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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 Sunshine Bay is $860k, with units at $662k. House values have moved 2.1% 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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Sunshine Bay has an estimated 1,524 residents, up from 1,439 at the 2021 Census — a change of 85 people, or 5.9%. Growth has averaged 2.1% a year over five years. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 68.0% of that increase. That puts 1,146 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
The estimated population of Sunshine Bay as of February 2026 is around 1,524 people. This represents an increase of 85 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,439 people. The current resident population estimate by AreaSearch is 1,505, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 75 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,145 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch.
Sunshine Bay's growth rate of 5.9% since the 2021 census exceeds that of its SA3 area (3.5%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where necessary, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Considering these projections, a population increase just below the median of national regional areas is expected by 2041, with Sunshine Bay projected to expand by 163 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 9.4% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
124 new dwellings have been approved in Sunshine Bay over the past five years, an average of 24 a year. That places the area in the 55th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 16 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 8, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows Sunshine Bay has experienced around 24 dwellings receiving development approval each year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 124 homes. So far in FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, there's been an average of 0.6 new residents per year per dwelling constructed. New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average value of new dwellings developed is $604,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.
This financial year has seen $338,000 in commercial approvals, demonstrating the area's residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Sunshine Bay shows 202.0% higher new home approvals per person. Recent construction comprises 88.0% standalone homes and 12.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 71 people per dwelling approval, Sunshine Bay shows characteristics of a low density area. Future projections show Sunshine Bay adding 144 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Sunshine 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.
AreaSearch tracks 28 current infrastructure and development projects close to Sunshine Bay, 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
No infrastructure changes have been identified by AreaSearch that could impact this area. Key projects include the Greater Batemans Bay Structure Plan, Princes Highway Safety And Capacity: Nowra NSW To Victorian Border, Sydney-Canberra Rail Connectivity And Capacity, and Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
558 residents of Sunshine Bay are employed, from a labour force of 580. Unemployment sits at 3.8%, with participation at 44.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,251, about 82% 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
Sunshine Bay has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 3.8% as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation in December 2025. There are 558 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.1% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is significantly lower at 44.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, only 9.2% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Sunshine Bay has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance (1.2 times the regional level), but agriculture, forestry & fishing is less represented at 0.6% compared to Regional NSW's average of 5.3%. The area appears to have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the working population count versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, Sunshine Bay's labour force decreased by 3.8%, and employment declined by 3.1%, leading to a 0.7 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Conversely, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunshine Bay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Sunshine Bay is $1,138 a week (about $59,000 a year), with median personal income at $605 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $41,251 a year against an average of $51,223. 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
Sunshine Bay's median income among taxpayers was $41,251 in financial year 2023. The suburb's average income stood at $51,223 during the same period. These figures are lower than Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. By September 2025, estimates based on an 8.86% Wage Price Index growth suggest Sunshine Bay's median income will be approximately $44,906 and the average will be around $55,761. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Sunshine Bay fall between the 9th and 12th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. In Sunshine Bay, 35.5% of the population earned within the $800 - $1,499 range, while the metropolitan region's leading income bracket is $1,500 - $2,999 at 29.9%.
Housing affordability pressures are severe in Sunshine Bay, with only 84.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Sunshine Bay had 644 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 79% detached houses and 4% apartments. 22% are owned with a mortgage, 25% rented and 53% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $370 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,650 a month. Rent absorbs 32.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 33.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Sunshine Bay's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 78.8% houses and 21.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunshine Bay stood at 52.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.4% and rented ones at 24.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,650, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Sunshine Bay was $370, higher than Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Sunshine Bay's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,650 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $370 compared to the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Sunshine Bay counted 644 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 682 today, averaging 2.1 people each. 16% are couples with children, against 39% couples without children. 32% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households account for 65.5% of all households, including 15.9% that are couples with children, 38.8% that are couples without children, and 9.8% that are single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.5%, with lone person households making up 32.2% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.5% of adults in Sunshine Bay hold a university qualification, including 10.8% with a bachelor degree and 3.1% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 81% of areas nationally. A further 31.4% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 221 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 915 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 area's university qualification rate is 16.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (31.4%). A total of 21.5% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.7% in primary education, 5.9% in secondary education, and 2.5% in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Sunshine Bay reaches 37 stops on 26 routes, timetabled for about 230 services a week. The typical home sits about 110 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
Sunshine Bay has 37 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 26 different routes that together facilitate 230 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located just 112 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to Sunshine Bay's predominantly residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 97% of residents. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 9.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
The service frequency averages 32 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
55.9% of residents in Sunshine Bay report no long-term health condition. 7.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Sunshine Bay faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (around 720 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW, which has a national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 14.5% and 8.6% of residents respectively. However, 55.9% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW.
The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Sunshine Bay has 36.8% of its residents aged 65 and over (around 560 people), which is higher than the 23.4% figure for Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with those of the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Sunshine Bay is largely Australian-born, at 81.4% of residents, with 6.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.1%) and Australian (29.3%). 4.9% 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
Sunshine Bay, surveyed in June 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 81.4% of its population born in Australia, 90.9% being citizens, and 93.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 61.7%, compared to 55.9% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.1%), Australian (29.3%), and Irish (9.8%). Notably, Russian (0.5%) and French (0.7%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively, while Croatian was also higher at 0.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Sunshine Bay is 55, older than 97% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 19.0% 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
Sunshine Bay has a median age of 55 years, which is considerably higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national norm of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 15.4% of the population, compared to the national average of 6.1%. Meanwhile, the 35-44 age group is smaller at 8.2%, compared to Regional NSW's figure. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 6.5% to 9.0%, while the 55-64 cohort has declined from 15.0% to 13.3%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 11.0% to 9.7%.
Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Sunshine Bay's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 33 people (64%) from 51 to 85. Conversely, the 15-24 cohort is projected to decline by 8 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Sunshine 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 2024 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) | May 2026 3 months ago all 13 measures |
| 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) | Jul 2026 last 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 2024 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 75 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Feb 2026, not a 2021 count (1,447 at the 2021 Census → 1,524 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 Feb 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 (SAL13710). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.