Urban Centre · Area profile
Erowal Bay
1 km²
Dominated by detached houses and open space, Erowal Bay is a residential pocket in the Shoalhaven region. It is a notably older community where the typical resident is 49 and over a quarter of the population are seniors. The area has a strong Indigenous presence and a high proportion of homeowners. Since 2011, the population has grown by 49%, adding about 261 people to this quiet, car-dependent neighbourhood.
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The area is far older than the national average, with 27.8% of residents aged 65 and over. It also has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (8.6%) compared to the state average of 3.4%.
Most residents were born in Australia (83.6%), and the most common ancestries are English and Australian. While only 11.9% were born overseas, this figure has risen since 2011.
English is the main language for 91.2% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home has risen to 4.6%, though this remains far below the national figure.
There has been a significant shift in faith, with the proportion of people reporting no religion rising 39 points since 2011 to reach 46.4%. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.
Education levels have risen since 2011, with 18.4% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. Those who completed Year 12 make up 42.7% of the population.
Typical weekly household income is $1,471, which is a little below the national figure. However, incomes have risen since 2011, with typical household earnings increasing by $720.
A high number of residents live with long-term health conditions (38.4%), which is far above the national average. Arthritis is the most common condition, affecting 13.3% of people.
This community has a much higher rate of former Defence Force members (6.4%) than most other areas. Unpaid care is also common, with 14.5% of people providing unpaid help to others.
Families with children are common, making up 49.3% of households. The typical home holds 2.3 people, which is a little below the national figure of 2.5.
Housing is almost entirely made up of separate houses (95.3%), with 80.3% having three or more bedrooms. A high 43.4% of homes are owned outright, far above the state average.
The area is very car-dependent, as 68.1% of people drive to work and almost no one uses public transport for commuting. Nearly half of all homes have two vehicles.
About 35.6% of the population moved here in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 3.2% of the community.
About half of adults (51.4%) are working or looking for work, which is well below the national figure. Common industries include education, health, and construction.
While most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, the area is mostly car-dependent. There are no schools or health services within a 15-minute walk.