Bourke
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Bourke, NSW 2840.
About Bourke
Welcome to Bourke
Bourke sits on the Darling River in the far north-west of New South Wales, roughly 800 kilometres from Sydney, at the point where the state's farmland gives way to the outback. Long known by the old saying "back o' Bourke", it's a town that has come to symbolise remoteness in the Australian imagination, yet it remains a working regional centre with its own schools, services and a genuine sense of community.
With a population of around 1,699 and a median age of 35, Bourke suits people drawn to rural and remote life — farming families, agricultural workers, teachers, health professionals and those simply after a slower, more affordable way of living well away from the coastal cities.
Lifestyle & dining
Life in Bourke revolves around the river and the rhythms of the land. The Darling River (Baaka) frontage is central to the town's identity, offering fishing, houseboating and riverside picnics, while the historic wharf area recalls Bourke's 19th-century heyday as an inland port shipping wool downstream. Dining options are modest but practical, centred on the town's pubs, cafes and takeaways, and locals tend to travel for anything more, but the town's genuine outback character and strong community events, such as its agricultural show and river festivals, give Bourke a distinct social calendar.
Schools & families
Families in Bourke are well served for a town of its size, with Bourke Public School and St Ignatius' Parish School catering for primary-aged children, Koinonia Christian Academy offering an independent option, and Bourke High School providing secondary schooling locally, which means most families can educate children through to Year 12 without leaving town.
Getting around
Bourke is a genuinely remote posting, and residents typically rely on cars for daily life and longer journeys to bigger regional centres or Sydney. The town has a small regional airport with scheduled flights, useful for business travel and medical appointments, and it sits at a crossroads of key outback routes, including the Mitchell and Kamilaroi Highways, which connect Bourke to towns such as Nyngan, Cobar and Brewarrina and, ultimately, to the wider state network.
Parks & recreation
Outdoor recreation in Bourke is shaped by the river and the surrounding plains. Riverside reserves and walking tracks along the Darling offer a cool retreat in a hot climate, while nearby Mount Oxley and the vast surrounding grazing country appeal to those who enjoy open space, birdwatching and a big outback sky. The town's sporting grounds and pool provide the more conventional recreational base for local families.
The property market
Bourke's property market reflects its remote location and small population, with a median house price of $165,000 and growth sitting flat at 0.0% recently. Current listings are dominated by houses, at 64% of stock, with land making up a further 33% and a small acreage or rural component at 2%, giving buyers a genuine mix of options from town blocks to broader rural holdings. For buyers priced out of the eastern seaboard, or those wanting a foothold in a working outback town, Bourke offers rare affordability, though the flat growth figures underline that this is a market driven by lifestyle and necessity rather than capital gain speculation.
Market snapshot
Bourke property market
Median sale price
$165k
House · 3 bed
Median rent
—
per week
Gross rental yield
—
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$88k
Median
$165k
Premium
$415k
Days on market
91
Auction clearance
0%
Sold this year
15
Median sold price trend · House 3 bed
Compound growth +2.4% / yr over 4 yrs
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Bourke by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Bourke, NSW 2840.
Population
1,699
residents (2021)
Median age
35
years
Household income
$1,560
median, per week
Median rent
$180
per week
Median mortgage
$947
per month
Mortgage / income
14%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Bourke
Government school catchment
Independent & Catholic schools
Recent results
Recently sold in Bourke
$895k
MUD HUT
Sold ~July 2026
$210k
108 Oxley St
Sold ~July 2026
$83k
66 Oxley St
Sold ~July 2026
$375k
87 Mertin St
Sold ~June 2026
$350k
82 Oxley St
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 Bourke
Compare the area
Price map around Bourke
Every listing for sale near Bourke, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Common questions
Bourke suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Bourke?
The median house price in Bourke, NSW is $165k for a 3-bedroom home.
Is Bourke a good place to live?
Bourke is a town in the north-west of New South Wales, Australia. Bourke is an established residential suburb in NSW, with a population of around 1,699 and 4 schools in the area.
What is the population of Bourke?
Bourke has a population of 1,699 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 35.
What schools are in Bourke?
There are 4 schools in or near Bourke, including Koinonia Christian Academy, Bourke Public School and St Ignatius' Parish School.
How long do homes take to sell in Bourke?
Properties in Bourke take around 91 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 0%.
How much do you need to buy in Bourke?
Entry-level properties in Bourke start around $88k, while premium homes reach $415k.
Fresh to market
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