Fastest growing Wollongong suburbs (2016-2021)

Wongawilli grew fastest in percentage terms, at +760%. The suburb of Wollongong added the most residents, 2,004. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 65 eligible Wollongong suburbs.

This ranking shows which Wollongong suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.

Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Wollongong's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.

Wollongong suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021

Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.

1

Wongawilli

NSW 2530 · 1,213 residents

1,071 residents added · +760% · 1,213 residents in 2021

C 100.0
2

Kembla Grange

NSW 2526 · 1,452 residents

1,199 residents added · +476% · 1,452 residents in 2021

B 98.4
3

Tullimbar

NSW 2527 · 1,840 residents

1,307 residents added · +246% · 1,840 residents in 2021

B 96.9
4

Shell Cove

NSW 2529 · 7,591 residents

1,967 residents added · +35% · 7,591 residents in 2021

B 95.3
5

Haywards Bay

NSW 2530 · 1,280 residents

274 residents added · +27% · 1,280 residents in 2021

B 93.8
6

Kiama

NSW 2533 · 7,904 residents

1,023 residents added · +15% · 7,904 residents in 2021

B 92.2
7

Horsley

NSW 2530 · 9,437 residents

1,215 residents added · +15% · 9,437 residents in 2021

B 90.6
8

Keiraville

NSW 2500 · 4,001 residents

431 residents added · +12% · 4,001 residents in 2021

B 89.1
9

Bulli

NSW 2516 · 6,798 residents

692 residents added · +11% · 6,798 residents in 2021

C 87.5
10

Wollongong

NSW 2500 · 20,446 residents

2,004 residents added · +11% · 20,446 residents in 2021

B 85.9
11

Coledale

NSW 2515 · 1,372 residents

112 residents added · +9% · 1,372 residents in 2021

B 84.4
12

Stanwell Park

NSW 2508 · 1,532 residents

121 residents added · +9% · 1,532 residents in 2021

B 82.8
13

Wombarra

NSW 2515 · 944 residents

72 residents added · +8% · 944 residents in 2021

B 81.2
14

West Wollongong

NSW 2500 · 5,223 residents

395 residents added · +8% · 5,223 residents in 2021

B 79.7
15

Kiama Heights

NSW 2533 · 878 residents

63 residents added · +8% · 878 residents in 2021

A 78.1

Ranked from 65 qualifying suburbs.

Wollongong suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021

Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.

1

Wollongong

NSW 2500 · 20,446 residents

2,004 residents added · +11% · 20,446 residents in 2021

B 100.0
2

Shell Cove

NSW 2529 · 7,591 residents

1,967 residents added · +35% · 7,591 residents in 2021

B 98.4
3

Tullimbar

NSW 2527 · 1,840 residents

1,307 residents added · +246% · 1,840 residents in 2021

B 96.9
4

Horsley

NSW 2530 · 9,437 residents

1,215 residents added · +15% · 9,437 residents in 2021

B 95.3
5

Kembla Grange

NSW 2526 · 1,452 residents

1,199 residents added · +476% · 1,452 residents in 2021

B 93.8
6

Wongawilli

NSW 2530 · 1,213 residents

1,071 residents added · +760% · 1,213 residents in 2021

C 92.2
7

Kiama

NSW 2533 · 7,904 residents

1,023 residents added · +15% · 7,904 residents in 2021

B 90.6
8

Figtree

NSW 2525 · 12,335 residents

771 residents added · +7% · 12,335 residents in 2021

B 89.1
9

Bulli

NSW 2516 · 6,798 residents

692 residents added · +11% · 6,798 residents in 2021

C 87.5
10

Albion Park

NSW 2527 · 13,826 residents

510 residents added · +4% · 13,826 residents in 2021

C 85.9
11

Corrimal

NSW 2518 · 6,972 residents

453 residents added · +7% · 6,972 residents in 2021

C 84.4
12

Flinders

NSW 2529 · 7,118 residents

438 residents added · +7% · 7,118 residents in 2021

B 82.8
13

Keiraville

NSW 2500 · 4,001 residents

431 residents added · +12% · 4,001 residents in 2021

B 81.2
14

Oak Flats

NSW 2529 · 6,840 residents

425 residents added · +7% · 6,840 residents in 2021

C 79.7
15

West Wollongong

NSW 2500 · 5,223 residents

395 residents added · +8% · 5,223 residents in 2021

B 78.1

Ranked from 65 qualifying suburbs.

How we ranked these

100% population growth, ranked within Wollongong's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.

Common questions about this ranking

What are the fastest growing Wollongong suburbs (2016-2021)?

Wongawilli grew fastest in percentage terms, at +760%. The suburb of Wollongong added the most residents, 2,004. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 65 eligible Wollongong suburbs.

What period does this cover?

The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.

Why are there two different lists?

Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.

Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?

This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.

Which suburbs are eligible?

Suburbs in Wollongong with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.

Same list in other cities

Related

Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.

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