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New South Wales · Postcode 2529
Shellharbour postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 87 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Shellharbour 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.
Detailed comparison table
Shellharbour vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Shellharbour | NSW avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,596 -NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $420 ≈NSW | $445 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $2,167 ≈NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 46 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 6/10 ≈NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 3.8% -NSW | 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.
Postcode 2529 covers Shellharbour, an inland suburb of Sydney about 87 km from the city centre. It forms part of the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Local government services are provided by Shellharbour.
According to the 2021 Census, Shellharbour has a population of 3,520 with a median age of 46. The median weekly household income is $1,596, below the NSW average. The unemployment rate is 3.8%, lower than the NSW average. The Indigenous population is 132 (3.8% of residents).
Housing in Shellharbour includes a median weekly rent of $420, median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,167, with 1,379 total dwellings. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 66.4% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Shellharbour scores in decile 6 out of 10, which is around the national average.
Schools in Shellharbour include Stella Maris Catholic Primary School and Shellharbour Public School.
Shellharbour is part of the Kiama - Shellharbour statistical area in New South Wales.
Shellharbour details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2529 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 3,520 |
| Median Age | 46 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,596/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $741/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $420 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $2,167 |
| Average Household Size | 2.5 persons |
| Area | 2.4 km² |
| Population Density | 1443/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 1,379 |
| Australian Citizens | 92.4% |
| Indigenous Population | 132 (3.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 6/10 (average) |
| Latitude | -34.5971935 |
| Longitude | 150.8551207 |
| Distance from Sydney | 87 km |
| Region (SA4) | Illawarra |
| Area (SA3) | Kiama - Shellharbour |
| Local Government | Shellharbour |
| Federal Electorate | Whitlam |
| State Electorate | Shellharbour |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 531 (15.1%) |
| 15–24 years | 421 (12.0%) |
| 25–44 years | 734 (20.9%) |
| 45–64 years | 1,069 (30.4%) |
| 65+ years | 767 (21.8%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 424 (12.0%) |
| Asthma | 289 (8.2%) |
| Diabetes | 187 (5.3%) |
| Heart Disease | 161 (4.6%) |
| Cancer | 156 (4.4%) |
| Lung Condition | 68 (1.9%) |
| Dementia | 27 (0.8%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 77 (5.7%) |
| 1 vehicle | 465 (34.3%) |
| 2 vehicles | 511 (37.7%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 303 (22.3%) |
Schools in Shellharbour
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Shellharbour. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Shellharbour
Same Postcode (2529)
More Shellharbour 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.