb of Catalina incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections released in 2024 (anchored to a 2022 baseline), supplemented by NSW State Government SA2 figures published in 2022 (utilising 2021 as the base year) wherever coverage gaps exist. Age-specific rates from these aggregations are additionally applied across all locations between 2032 and 2041. Looking ahead, the suburb is slated for expansion exceeding the median for non-metropolitan Australia; aggregated SA2 data points to an addition of 453 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative 16.8% rise across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals in Catalina remain minimal, registering an average of 2 approvals per year and totaling 12 approvals over five years. This constrained pipeline aligns with the rural character of the locality, where construction responds to discrete residential requirements rather than speculative volume. Because approval tallies are so modest, annual rates and comparisons can shift substantially due to individual project timings. Construction volumes in Catalina track well behind Rest of NSW and remain below national benchmarks. New residential development is entirely composed of detached houses, emphasizing family living suited to rural spaces.
Indicating this subdued construction landscape, there are an estimated 2542 people in the area per dwelling approval. Longer-term demographic forecasts anticipate Catalina expanding by 442 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly assessment from AreaSearch. Given current building approval volumes, future residential supply could face challenges keeping pace with demand, which may heighten market competition and support property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Catalina
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 28 current infrastructure and development projects close to Catalina, worth an estimated $1.29 billion. 10 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, residential development 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
Infrastructure investments and planning schemes play a vital role in shaping community outcomes. A single strategic initiative has been recorded by AreaSearch with the potential to influence local development. Key regional works include the Greater Batemans Bay Structure Plan, Batemans Bay Dredging, Batemans Bay Community Health Facility, and The Sebel Hotel, with priority developments outlined 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
The Sebel Hotel
Replacement of the Batemans Bay Hotel with a four-storey hotel and luxury apartments, including more than 70 hotel rooms, 11 luxury three-bedroom townhouse apartments, a gym, breakfast room, business centre, and 72 carparking spaces.
Batemans Bay Community Health Facility
New purpose-built community health facility offering various healthcare services including allied health, Aboriginal health, community mental health, drug and alcohol, child, youth and family services, primary healthcare, consultation, treatment, pathology, group rooms, and a gymnasium. The facility will bring together a range of services in one location including women's health and mental health services.
Batemans Bay Dredging
Regular dredging of the Clyde River Bar to maintain safe vessel movement, improve navigation, and support local businesses, tourism, and the economy. Includes removing approx. 30,000 cubic metres of sand and placing it in water to nourish nearby beaches.
24 Beach Road Residential Development
DA approved residential development site with an existing motel offering holding income. Proposed for 34 apartments with unobstructed views, designed for building efficiency. Waterfront locale.
3 Clyde Street Mixed Use Tourist, Residential & Retail Development
Proposed hotel/serviced apartment, permanent residential apartment, and retail development in two, 4 and 5 level buildings. Comprises 46 hotel rooms/serviced apartments, 10 permanent residential apartments, 2 ground level retail tenancies, and on-site parking.
Greater Batemans Bay Structure Plan
A visionary document setting out the strategic planning framework for development over 25 years, guiding the scale, pattern, and broad location of development, including provision for new housing and business. It aims to balance demands for new housing, commercial development, and servicing with environmental preservation and character retention.
Batemans Bay Waterfront Master Plan and Activation Strategy
A master plan and activation strategy for the Batemans Bay waterfront, aiming to create a richer variety of uses, programs, and amenity, enhance public spaces, improve access, and stimulate mixed-use development.
Lot 5 Bunderra Circuit Residential Subdivision
DA-approved 21-lot residential subdivision on a 52,684 sqm englobo site at Malua Bay on the NSW South Coast. Lots range from 619 sqm to 11,470 sqm, all north-facing, with a leafy coastal setting near Malua Bay Beach and Batemans Bay. Vegetation clearing is complete and the site is ready for civil works. The englobo parcel sold in 2024/25 for $2.7 million.
886 residents of Catalina are employed, from a labour force of 954. Unemployment sits at 7.1%, with participation at 43.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,244, about 86% 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
The local labour market in Catalina features a blend of white and blue-collar occupations, supported by a healthy representation across essential services, with unemployment measured at 7.1% per statistical area aggregations from AreaSearch. In March 2026, the employed workforce stood at 886 residents, while the jobless rate exceeded the Regional NSW level of 4.1% by 3.0%, pointing to underutilised capacity as labor participation reached 43.0% against 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census findings indicated that 8.5% of working residents operated from home, a figure potentially influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. Leading fields of employment for local workers comprise retail trade, health care & social assistance, and construction.
Retail trade exhibits particular strength, employing residents at 1.8 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.9% of Catalina's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. As a largely residential enclave, the balance between the Census working population and resident counts highlights limited internal employment opportunities. Analysis of aggregated ABS and SALM figures indicates that over the twelve months to March 2026, Catalina experienced a 3.0% reduction in its total labour force alongside a 2.4% contraction in employment, which lowered the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. Over the identical timeframe, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 0.9%, the labour force contract by 0.4%, and unemployment climb by 0.5 percentage points. Future workforce requirements can be assessed via Jobs and Skills Australia projections from Mar-26. While nationwide employment is modeled to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, industry performance will vary. Aligning these trends with the local industry profile suggests Catalina's employment could grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming current industry weightings hold and excluding localized demographic shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Catalina is $1,130 a week (about $59,000 a year), with median personal income at $564 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $38,456 a year against an average of $47,751. 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
ATO postcode-level taxation data for financial year 2023 indicates taxpayers in Catalina achieved a median income of $38,456 and an average of $47,751, trailing national figures as well as Regional NSW averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, updated March 2026 estimates indicate a median of $42,425 and an average of $52,679. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household earnings all placed between the 7th and 9th percentiles nationwide. The single largest income group comprises 31.2% of residents (819 people) within the $800 - 1,499 tier, differing from the wider region where 29.9% fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket.
Financial strain is evident, with only 84.2% of earnings uncommitted, placing the community in the 11th percentile for housing affordability.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Catalina had 957 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 88% detached houses and 2% apartments. 24% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 50% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $355 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,560 a month. Rent absorbs 31.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 31.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, the local housing stock consisted of 87.8% separate houses alongside 12.2% other dwellings (apartments, semi-detached properties, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings across Regional NSW. Outright property ownership in Catalina reached 50.2%, substantially exceeding regional levels, while 24.1% of properties were mortgaged and 25.7% were tenanted. Monthly median mortgage repayments stood at $1,560, under the Regional NSW benchmark of $1,733 and well below the Australian figure of $1,863. Median weekly rents were recorded at $355, above the Regional NSW figure of $330 but under the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Catalina counted 957 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 20% are couples with children, fewer than in 88% of areas nationally, against 34% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families comprise the predominant living arrangement at 67.0% of households, consisting of couples without children (33.8%), couples with children (19.5%), and single parent families (12.7%). Non-family dwellings make up 33.0%, with lone-person residences representing 30.0% and group households accounting for 2.6%. The typical household contains 2.3 people, marginally beneath the Regional NSW median of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
13.6% of adults in Catalina hold a university qualification, including 8.1% with a bachelor degree and 3.1% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 32.9% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Higher educational attainment presents an area for growth in Catalina, where 13.6% of residents possess a university qualification compared to 32.2% across NSW. Among tertiary graduates, 8.1% hold bachelor degrees, 3.1% possess postgraduate degrees, and 2.4% have attained graduate diplomas. Meanwhile, technical and trade qualifications are widespread, with vocational credentials held by 42.5% of residents aged 15+, comprising certificates (32.9%) and advanced diplomas (9.6%). Engagement with formal study is robust throughout the community, with 25.1% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This includes 10.4% attending primary school, 7.5% in secondary education, and 2.1% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Catalina reaches 55 stops on 24 routes, timetabled for about 250 services a week. The typical home sits about 120 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.2 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 across Catalina includes 55 active transport stops providing bus connections across 24 distinct routes, delivering 247 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is strong, with residents generally situated 123 meters from their closest stop. Commuting patterns reflect an outward flow from this residential area, with private vehicles serving as the primary transport mode for 95% of journeys. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, trailing regional figures, while 8.5% of residents worked from home at the 2021 Census under potential COVID-19 influences. Bus transit schedules generate an average of 35 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 4 weekly trips for each stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
56.2% of residents in Catalina report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 90% of areas nationally. 11.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 45.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Local health assessments by AreaSearch highlight significant wellness considerations, reflected in elevated mortality and chronic illness rates across younger and older age brackets alike. Private health insurance participation is low, with approximately 46% of residents (~1,204 people) holding coverage, compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and 55.7% across Australia. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent reported ailments, affecting 12.7% and 10.0% of the population respectively, while 56.2% of residents reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Chronic conditions are elevated among working-age individuals, while residents aged 65 and over represent 35.8% of the community (939 people), well above the Regional NSW benchmark of 23.3%.
Overall health metrics for older residents reflect broader national patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Catalina is largely Australian-born, at 85.9% of residents, with 3.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.1%) and Australian (28.0%). 6.4% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Catalina track below broader averages, with Australian citizens comprising 89.3% of residents, 85.9% of the population born in Australia, and 96.1% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity is the dominant religious affiliation, representing 59.9% of residents compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Ancestry records show the three leading backgrounds reported by residents are English (32.1%), Australian (28.0%), and Irish (9.7%). Representation varies across other heritages, with Australian Aboriginal ancestry accounting for 6.4% of the population (compared to 4.6% regionally), Maltese representing 0.8% (against 0.4%), and French ancestry comprising 0.6% (versus 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Catalina is 53, older than 95% of areas nationally. 16.8% 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
Catalina maintains an older age distribution relative to its surrounding region. Per estimates updated to August 2026, retiree and elderly cohorts (65+) make up 35.8% of the population compared to 23.3% in Regional NSW, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) comprise 16.8% against a regional share of 23.5%. The median age remains steady at an estimated 53 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 10 years above the Regional NSW median of 43 and well above the Australian median of 38 at that Census.
Since the Census, the proportion of retiree and elderly cohorts increased from 34.0% to an estimated 35.8%. Looking ahead to 2041, the largest demographic increase is forecast among retiree and elderly cohorts, adding 224 residents (24%) to reach 1,164.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Catalina
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 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) | Aug 2026 last month 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 last month 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 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 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 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 43 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,522 at the 2021 Census → 2,625 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 (SAL10852). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.