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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 Surf Beach (NSW) is $799k, with units at $583k. House values have moved 5.1% 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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Sales Detail
Surf Beach (NSW) has an estimated 1,831 residents, down from 1,934 at the 2021 Census — a change of 103 people, or 5.3%. The population has thinned by an average 1.0% a year over five years, slower than 99% of areas nationally. That puts 420 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS demographic releases alongside post-Census address validations, the population of the suburb of Surf Beach (NSW) stands at approximately 1,831 as of Aug 2026. This represents a contraction of 103 people (5.3%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 1,934 people. Such figures stem from an estimated resident count of 1,821, calculated by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ABS ERP update in combination with subsequent address checks. Demographically, this yields a density of 420 persons per square kilometer, offering ample room per resident and capacity for prospective expansion.
Overall population gains in recent times were largely underpinned by interstate arrivals, which made up around 68.0% of total inflows. Projections for the suburb of Surf Beach (NSW) draw upon 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 modeling with a 2022 baseline, supplemented where necessary by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 forecasts based on 2021. For the period spanning 2032 to 2041, cohort-specific growth rates from these datasets are incorporated. Based on these combined SA2 projections, the area is anticipated to register expansion marginally below the non-metropolitan national median, gaining 134 persons by 2041 to achieve an overall 16-year increase of 6.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building activity across Surf Beach is exceptionally subdued, averaging less than 1 new dwellings annually in approved plans, totaling 1 dwelling throughout the entire five-year timeframe. Such constrained residential construction aligns with the locality's rural character, where building responds predominantly to niche local requirements instead of broad market trends. Consequently, given the very small volume of consents, single projects can create substantial variations in yearly metrics and comparative performance. Residential development in Surf Beach is substantially lower than levels observed across Rest of NSW, while also tracking below benchmarks seen across the rest of the nation.
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.
AreaSearch tracks 28 current infrastructure and development projects close to Surf Beach (NSW), worth an estimated $1.74 billion. 8 are already under construction and 11 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
Regional performance is closely tied to planning frameworks, public works, and infrastructure upgrades. No major initiatives have been earmarked by AreaSearch as directly impacting the immediate locality. Strategic developments of interest across the broader district 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 Batemans Bay
Redevelopment of the former Batemans Bay Hotel site into a four-storey mixed-use hospitality complex featuring a 71-room Accor Sebel hotel, 11 luxury serviced townhouses, a business centre, gym, and parking facilities. Approved by the Southern Regional Planning Panel following assessment by Eurobodalla Shire Council, revitalising the foreshore precinct.
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
Redevelopment of the former waterfront motel site into a multi-storey residential apartment complex comprising 34 premium units. Development approval was granted by Eurobodalla Shire Council following assessment for coastal residential densification. The project incorporates waterfront orientation, basement parking, and contemporary building standards.
Batemans Bay Community Health Facility
Construction of a new purpose-built community health centre on the existing Batemans Bay Hospital site. The $20 million facility centralizes allied health, child and family services, Aboriginal health, community mental health, and drug and alcohol programs into a modern integrated hub. Delivered by Health Infrastructure NSW and Southern NSW Local Health District, main works commenced in 2024 with operational commissioning scheduled for 2025.
3 Clyde Street Mixed Use Tourist, Residential & Retail Development
Development consent granted for a mixed-use tourist and residential development across two buildings of four and five storeys. The project encompasses 46 hotel and serviced apartment units, 10 permanent residential apartments, two ground-floor retail tenancies, and basement parking overlooking the Clyde River.
Future Rosedale
Proposed masterplanned residential and conservation community spanning approximately 235 hectares near Rosedale on the NSW South Coast. Under proposal by Walker Corporation, the development plans provide approximately 741 residential lots alongside dedicated open space, ecological corridors, and native bushland protection. The planning proposal remains in assessment and structure planning stages with Eurobodalla Shire Council and NSW Planning.
Batemans Bay Clyde River Entrance Dredging
Transport for NSW coastal dredging campaign removing approximately 30,000 cubic metres of marine sand from the Clyde River navigation channel and bar. Dredged sand was transferred via submerged pipeline to nourish nearshore waters off Cullendulla Beach, maintaining safe marine navigation for commercial fishers and recreational vessels.
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.
729 residents of Surf Beach (NSW) are employed, from a labour force of 757. Unemployment sits at 3.7%, with participation at 48.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,492, about 81% 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
Surf Beach maintains a capable local workforce with strong representation in core services, registering a jobless rate of 3.7% according to aggregated statistical district data compiled by AreaSearch. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 729, keeping unemployment 0.4% lower than the 4.1% recorded for Regional NSW, though the local participation rate of 48.0% falls well behind the regional benchmark of 60.6%. At the Census, only 12.4% of working locals operated from home, a figure influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Local workers are primarily employed across health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Health care & social assistance demonstrates notable concentration, capturing an employment share 1.2 times that of the surrounding region. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for merely 0.6% of the workforce, compared to 5.3% regionally. Comparing resident workers against the local daytime job count highlights the predominantly residential profile of the area and its limited internal employment market. AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM regional series reveals that across the preceding 12-month period, the local workforce shrank by 4.3% while total employment dropped by 4.1%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage points reduction in unemployment. In comparison, Regional NSW recorded a 0.9% drop in jobs, a 0.4% contraction in the labour pool, and an increase of 0.5 percentage points in the jobless rate. Looking ahead, national industry projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide context for prospective employment trends. Across the country, total employment is projected to climb 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely by sector. When applied to Surf Beach's industrial profile via simple illustrative weighting without local demographic adjustment, these projections point to employment gains of 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Surf Beach (NSW) is $1,099 a week (about $57,000 a year), with median personal income at $612 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $41,729 a year against an average of $51,815. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to financial year 2023 ATO postcode statistics compiled by AreaSearch, taxpayers in the suburb of Surf Beach recorded a median income of $41,729 and an average of $51,815, trailing Regional NSW figures of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) as well as wider Australian standards. Factoring in a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, March 2026 estimates indicate an adjusted median of $46,035 and an average of $57,162. In the 2021 Census, individual, family, and household earnings all ranked between the 7th and 13th percentiles nationwide.
A cohort of 547 individuals, representing 29.9% of residents, earned within the $800 - 1,499 bracket, whereas the surrounding region saw 29.9% in the $1,500 - 2,999 category. Severe housing stress is evident, with disposable earnings after shelter costs standing at 84.2%, placing the locality in the 9th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Surf Beach (NSW) had 826 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 71% detached houses and 10% apartments. 22% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 49% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $330 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,517 a month. Rent absorbs 30.0% 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
Census data reveals that separate houses constitute 71.4% of residential stock in Surf Beach, with semi-detached dwellings, apartments, and other configurations making up 28.6%, compared with 82.6% separate houses and 17.4% other formats in Regional NSW. Outright property ownership reached 48.6%, considerably higher than the broader region, while mortgaged properties accounted for 22.2% and rental dwellings comprised 29.2%. Monthly mortgage payments stood at a median of $1,517, well below the Regional NSW figure of $1,733 and national average of $1,863. Weekly rents showed a median of $330, matching Regional NSW at $330 but sitting significantly lower than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Surf Beach (NSW) counted 826 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 18% are couples with children, fewer than in 91% of areas nationally, against 34% couples without children. 35% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 64.3% of all households in the area, broken down into couples without children at 34.3%, couples with children at 17.8%, and single parent families at 11.3%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 35.7%, led by lone person households at 34.7% and group households at 1.3%. Typical household size averages 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW standard of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
19.3% of adults in Surf Beach (NSW) hold a university qualification, including 12.2% with a bachelor degree and 5.2% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 80% of areas nationally. A further 31.2% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment levels present substantial hurdles for the locality, as university-level credentials are held by 19.3% of residents compared to the NSW benchmark of 32.2%, highlighting a clear focus area for targeted learning programs. Among tertiary qualifications, bachelor degrees represent 12.2%, postgraduate awards make up 5.2%, and graduate diplomas account for 1.9%. Vocational training is widely held, with 41.7% of the population aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, split between certificates (31.2%) and advanced diplomas (10.5%). Active participation in study is prominent across the community, with 25.9% of inhabitants enrolled in education courses.
Specifically, primary schooling accounts for 9.4%, secondary programs comprise 9.1%, and tertiary education makes up 1.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Surf Beach (NSW) reaches 42 stops on 23 routes, timetabled for about 260 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.3 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
The public transit network in Surf Beach comprises 42 active transport stops served by local buses across 23 distinct routes, generating 256 weekly passenger trips. Stop proximity is strong, with typical walking distances of 149 meters. Being predominantly residential, outbound commuting is widespread, and private vehicles dominate modal share at 97%. Vehicle ownership sits at an average of 1.3 per dwelling, below regional levels, while 12.4% worked from home at the 2021 Census during a period marked by COVID-19. Transit services run at an average rate of 36 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 6 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
57.1% of residents in Surf Beach (NSW) report no long-term health condition. 6.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illnesses and mortality indicate notable health considerations for Surf Beach, with common medical conditions widely dispersed across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance participation is subdued at roughly 47% of the population (~869 people), below the Regional NSW rate of 51.9% and the Australian figure of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions form the primary medical diagnoses, affecting 12.6% and 9.1% of inhabitants respectively, while 57.1% reported no long-term health ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health burdens are elevated among working-age locals, and seniors aged 65 and over comprise 33.8% of the community (618 people), outstripping the Regional NSW level of 23.3% and driving high national incidence rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Surf Beach (NSW) is largely Australian-born, at 82.3% of residents, with 6.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.9%) and Australian (27.5%). 5.2% 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 in Surf Beach tracks below broader norms, with 87.3% holding Australian citizenship, 82.3% born domestically, and 93.3% speaking solely English in the home. Christianity represents the dominant faith, observed by 55.2% of the local population compared to 55.9% in Regional NSW. Looking at ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the primary ancestries identified in Surf Beach are English (31.9%), Australian (27.5%), and Scottish (8.7%). Notable variations in other backgrounds include Australian Aboriginal representation at 5.2% (compared to 4.6% regionally), Croatian at 0.7% (compared to 0.3%), and French at 0.6% (compared to 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Surf Beach (NSW) is 52, older than 95% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 17.4% 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
Surf Beach exhibits an older age demographic, with senior cohorts (65+) comprising 33.8% of the populace as at August 2026, compared to 23.3% regionally, while young-to-middle adults (25 - 44) account for 18.4% versus 23.5% across Regional NSW. This gives an estimated median age of 52, down from 53 at the 2021 Census, but still 9 years older than the Regional NSW median of 43 and above the national median of 38 at that Census. The sharpest movement occurred among those aged 45 - 64, declining from 27.7% to an estimated 24.4%.
Looking ahead to 2041, retirees are forecast to drive the majority of growth, expanding by 56 residents (9%) to total 675, while children and younger age groups are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Surf Beach (NSW)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 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 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago 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 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 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 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,934 at the 2021 Census → 1,831 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 (SAL13712). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.