19suburbs mapped in Wollongong & IllawarraAll under Wollongong City Council, so one lodgement process covers the region.

New South Wales · Region

Home builders in Wollongong & Illawarra

Minimum lot sizes across these 19 suburbs run from 400 m² to 900 m². That figure decides whether a second dwelling or a subdivision is even a question on your block.

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19Wollongong & Illawarra suburbs read parcel by parcel from New South Wales's own planning data

1Council covers them all — one lodgement process across the region

5Distinct overlay families mapped across these suburbs, each one something a builder prices differently

Wollongong & Illawarra suburb by suburb

Suburb	Residential zones	Height limit	Bushfire-prone	Overlays
Austinmer	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	5
Balgownie	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	2
Brownsville	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	2
Bulli	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	—	Mapped	5
Coledale	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	4
Dapto	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R5 Large Lot	—	Mapped	2
Figtree	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	4
Gwynneville	R1 General, R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	1
Helensburgh	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	—	Mapped	5
Kembla Grange	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density, R5 Large Lot	—	Mapped	4
Mount Keira	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	3
North Wollongong	R1 General, R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	9m	Mapped	3
Port Kembla	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	—	Mapped	2
Stanwell Park	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	4
Thirroul	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	—	Mapped	3
Towradgi	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	0
Wollongong	R1 General, R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	32m	Mapped	4
Wombarra	R2 Low Density	—	Mapped	3
Woonona	R2 Low Density, R3 Medium Density	—	Mapped	4

Reading the table

Heritage mapping runs from 131 in Wollongong down to none in Towradgi.
5 overlay families are mapped across the region; Austinmer carries the most at 5.
The 19 mapped suburbs cover 116 km² between them — Helensburgh is the largest at 18 km² and Brownsville the smallest at 1.0 km².

What is mapped across Wollongong & Illawarra

Mapped only in some suburbs	Where (in the suburb, not on a given block)
Heritage — Item - General	Austinmer, Balgownie, Brownsville, Bulli, Coledale, Dapto, Figtree, Gwynneville, Helensburgh, Kembla Grange, Mount Keira, North Wollongong, Port Kembla, Stanwell Park, Thirroul, Wollongong, Wombarra and Woonona
Heritage — Item - Landscape	Austinmer, Bulli, Coledale, Dapto, Figtree, Helensburgh, Kembla Grange, North Wollongong, Port Kembla, Stanwell Park, Thirroul, Wollongong, Wombarra and Woonona
Heritage — Conservation Area - Landscape	Austinmer, Balgownie, Bulli, Coledale, Figtree, Helensburgh, Kembla Grange, Mount Keira, Stanwell Park, Thirroul, Wombarra and Woonona
Heritage — Item - Archaeological	Austinmer, Bulli, Coledale, Figtree, Helensburgh, Kembla Grange, Mount Keira, Stanwell Park, Wollongong and Woonona
Heritage — Conservation Area - General	Austinmer, Brownsville, Bulli, Helensburgh, North Wollongong and Wollongong

Which Wollongong & Illawarra suburb suits which build

Room to move
Helensburgh is the largest at 18.5 km², Brownsville the most compact at 1.0 km².
Fewest planning controls
Towradgi, with 0 overlay families mapped against 5 in Austinmer.
Knockdown rebuild without a heritage question
Towradgi — no heritage records intersect it. Wollongong carries 131.
Biggest minimum lot size
Coledale at 900-999 m² minimum, against 400-449 m² minimum in Woonona.

Questions about building in Wollongong & Illawarra

Which council approves building work in Wollongong & Illawarra?

Wollongong City Council, for all 19 mapped Wollongong & Illawarra suburbs, under the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009.

Is bushfire-prone land mapped in Wollongong & Illawarra?

Yes, in all 19 mapped Wollongong & Illawarra suburbs: Austinmer, Balgownie, Brownsville, Bulli, Coledale, Dapto, Figtree, Gwynneville, Helensburgh, Kembla Grange, Mount Keira, North Wollongong, Port Kembla, Stanwell Park, Thirroul, Towradgi, Wollongong, Wombarra and Woonona.

Which Wollongong & Illawarra suburb has the most planning constraints?

Austinmer: 5 overlay families against 0 in Towradgi.

What planning zones apply across Wollongong & Illawarra?

4: R1 General Residential, R2 Low Density Residential, R3 Medium Density Residential and R5 Large Lot Residential. Widest range: Dapto, at 3.

Is heritage mapped in Wollongong & Illawarra?

Heritage records intersecting each suburb: Wollongong 131, Bulli 47, Helensburgh 34, Thirroul 31, Woonona 23, Port Kembla 21, Austinmer 20, Stanwell Park 17, Kembla Grange 16, Dapto 14, North Wollongong 11, Coledale 6, Figtree 6, Balgownie 5, Mount Keira 5, Brownsville 3, Wombarra 3, Gwynneville 1. None in Towradgi.

What is the minimum lot size across Wollongong & Illawarra?

Austinmer: 400-449 m² minimum; Bulli: 400-449 m² minimum; Coledale: 900-999 m² minimum; Dapto: 400-449 m² minimum; Figtree: 400-449 m² minimum; Kembla Grange: 400-449 m² minimum; North Wollongong: 400-449 m² minimum; Stanwell Park: 900-999 m² minimum; Thirroul: 400-449 m² minimum; Wollongong: 400-449 m² minimum; Wombarra: 900-999 m² minimum; Woonona: 400-449 m² minimum.

Lodge with: Wollongong City Council, Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009. Read 2026-09-20.

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