Berkeley
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Berkeley, NSW 2506.
About Berkeley
Welcome to Berkeley
Berkeley is a working-class suburb in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, sitting roughly 80 kilometres south of Sydney and forming part of the greater Wollongong metropolitan area. Bordered by Lake Heights to the east, Cringila and Warrawong to the south, and Unanderra to the west, it occupies a relatively flat pocket of land that has historically been shaped by heavy industry and a strong community identity.
The suburb suits first-home buyers, young families and investors who want a foothold in the Wollongong market without paying inner-city prices. Its housing stock is predominantly freestanding homes on generous blocks, local schools are close at hand, and the broader amenities of Warrawong and the Wollongong CBD are only a short drive away.
Housing & architecture
Berkeley's streetscape is defined by detached houses, which make up around 81 per cent of current listings — a proportion that gives the suburb a distinctly residential, low-density feel. Townhouses account for roughly 11 per cent of the market, reflecting modest but growing medium-density development, while land listings sit at about 7 per cent, offering buyers the opportunity to build new.
Many of the original homes date from the post-war era and the decades of Wollongong's industrial expansion, meaning solid brick veneer and fibro constructions are common. Buyers with an eye for renovation will find plenty of scope to add value, and new builds on the available land parcels are starting to lift the overall quality of the housing mix.
The property market
The median house price in Berkeley sits at $831,000, a figure that still represents meaningful value relative to many comparable suburbs closer to Wollongong's centre. Recent growth of 7.8 per cent signals that buyer demand is firm, driven in part by the suburb's affordability relative to Sydney overspill and ongoing interest from Illawarra locals upsizing from units.
For investors, the median rent of $650 per week provides a reasonable income baseline against that purchase price. Rental demand tends to be steady given Berkeley's proximity to industrial employment corridors and the educational facilities of the broader Wollongong area. With land still available and townhouse development ticking upward, the suburb's composition is gradually shifting — something to watch for buyers focused on long-term capital positioning.
Schools & families
Families with school-age children are well served within the suburb itself. Berkeley Public School and Berkeley West Public School both cater to primary-age students, keeping daily school runs manageable. For secondary schooling, Illawarra Sports High School provides a local option with a specialist sports focus, which appeals to families with athletically inclined teenagers.
The concentration of schools along George Street in particular — with bus stops positioned directly opposite Berkeley Public School — makes the suburb genuinely walkable for school families. Neighbouring Warrawong and Unanderra also add further schooling options within easy reach for families whose children have specific needs or preferences.
Parks & recreation
Green space in Berkeley is modest but functional. Gladstone Park is the suburb's most established open area, providing the kind of flat, open ground that works well for informal sport, dog walking and weekend family gatherings. Ranchby Avenue Park offers a more neighbourhood-scale option — the sort of local reserve that makes a real difference for families living within walking distance.
The suburb's proximity to Lake Heights and Primbee also means that the broader Lake Illawarra foreshore is accessible without a long drive, giving residents a genuine outdoor escape that the suburb itself doesn't fully provide on its own.
Getting around
Berkeley is serviced by a bus network that runs along its main arterials, with stops along Barnes Street — including at the intersections of Nannawilli Street and Gura Street — as well as along George Street near Berkeley Public School. These routes connect residents to Wollongong's broader public transport network and to the train services available at nearby Unanderra station, which sits on the South Coast Line linking Wollongong to Sydney and points further south.
For those who drive, access to the Princes Highway and the F6 corridor makes commuting to Wollongong CBD or heading north toward Sydney relatively straightforward. Industrial employers along the Cringila and Warrawong corridors are particularly accessible, which matters for a suburb where a significant share of residents work in trade and industrial roles.
Lifestyle & local amenities
Berkeley is a practical, no-fuss suburb rather than a café-strip destination, and residents generally appreciate it for exactly that quality. Day-to-day needs are easily met via the nearby Warrawong shopping precinct, which provides supermarkets, retail and medical services within a short drive. Industrial and trade services — such as those represented by Baileys Diesel Group in the area — reflect the suburb's working heritage and ongoing commercial character.
For dining, entertainment and the broader lifestyle amenities of a regional city, Wollongong CBD is the natural draw, offering a proper restaurant and bar scene, beaches, and the University of Wollongong campus. Berkeley residents tend to think of themselves as part of the wider Wollongong community rather than an isolated pocket, and the short distances involved make that connection easy to maintain.
Market snapshot
Berkeley property market
Median sale price
$840k
House · 3 bed
Median rent
$650
per week
Gross rental yield
4.0%
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$711k
Median
$840k
Premium
$1.01m
Days on market
15
Auction clearance
0%
Sold this year
71
Median sold price trend · House 3 bed
Compound growth +3.7% / yr over 4 yrs
Median price by bedrooms · House
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Berkeley by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Berkeley, NSW 2506.
Population
7,798
residents (2021)
Median age
40
years
Household income
$1,217
median, per week
Median rent
$290
per week
Median mortgage
$1,733
per month
Mortgage / income
33%
stretched (>30%)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Berkeley
Government school catchment
Recent results
Recently sold in Berkeley
$820k
590 Northcliffe Drive
Sold ~July 2026
$1.02m
5 Duchess Court
Sold ~July 2026
$875k
46 Burke Way
Sold ~July 2026
$899k
4 Masthead Place
Sold ~June 2026
$780k
5 Caroona Street
Sold ~June 2026
$1m
562 Northcliffe Drive
Sold ~June 2026
$825k
76 Nolan Street
Sold ~June 2026
$899k
2/69B Semaphore Road
Sold ~June 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Berkeley
Compare the area
Price map around Berkeley
Every listing for sale near Berkeley, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Nearby suburbs
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Common questions
Berkeley suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Berkeley?
The median house price in Berkeley, NSW is $840k for a 3-bedroom home. Over the past year, median sold prices have risen about 8.6%.
How much is rent in Berkeley?
The median weekly rent in Berkeley is around $650 per week.
Is Berkeley a good place to live?
Berkeley is a suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales. Berkeley is an established residential suburb in NSW, with a population of around 7,798 and 3 schools in the area.
What is the population of Berkeley?
Berkeley has a population of 7,798 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 40.
What schools are in Berkeley?
There are 3 schools in or near Berkeley, including Berkeley Public School, Berkeley West Public School and Illawarra Sports High School.
How long do homes take to sell in Berkeley?
Properties in Berkeley take around 15 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 0%.
How much do you need to buy in Berkeley?
Entry-level properties in Berkeley start around $711k, while premium homes reach $1.01m.
What suburbs are near Berkeley?
Suburbs near Berkeley include Lake Heights, Cringila, Warrawong, Unanderra and Primbee.
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