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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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Population
West Nowra lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of Nov 2025, West Nowra's estimated population is around 1,606. This reflects an increase of 102 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,504. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,551 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 35 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 449 persons per square kilometer. West Nowra's growth rate of 6.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's 4.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 36.0% of overall population gains.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilised. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, West Nowra is forecasted to increase by 704 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 43.1% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in West Nowra according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
West Nowra has minimal residential development activity with 3 dwelling approvals annually on average over the past five years. This results in a total of 18 approvals during this period. Such low development levels are characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is naturally limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.
It should be noted that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably based on individual projects. West Nowra shows significantly less construction activity than the Rest of NSW. Development levels are likewise under national averages. New building activity shows an equal split between detached dwellings (50.0%) and attached dwellings (50.0%). This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns in the area, which currently consist of 89.0% houses.
This shift suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The estimated population density of West Nowra is 632 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, West Nowra is expected to grow by 692 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
West Nowra has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally
Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. Seven projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact this region. Notable ones include Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment, Mundamia Urban Release Area, Evergreen Rise Estate, and South Nowra Surcharge Main Upgrade. The following details those likely most relevant.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment
The $440 million Stage 1 redevelopment of Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital is transforming the site into a regional health hub. The project features a new seven-storey Acute Services Building with a rooftop helipad, an expanded Emergency Department, a new Intensive Care Unit, and doubled operating theatres and endoscopy suites. Structural works for the main tower reached completion in late 2025 with the final tower crane removed in August 2025. Internal fit-outs are currently underway, with the new acute building expected to be operational in 2026, followed by refurbishments of existing facilities through 2027.
Nowra Riverfront Precinct
A major urban rejuvenation project revitalising 6.1 hectares across the Nowra riverfront and Mandalay sub-precincts. The plan aims to deliver over 900 new homes, including approximately 100 social and affordable dwellings managed by Homes NSW, and supporting key worker housing for the nearby Shoalhaven Hospital. The project integrates residential mid-rise development (up to 44m), new restaurants, cafes, and public open spaces, while enhancing links between the Nowra CBD and the Shoalhaven River.
Nowra Riverfront Precinct Rezoning
Major urban renewal project transforming 3.4 hectares of waterfront land into a mixed-use precinct. The State-assessed rezoning proposal (announced March 2025) will enable up to 270 new homes in the Hyam Street, Scenic Drive, and Bridge Road sub-precincts, mid-rise residential development up to 23 metres, a flagship riverfront park, boardwalk, public realm improvements, leisure facilities, commercial spaces (cafes and accommodation), active transport links, and incorporation of Aboriginal cultural design principles via the Designing with Country Framework. $5 million Federal funding secured for masterplanning and enabling infrastructure. The project reconnects Nowra city centre with the Shoalhaven River, strengthening its role as the regional civic, community, tourism, and recreational hub. (Note: Separate Mandalay Precinct rezoning by Homes NSW may deliver additional housing but is not part of this core riverfront precinct proposal.)
Nowra Showground Enhancements - Horse and Cattle Precinct
Upgrading facilities at the Nowra Showground's Horse and Cattle Precinct to support growing agricultural events, expand cattle exhibitions, attract other breeds and livestock, and improve disabled access for inclusive tourism.
Nowra Bridge Project - Princes Highway Upgrade
The major works of the Nowra Bridge project are completed. This included construction of a new four-lane bridge over the Shoalhaven River for northbound traffic, reconfiguration of the existing 1981 bridge for three southbound lanes, and intersection upgrades along 1.7 km of the Princes Highway to enhance traffic flow and safety. The new bridge opened to traffic in February 2023. Finishing work was completed in October 2024. Separate work has commenced on repurposing the historic 1881 bridge for a pedestrian and cyclist path, expected to take around two to three years to complete, starting from November 2024.
Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Transport Plan 2041
The strategic blueprint for the region's transport network to 2041, comprising 71 initiatives to support a population of 505,000. Key projects include the $1.9 billion Princes Highway Upgrade program, Mount Ousley interchange, Picton Road upgrade, and rail improvements (More Trains, More Services). The plan targets a '30-minute city' vision, ensuring 20% of trips are made by walking, cycling, or public transport, and improving freight connections to Western Sydney.
South Nowra Surcharge Main Upgrade
Major sewer infrastructure upgrade including Shoalhaven's deepest pump station (11 metres deep, 5 metres diameter), over 1km of gravity mains, 600m of rising mains, and storage capacity to support 1,000 new residential lots in Worrigee and South Nowra while minimizing overflow risks during severe weather events.
Mandalay Precinct Development
Major residential redevelopment proposal to rezone the Mandalay precinct to deliver up to 380 new homes, comprising approximately 260 social and affordable homes and 120 private dwellings. The project focuses on key worker housing for staff at the adjacent Shoalhaven Hospital following its major redevelopment. The planning proposal is being assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure under state significant status to fast-track delivery.
Employment
Employment conditions in West Nowra rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally
West Nowra has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 1.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.1%.
As of September 2025793 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.3% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is higher at 62.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. The area specializes in public administration & safety with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level, but has lower representation in agriculture, forestry & fishing at 0.9% versus the regional average of 5.3%.
Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data. In the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.1%, labour force by 4.3%, raising unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5% and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%. National unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Nowra's employment mix, local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.6% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows median income in West Nowra was $53,837 and average income was $66,305. This is slightly above Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on an 8.86% increase since financial year 2023 using the Wage Price Index, estimated current incomes are approximately $58,607 (median) and $72,180 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census ranks West Nowra's household, family, and personal incomes modestly, between the 35th and 38th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 40.6% earn $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (652 residents), similar to the broader area where 29.9% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in West Nowra, with only 81.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 32nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
West Nowra is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
West Nowra's dwelling structures were 88.7% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings) as per the latest Census, compared to Non-Metro NSW's 87.8% houses and 12.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Nowra was at 25.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.1% and rented ones at 39.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,707, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in West Nowra was $350, the same as Non-Metro NSW's figure. Nationally, West Nowra's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
West Nowra has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households account for 72.5% of all households, including 27.5% couples with children, 23.8% couples without children, and 19.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.5%, with lone person households at 23.6% and group households making up 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
West Nowra shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators
The area's university qualification rates are significantly lower than the NSW average, with only 11.0% of residents holding such qualifications compared to 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 7.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15 and above, with 47.5% holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (35.3%). Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.
This includes primary education (11.4%), secondary education (6.7%), and tertiary education (3.6%).
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
Transport analysis indicates 13 operational transport stops in West Nowra, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 8 unique routes, collectively facilitating 70 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically residing 190 meters from the nearest stop.
Service frequency averages 10 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 5 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in West Nowra is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts
West Nowra faces significant health challenges with a higher prevalence of common conditions compared to the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and arthritis are most common, affecting 10.8% and 9.0% of residents respectively.
64.3% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW's 59.4%. Private health cover stands at approximately 53%, compared to Rest of NSW's 49.1%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (12.2%) compared to Rest of NSW (27.8%). However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to the challenges they face.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
West Nowra is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
West Nowra, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing conducted on 9 August 2016, showed low cultural diversity with 91.8% citizens, 91.5% born in Australia, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 48.8%. The 'Other' religious category had a higher representation of 1.0%, compared to 0.5% regionally.
Ancestry wise, Australian (34.2%), English (29.8%), and Australian Aboriginal (10.3%) were the top groups, with Australian Aboriginal being significantly higher than the regional average of 4.4%. Notable overrepresentations included Macedonian at 0.3% (regional: 0.1%), Spanish at 0.5% (regional: 0.2%), and Maltese at 0.5% (regional: 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
West Nowra's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide
The median age in West Nowra is 32, which is notably lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 and also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Rest of NSW, West Nowra has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 years (18.1%) but fewer individuals aged 65-74 years (7.2%). Between the 2021 Census and present day, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 years has grown from 16.7% to 18.1%, while those aged 35 to 44 years increased from 11.4% to 12.8%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals aged 65 to 74 years has declined from 8.1% to 7.2%. By 2041, West Nowra is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 56%, reaching a total of 453 individuals from the current 290.