Moving to Surf Beach NSW 2536
What the official numbers say about living in Surf Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $330 a week, against a median household income of $1,099 a week.
About 70% of homes are owner-occupied and 29% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Surf Beach shrank 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,043 → 1,934 people).
Around 64% of households are families, averaging 2.1 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, India; most spoken languages besides English: Malayalam, Italian, Croatian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Surf Beach scores below the national average (decile 3 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (85% of workers), while 13% work from home.
Nearest airport: Moruya Airport, 16.6 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 229 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 3 schools · 3 cafes & restaurants · 9 beaches — see them all on the Surf Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Sunshine Bay Public School 2.1 km · St Bernard's Primary School 2.3 km · Bateman's Bay High School 3.6 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Surf Beach, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Red Wattlebird · Superb Fairy-wren · Australian Magpie · Laughing Kookaburra · Yellow-faced Honeyeater.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Surf Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf Beach here | 1,934 | — | 3/10 | 45% |
| Denhams Beach | 650 | — | 3/10 | 25% |
| Sunshine Bay | 1,439 | — | 3/10 | 22% |
| Batehaven | 1,911 | — | 2/10 | 32% |
| Lilli Pilli | 647 | — | 7/10 | 68% |
| Malua Bay | 2,071 | — | 6/10 | 46% |
| Catalina | 2,522 | — | 2/10 | 40% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Eurobodalla — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Gilmore — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2536 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Surf Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $330 a week, and about 29% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,043 people to 1,934. It sits about 229 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Eurobodalla council, and the federal seat is Gilmore.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Surf Beach vs Denhams Beach · Surf Beach vs Sunshine Bay.
Nearby guides: Denhams Beach · Sunshine Bay · Batehaven · Lilli Pilli · Malua Bay · Catalina.
Keep an eye on Surf Beach
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