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New South Wales · Postcode 2508
Darkes Forest postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 49 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Darkes Forest at a glance vs NSW
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against NSW
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Where Darkes Forest ranks: household income is in the top 10% of NSW suburbs; SEIFA decile 9 puts it in the top 20% of Australia for socio-economic advantage.
ABS Census 2021 · SEIFA 2021Detailed comparison table
Darkes Forest vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Darkes Forest | NSW avg | AU avg | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $2,624 +NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 | $2,181 |
| Rent/wk | $488 ≈NSW | $445 | $390 | $506 |
| Mortgage/month | $1,326 -NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 | $2,587 |
| Median age | 45 | 45.0 | 45.0 | 39.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 9/10 +NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 0.0% -NSW | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the NSW average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Darkes Forest is a locality 49 km from Sydney in New South Wales, classified as inner regional by the ABS. The postcode is 2508. It falls within the Illawarra region. The local government area is Wollondilly.
According to the 2021 Census, Darkes Forest has a population of 95 with a median age of 45. The median weekly household income is $2,624, above the NSW average. The Indigenous population is 3 (3.2% of residents).
Housing in Darkes Forest includes a median weekly rent of $488, median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,326, with 26 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the NSW average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 62.5% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Darkes Forest scores in decile 9 out of 10, which is well above the national average.
Darkes Forest is part of the Wollongong statistical area in New South Wales.
Darkes Forest details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2508 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 95 |
| Median Age | 45 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $2,624/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $933/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $488 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $1,326 |
| Average Household Size | 3.2 persons |
| Area | 25.5 km² |
| Population Density | 4/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 26 |
| Australian Citizens | 97.9% |
| Indigenous Population | 3 (3.2%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 0.0% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 9/10 (well above average) |
| Latitude | -34.2299689 |
| Longitude | 150.9084031 |
| Distance from Sydney | 49 km |
| Region (SA4) | Illawarra |
| Area (SA3) | Wollongong |
| Local Government | Wollondilly |
| Federal Electorate | Cunningham |
| State Electorate | Heathcote |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 13 (13.7%) |
| 15–24 years | 17 (17.9%) |
| 25–44 years | 17 (17.9%) |
| 45–64 years | 31 (32.6%) |
| 65+ years | 22 (23.2%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Asthma | 9 (9.5%) |
| Diabetes | 5 (5.3%) |
| Cancer | 5 (5.3%) |
| Arthritis | 4 (4.2%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 0 (0.0%) |
| 1 vehicle | 3 (10.7%) |
| 2 vehicles | 11 (39.3%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 14 (50.0%) |
Suburbs Near Darkes Forest
Same Postcode (2508)
More Darkes Forest Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.