Shell Cove, NSW 2529 — Suburb Profile
Last reviewed: · By Knowburb Research Team
In short
Shell Cove is a suburb of New South Wales, postcode 2529, home to 7,591 residents with an established residential profile. Located in the Shellharbour local government area and roughly 87 km from the Sydney CBD.
Snapshot
Demographics
- Population
- 7,591
- Median age
- 40 years
- Median household income
- $2,452 /week
- Median personal income
- $931 /week
- Median family income
- $2,657 /week
- Average household size
- 3.0
- Persons per bedroom
- 0.8
- Local government area
- Shellharbour
- Statistical region (SA4)
- Illawarra
- Remoteness classification
- Major Cities of Australia
- Federal electorate
- Whitlam
Property & cost of living
- Median rent
- $600 /week
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,386
- Rent share of household income
- 24%
Schools
- Shell Cove Public School
- Flinders Public School
- Illawarra Environmental Education Centre
- Shellharbour Public School
- Warilla High School
Transport
- Within 800 m walk: 2 train stops, 17 bus stops
- Within 1.6 km: 2 train stops, 71 bus stops
- Shellharbour Junction Station, Piper Dr, Stand B
- TXI Piper Dr
- KAR Piper Dr
- Shellharbour Junction Station, Piper Dr, Stand A
- Shellharbour Junction, Platform 1
Lifestyle & amenities
- 42 parks and reserves
- 24 playgrounds
Climate
- Warmest month: Jan (25.0°C avg max)
- Coolest month: Jul (17.2°C avg max)
- Annual rainfall: 1149 mm
- Reference station: Wollongong (University), 25.9 km away
NBN & connectivity
Fibre to the Premises serves 96.7% of the 3,404 resolvable premises in Shell Cove. Most premises here have a fibre cable running directly into the property — the fastest and most reliable NBN option, with plans available up to NBN 1000.
- Fibre to the Premises: 96.7%
- Fibre to the Node: 3.2%
- Fixed Wireless: 0.1%
Safety
- Recorded offences: 1,526 across postcode 2529 in the year to Dec 2025 (stable on the prior year).
- Most common categories: 509 theft, 357 violent offences, 181 vehicle theft.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Shell Cove?
Shell Cove (NSW 2529) had 7,591 residents at the most recent ABS Census. The median age is 40. It sits within the Shellharbour local government area.
What is the median rent in Shell Cove?
The median advertised rent in Shell Cove is $600/week, based on SQM Research listings data. Rents vary by property type, bedrooms and condition.
Are there schools in Shell Cove?
Yes — 5 schools are listed within or near Shell Cove covering government sectors. Nearest include: Shell Cove Public School (0.8 km), Flinders Public School (1.2 km), Illawarra Environmental Education Centre (2.2 km). School data sourced from ACARA and state education departments.
What NBN technology is available in Shell Cove?
Shell Cove is predominantly served by Fibre to the Premises (96.7% of premises). Coverage data is sourced from the NBN upgrade map aggregated from NBN Co address checks.
How safe is Shell Cove?
Across postcode 2529, 1,526 offences were recorded in the 12 months to Dec 2025. The most common offence categories were theft (509), violent (357), vehicle theft (181). Crime statistics are recorded by area (postcode or LGA), not by individual suburb. Data sourced from each state's crime statistics agency.
What is the climate like in Shell Cove?
In Shell Cove, mean daily temperatures range from 14.8°C to 21.5°C and annual rainfall is 1,149 mm measured at the Wollongong (University) weather station (25.9 km away). Long-term averages from the Bureau of Meteorology.
What public transport options are in Shell Cove?
73 public transport stops are mapped within 1.6 km of the Shell Cove centroid. Within 800 m, you'll find 17 bus stops, 2 train stops. Stop data is sourced from state government GTFS feeds.
Sources & methodology
Demographics from ABS Census. Property data from SQM Research. Climate from Bureau of Meteorology. Schools from ACARA. NBN from NBN Co. Amenities from OpenStreetMap. See full methodology.
Additional sources for this profile: