Nowra flood map & planning overlays
A planning-constraint profile of Nowra (Shoalhaven, NSW) - 9.03 km², mapped from live council and state overlay data. This suburb is moderately constrained.
Everything below is suburb-wide. Overlays change block to block - see which ones actually touch your lot. The map is free.
Constraint readout
9.03 km² - this suburb is moderately constrained by planning overlays.
Elevation hillshade with street names, clipped to Nowra's boundary, with the flood, bushfire and environmental overlays drawn on top. It shows where constraints fall; the interactive map shows them on your exact address.
Nowra at a glance
How Nowra is zoned
Buying in Nowra? The zoning, flood and bushfire lines on the section 10.7 certificate attached to the contract are mapped controls - see our s10.7 certificate guide.
Across its 9.03 km², Nowra is moderately constrained by planning overlays. Flood mapping covers the suburb and none of it falls within a mapped flood overlay, and 31% is flagged bushfire-prone. There are 99 heritage-listed sites on record, and the dominant land-use zone is Low Density Residential. The median lot measures about 684 m² across 4,910 parcels. These figures are suburb-wide - the overlays that actually apply to a given lot can differ block to block, which is what a property-level check tells you.
Who lives in Nowra
Census 2021 figures published by the ABS for the Nowra suburb boundary itself, not a wider region.
Socio-economic standing
ABS SEIFA 2021 ranks every Australian suburb. Decile 1 is the most disadvantaged tenth of the country, decile 10 the least.
Score 834, and decile 1 within New South Wales. The national average is 1000.
Age profile
Share of Nowra's 9,956 residents in each ABS age band.
Population trend, 2001 to 2025
Estimated resident population of Nowra, the wider ABS statistical area containing Nowra. There is no annual population series published at suburb level, so this describes the surrounding area rather than Nowra itself.
14,125 in 2001 to 23,716 in 2025, up 68%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) and SEIFA 2021, both published at the Suburbs and Localities level; Regional Population (estimated resident population) at Statistical Area Level 2. Used under CC BY 4.0. Census counts of small populations are randomly adjusted by the ABS to protect confidentiality, so figures for small suburbs are indicative.
Nowra data sources and coverage
Every figure below is an aggregate for the suburb boundary. “Not mapped” means LayeredGeo does not hold a source layer covering this suburb; it is never an all-clear for a particular property.
| Dataset | Coverage | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Flood mapping | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Bushfire-prone mapping | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Zoning | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Heritage and environment | Mapped where published | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Demographics | Available | Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021 Census and SEIFA) |
Profile last materially updated 5 August 2026. See the methodology and full source list. Source data changes over time and critical decisions should be checked with the responsible authority.
Check a specific Nowra address
See exactly which overlays touch a single property - the interactive map is free. Need it on paper? A full planning PDF is just $9.
See what's in the $9 report →Nowra planning - frequently asked
Where can I see a flood map of Nowra?
The schematic on this page is a Nowra flood map: the mapped flood overlays drawn over the suburb's terrain and street grid. Flood lines vary block to block, so for a specific property use the free interactive map - search any Nowra address and it shows the flood, zoning and bushfire mapping on the exact lot boundary.
Is Nowra flood-prone?
Flood mapping covers Nowra and none of the suburb falls within a mapped flood overlay. Flood overlays vary block to block, so whether a particular lot is affected needs a property-level check.
Is Nowra bushfire-prone?
Yes - around 31% of Nowra is mapped as bushfire-prone, compared with a Shoalhaven average of 90%. A bushfire-prone designation can trigger additional building requirements, so check the specific address.
What is the zoning in Nowra?
The dominant planning zone in Nowra is Low Density Residential, though the suburb also includes Public Recreation and General Residential. Zoning sets what you can build and do on a site, and can differ lot by lot.
Does Nowra have heritage-listed places?
Nowra has 99 heritage-listed places on record. Heritage listing affects what you can alter or demolish, so confirm whether a specific property is listed or near a heritage place.
What is the typical lot size in Nowra?
Across 4,910 surveyed parcels in Nowra, the median lot size is about 684 m². There are also 8 registered easements mapped in the suburb - an easement can restrict where you can build, so always check the title and overlays for the specific lot.
Does Nowra have a train station?
There is no train station inside Nowra itself. The suburb is served by 243 bus stops.
What is the population of Nowra?
At the 2021 Census Nowra had 9,956 usual residents, with a median age of 40 and an average household size of 2.2 people. The wider Nowra statistical area, which contains Nowra, went from 14,125 people in 2001 to 23,716 in 2025, up 68%. ABS publishes no annual population series for individual suburbs, so that trend describes the surrounding area rather than Nowra alone.
Is Nowra an advantaged suburb?
On the ABS SEIFA 2021 index of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD), Nowra scores 834 and sits in decile 1 of 10 nationally and decile 1 within New South Wales - decile 1 being the most disadvantaged tenth of Australian suburbs and decile 10 the least. The national average score is 1000. SEIFA summarises income, education, occupation and housing across the whole suburb, so it describes the area, not any particular household in it.
What is the median household income in Nowra?
Median household income in Nowra was $1,037 a week at the 2021 Census, against $1,493 for the typical suburb in Shoalhaven. Median rent was $300 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,500 a month. These are 2021 Census figures and have not been indexed to today.
Do I need a planning report for a Nowra property?
A Nowra planning report pulls every overlay - zoning, flood, bushfire, heritage and environmental - that touches a single lot, on live council and state data. The interactive map preview is free; a full PDF report is $9.
Compare nearby suburbs
| Nearby suburb | Distance | Flood mapped | Bushfire-prone |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Nowra | 2.1 km | 0% | 84% |
| Terara | 2.3 km | 0% | 81% |
| South Nowra | 3.4 km | Not mapped | 72% |
| Bomaderry | 3.7 km | 0% | 43% |
| North Nowra | 4.2 km | 0% | 76% |
| Mundamia | 4.3 km | 0% | 98% |
| Worrigee | 4.7 km | 0% | 85% |
| Brundee | 4.8 km | 0% | 100% |
| Bolong | 5.9 km | 0% | 91% |
| Badagarang | 6.4 km | Not mapped | 82% |