Moving to Malabar NSW 2036
What the official numbers say about living in Malabar — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $150 a week, against a median household income of $1,790 a week.
About 64% of homes are owner-occupied and 35% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Malabar shrank 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (4,937 → 4,714 people).
Around 69% of households are families, averaging 2.6 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, China; most spoken languages besides English: Greek, French, Cantonese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Malabar sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (47% of workers), while 49% work from home.
Nearest train station: Domestic Airport, 7.5 km north-west.
Nearest light rail stop: Juniors Kingsford, 5.4 km north.
Nearest bus interchange: Juniors Kingsford, 5.4 km north.
Nearest ferry wharf: Ferry to La Perouse, 4.7 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, 6.9 km north-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 12 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 23 schools · 29 cafes & restaurants · 6 supermarkets · 41 parks · 8 beaches — see them all on the Malabar profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St Andrew's Primary School 700 m · Matraville Sports High School 700 m · Chifley Public School 800 m · Malabar Public School 900 m · La Perouse Public School 1.6 km · Matraville Soldiers' Settlement Public School 1.6 km · St Spyridon High School 1.8 km · Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 2 km
Groceries: Foodworks 850 m · Foodworks 1.2 km · Woolworths Metro 2.1 km · Woolworths 2.2 km · ALDI 2.7 km · Woolworths 2.7 km
Parks and reserves: Lucas Reserve 100 m · Rubie Reserve 350 m · Boulevarde Reserve 350 m · Gabee Reserve 350 m · Kooloora Reserve 500 m · Duri Reserve 500 m · Bob Clark RSL Memorial Grove 750 m · Doctor Walters Park 850 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Malabar, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Silver Gull · Noisy Miner · Crested Tern · Australian Raven · Welcome Swallow.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Malabar, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malabar here | 4,714 | — | 9/10 | 19% |
| Chifley | 3,490 | — | 9/10 | 10% |
| Little Bay | 4,817 | — | 10/10 | 20% |
| Matraville | 9,925 | — | 9/10 | 7% |
| Maroubra | 30,722 | — | 10/10 | 8% |
| Hillsdale | 5,647 | — | 6/10 | 8% |
| Eastgardens | 4,086 | — | 10/10 | 8% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Randwick — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Kingsford Smith — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2036 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Malabar profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $150 a week, and about 35% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 4,937 people to 4,714. It sits about 12 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Domestic Airport station is roughly 7.5 km away. Local government is Randwick council, and the federal seat is Kingsford Smith.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Malabar vs Chifley · Malabar vs Little Bay.
Nearby guides: Chifley · Little Bay · Matraville · Maroubra · Hillsdale · Eastgardens.
Keep an eye on Malabar
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