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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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
Population
Population growth drivers in Malua Bay are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Malua Bay is around 2,290. This figure reflects an increase of 219 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,071. The latest estimate by AreaSearch, based on examination of ERP data released by the ABS in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses, is 2,282 residents. This results in a density ratio of 185 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's population growth of 10.6% since the 2021 Census exceeds that of its SA3 area (2.6%) and SA4 region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch projects Malua Bay's population to increase by 195 persons to 2041, reflecting an 8.2% gain over the 16 years based on aggregated SA2-level projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Malua Bay when compared nationally
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Malua Bay averaged around 16 new dwelling approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 82 homes. As of FY-26, 11 approvals have been recorded. Over these 5 years (FY-21 to FY-25), an average of 2 people moved to the area per new home constructed, reflecting healthy demand which supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $604,000, suggesting a focus on premium properties by developers.
In FY-26, $1.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, predominantly residential-focused. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Malua Bay has seen slightly more development (34.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), offering good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New building activity shows 84.0% standalone homes and 16.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.
With around 134 people per approval, Malua Bay reflects a developing area. Future projections estimate Malua Bay will add 187 residents by 2041 (from AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate). Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Malua Bay
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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.
Infrastructure
Malua Bay has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally
Two projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. These include Lot 5 Bunderra Circuit Residential Subdivision, Future Rosedale, Princes Highway Safety And Capacity: Nowra, NSW To Victorian Border, and Sydney-Canberra Rail Connectivity And Capacity. The following details those likely to be most relevant.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production
A national program to coordinate and deploy the enabling infrastructure required to support large-scale renewable hydrogen production across Australia. Building on the 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy and the National Hydrogen Infrastructure Assessment (NHIA), the program aligns electricity transmission, water supply, transport corridors, port and storage infrastructure with Renewable Energy Zones and prospective hydrogen hubs (Bell Bay, Darwin, Eyre Peninsula, Gladstone, Latrobe Valley, Hunter Valley, Pilbara). Two key federal mechanisms underpin delivery. The Hydrogen Headstart program provides up to 4 billion AUD in long-term revenue support via production credits, with Round 2 (2 billion AUD administered by ARENA) opening for Expressions of Interest in October 2025 with EOIs closing 8 December 2025. The Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive (HPTI), legislated through the Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Act 2025 which received Royal Assent on 14 February 2025, provides an uncapped refundable tax offset of 2 AUD per kilogram of eligible renewable hydrogen for up to 10 years between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2040 for projects reaching final investment decision by 2030. The HPTI is jointly administered by the ATO and Clean Energy Regulator and requires certification under the Guarantee of Origin scheme. Round 1 of Hydrogen Headstart shortlisted six projects representing more than 3.5 GW of electrolyser capacity, with 814 million AUD ultimately awarded.
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
Comprehensive NSW state planning reforms designed to increase housing density in well-located areas. The policy mandates mid-rise apartment buildings (3-6 storeys) and low-rise multi-dwelling housing (terraces, townhouses, and dual occupancies) within 800m of 171 high-frequency transport hubs and town centres. As of May 2026, the policy is fully operational following the phased rollout of dual occupancy provisions in July 2024 and mid-rise apartment provisions in early 2025. Recent updates include refined floor space ratios (FSR) and non-refusal standards to streamline local council assessments.
NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Program
NSW is delivering five Renewable Energy Zones (Central-West Orana, New England, South West, Hunter-Central Coast, and Illawarra) to coordinate wind and solar generation, storage, and high-voltage transmission. Led by EnergyCo NSW under the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, the program targets at least 12 GW of new renewable generation and 2 GW of long-duration storage by 2030. Major construction of the first REZ (Central-West Orana) transmission project began in June 2025, involving 90km of 500kV and 150km of 330kV lines. As of February 2026, the project reached a milestone with the Australian Energy Regulator's final decision on network revenue determinations, and significant progress has been made on temporary worker accommodation and road upgrades between the Port of Newcastle and the Central-West Orana region.
Bulk Water Supply Security
Nationwide program led by the National Water Grid Authority to improve bulk water security and reliability for non-potable and productive uses. Activities include strategic planning, science and business cases, and funding of state and territory projects such as storages, pipelines, dam upgrades, recycled water and efficiency upgrades to build drought resilience and support regional communities, industry and the environment.
Lot 5 Bunderra Circuit Residential Subdivision
DA-approved 21-lot residential subdivision on a 52,684 sqm englobo site. Lots range from 619 sqm to 11,470 sqm, with north-facing orientation and a leafy coastal setting near Malua Bay Beach and Batemans Bay. Vegetation clearing has been completed and the site is marketed as ready for civil works.
NSW Heavy Vehicle Rest Stops Program (TfNSW)
Statewide Transport for NSW program to increase and upgrade heavy vehicle rest stopping across NSW. Works include minor upgrades under the $11.9m Heavy Vehicle Rest Stop Minor Works Program (e.g. new green reflector sites and amenity/signage improvements), early works on new and upgraded formal rest areas in regional NSW, and planning and site confirmation for a major new dedicated rest area in Western Sydney. The program aims to reduce fatigue, improve safety and productivity on key freight routes, and respond to industry feedback collected since 2022.
Future Rosedale
A masterplanned community featuring 741 residential lots, open space, and ecological lots. The project is focused on creating a coastal lifestyle with a strong emphasis on environmental conservation and community spaces.
Princes Highway Safety And Capacity: Nowra, Nsw To Victorian Border
Enhancing the Princes Highway from Nowra to the Victorian border to improve safety, reduce congestion, and increase freight productivity through upgrades and bypasses; $2.2 billion committed for various projects.
Employment
Malua Bay shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia
Malua Bay has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 4.7% based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data as of December 2025. There were 923 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.
Workforce participation lagged significantly at 50.1%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 14.4% of residents worked from home. Dominant employment sectors included construction, healthcare & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction was particularly strong with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 1.0%, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, labour force decreased by 2.8% and employment declined by 2.1%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. This contrasted with Regional NSW where employment contracted by 1.2%, labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered insights into potential future demand in Malua Bay. These projections estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Malua Bay's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and did not account for localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
The suburb of Malua Bay has a median taxpayer income of $48,820 and an average income of $60,620 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average, with Regional NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. By March 2026, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32%, estimated incomes would be approximately $53,858 (median) and $66,876 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Malua Bay rank modestly, between the 30th and 31st percentiles. Income analysis shows that the predominant cohort spans 30.6% of locals (700 people) with incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the region where 29.9% fall into this bracket. Housing costs are manageable, with 86.8% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 34th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Malua Bay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Malua Bay's dwellings were 96.8% houses and 3.2% other types at the latest Census, compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% others. Home ownership in Malua Bay was 53.7%, with mortgages at 28.1% and rentals at 18.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, matching Regional NSW's average, while median weekly rent was $418 compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Malua Bay's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were higher than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Malua Bay has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 74.0% of all households, including 21.2% couples with children, 42.2% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 26.0%, with lone person households at 23.6% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational achievement in Malua Bay places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community
Malua Bay's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 23.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to NSW's 32.2%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.1%) and certificates (30.3%).
A substantial 24.7% of the population is actively pursuing formal education. This includes 9.3% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 2.3% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Malua Bay has 44 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 21 different routes that together facilitate 165 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 215 meters from the nearest stop. Most Malua Bay residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 96% of residents. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in the area.
According to the 2021 Census, 14.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 23 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
The level of general health in Malua Bay is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts
Malua Bay exhibits superior health outcomes, as evaluated by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.
The general population has a low prevalence of common health conditions, although this is higher than the national average among elderly and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 51% (~1,166 people) of the total population possesses private health cover, which is relatively low. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 12.3 and 9.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 61.2% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents display a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 29.2% (668 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW but lower nationally compared to the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Malua Bay ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Malua Bay's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 83.9% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 95.2% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Malua Bay is Christianity, practiced by 53.7% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (32.8%), Australian (26.8%), and Irish (10.3%).
Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 9.6%, compared to 8.0% regionally, while Croatian stands at 1.3% (vs 0.3%) and French at 0.7% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Malua Bay ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
The median age in Malua Bay is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and also well above the national norm of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, the 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Malua Bay at 18.1%, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 7.3%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 8.2% to 9.7% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.9% to 11.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Malua Bay. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 24%, adding 39 residents to reach a total of 207. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 15-24 age cohorts.