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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
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Sales Detail
Population
Surf Beach is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends
The population of the suburb of Surf Beach (NSW) is estimated to be around 1,834 as of May 2026. This reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census figure of 1,934 people, indicating a reduction of 100 individuals or approximately 5.2%. The current population estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, resulting in an estimated resident population of 1,823. This population level corresponds to a density ratio of 420 persons per square kilometer, suggesting ample space per person with potential room for further development. Interstate migration has been the primary driver of population growth in the area, contributing approximately 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is employing ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a 2021 base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, the suburb of Surf Beach (NSW) is expected to experience population growth just below Australia's non-metropolitan median, with an increase of 144 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of approximately 7.2% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Surf Beach is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch
Surf Beach has seen minimal construction activity with fewer than one new dwelling approved annually on average over the five years from 20XX to 20XY. This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is naturally limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that due to the small number of approvals, individual development projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.
Surf Beach's development levels are substantially lower than those of Rest of NSW. This activity level is also below national patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Surf Beach (NSW)
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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
Surf Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally
No factor impacts an area's performance more than changes to local infrastructure projects. AreaSearch has identified zero such projects for this region. Key initiatives include the Greater Batemans Bay Structure Plan, Princes Highway safety improvements from Nowra to the Victorian border, Sydney-Canberra rail connectivity enhancements, and Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy. The following details those most relevant:.
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sydney-Canberra Rail Connectivity And Capacity
The project involves potential upgrades to enable faster rail services between Sydney and Canberra to improve the customer experience, increase productivity, and provide a competitive alternative to driving or flying. Potential upgrades include track straightening and duplication, track formation renewal, electrification and signalling upgrades, and new rolling stock.
Employment
Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.3%, Surf Beach has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally
Surf Beach had an unemployment rate of 3.3% as aggregated by AreaSearch in December 2025. This was 0.6% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Surf Beach was 47.6%, significantly below Regional NSW's 60.5%.
As of the Census, only 12.4% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance had particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.2 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 0.6% versus the regional average of 5.3%.
The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Surf Beach's labour force decreased by 6.5%, while employment declined by 5.9%, resulting in a fall in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. This contrasted with Regional NSW where employment contracted by 1.2%, the 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 estimated that Surf Beach's employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
The suburb of Surf Beach had a median income among taxpayers of $41,729 and an average income of $51,815 in the financial year 2023, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are below those for Regional NSW, which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By March 2026, current estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% would be approximately $46,035 (median) and $57,162 (average). The 2021 Census figures indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Surf Beach all fall between the 7th and 13th percentiles nationally. In Surf Beach, 29.9% of the population earn within the $800 - $1,499 income range, whereas in metropolitan regions, this figure is for those earning $1,500 - $2,999. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Surf Beach, with only 84.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Surf Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Dwelling structure in Surf Beach, as per the latest Census, consisted of 71.4% houses and 28.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Surf Beach was at 48.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.2% and rented ones at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, below the Regional NSW average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Surf Beach was $330, matching Regional NSW's figure but significantly lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, Surf Beach's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 compared to Australia's average of $1,863.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Surf Beach features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 64.3% of all households, including 17.8% couples with children, 34.3% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 35.7%, with lone person households at 34.7% and group households making up 1.3%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Surf Beach shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators
The area's university qualification rate is 19.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (31.2%).
Educational participation is high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.4% in primary, 9.1% in secondary, and 1.6% in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
The analysis of public transport in Surf Beach shows that there are 42 active transport stops operating within the area, all of which service buses. These stops are served by 23 individual routes, collectively providing 269 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 149 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward. The car remains the dominant mode of transportation, used by 97% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, which is below the regional average.
According to the 2021 Census, only 12.4% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 38 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Surf Beach is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Surf Beach's health profile presents significant challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47%, covering around 870 people, compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.
The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 12.6%) and mental health issues (9.1%). Conversely, 57.1% of residents report no medical ailments, lower than Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age individuals face particularly high chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 34.1% (625 people), compared to Regional NSW's 23.4%, with national rankings indicating even higher percentages among the elderly population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Surf Beach ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Surf Beach's cultural diversity was found to be below average. Its population is predominantly Australian citizens, with 87.3% being citizens and 82.3% born in Australia. English is the primary language spoken at home by 93.3%.
Christianity is the dominant religion, comprising 55.2%, slightly lower than Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups are English (31.9%), Australian (27.5%), and Scottish (8.7%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal people are overrepresented at 5.2% compared to the regional average of 4.6%. French and Croatian populations are also higher than the regional averages, at 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively, versus 0.4% and 0.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Surf Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
The median age in Surf Beach is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 and also above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Surf Beach at 18.8%, compared to Regional NSW's average. Conversely, the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.8%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 10.2% to 12.3%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 8.0% to 9.8%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.0% to 11.1%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 14.7% to 13.2%. Population forecasts for Surf Beach in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 85+ cohort projected to grow by 69%, adding 37 residents to reach 93. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 5-14 age cohorts.