🔍

Dubbo

NSW 2830 • Rest of NSW

43,516
Population (2021)
$87,880
Median Household Income
990.70 km²
Area
$310/wk
Median Rent
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About Dubbo

Dubbo is a regional city in central west New South Wales, in the Dubbo Regional Council area, about 395 kilometres by road from Sydney where the Newell, Mitchell and Golden highways meet. The 2021 Census counted 43,516 residents, up from 38,943 in 2016, and the median age was 35. Median weekly household income was $1,690, while the 2023-24 median taxable income for postcode 2830 was $60,715. The mapped locality covers about 991 square kilometres of town and surrounding farmland, and 6,784 residents identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Macquarie Street is the shopping spine, with a Coles at Dubbo Shopping Centre and a Woolworths at Orana Mall, and the Macquarie River runs through the town. Dubbo railway station on Talbragar Street is the terminus of the daily NSW TrainLink Central West XPT from Sydney, about 6 hours 30 minutes and 462 kilometres by rail from Central. Dubbo Buslines routes 570, 571, 572, 573 and 575 link the CBD and Orana Mall, with hospital trips on some routes and route 573 continuing to Taronga Western Plains Zoo on Obley Road. Old Dubbo Gaol is in the town centre, and the city works as a service hub for families, health and education workers, and the surrounding farming district rather than as a Sydney commuter suburb.

Dubbo falls under postcode 2830 and is governed by the Western Plains Regional Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Parkes, while state elections fall under the Dubbo electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2830
Urban Area
Dubbo - West
LGA / Council
Western Plains Regional
Federal Electorate
Parkes
State Electorate
Dubbo
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-32.28°, 148.60°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
990.70 km²
Population Density
44 /km²
Elevation
261m

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🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Dubbo for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$620K
1,073 sales · ▲ 7.8% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$322K
46 sales · ▼ 19.7% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 2830

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 2830, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$49,674
Median 2023–24
$60,715
▲ 22.2% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$71,817

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 2830; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

Census personal income 2016 vs 2021

Personal Income 2016
$35,932
Personal Income 2021
$45,552
▲ 26.8% increase

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$45,552 / yr
$876/wk
Household
$87,880 / yr
$1690/wk
Family
$106,444 / yr
$2047/wk
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$310
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,582
Avg Household Size
2.5 people
Median Age
35 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
4.9%

571 state housing + 183 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Dubbo
In town
NSW TrainLink Western line, Talbragar Street in the town centre. Daily XPT to Sydney, 462 km by rail from Central.

Bus Services

  • Dubbo Buslines 570, 571, 572, 573, 575 — Dubbo CBD and Orana Mall, with route 573 to the zoo local trips
  • Routes 555, 556 — Narromine and Wellington, via Dubbo Station regional

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
395 km
By Train
About 6 hours 30 minutes on the daily NSW TrainLink Central West XPT. Dubbo station is 462 km by rail from Central.
By Car (Peak)
about 5 hours
By Car (Off-Peak)
about 5 hours

🛣️ Dubbo Regional Council quotes 395 km via the Mitchell Highway and a drive of about five hours. Dubbo Regional Airport has flights of about one hour from Sydney. Local buses stay in town and do not run to Sydney.

Walkability Car-Dependent

Macquarie Street covers some errands on foot, but this large locality, including the zoo and the outer neighbourhoods, needs a car.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Coles
    Dubbo Shopping Centre Cnr Bultje Street & Macquarie Street Dubbo 2830 NSW
  • Woolworths
    Orana Mall Marketplace, Cnr Mitchell Highway And Wheelers Lane Dubbo 2830 NSW

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 9 heritage-listed places in or near Dubbo, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Old Dubbo Gaol
215 Macquarie Street Dubbo • SHR #01689
Dubbo rail bridge over Macquarie River
Main Western railway 462.762 km Dubbo • SHR #01032
Dubbo RAAF Stores Depot (former)
Cobra Street, Dubbo • SHR #01701
Dundullimal
Obley Road, Dubbo • SHR #01497
CML Building
118 Macquarie Street Dubbo • SHR #00180
Kemwah Court
195-197 Macquarie Street Dubbo • SHR #00544
Talbragar Shire Council Chambers
Macquarie Street, Dubbo • SHR #00219
CBC Bank
110-114 Macquarie Street Dubbo • SHR #00039
Dubbo Railway Station and yard group
Main Western railway, Dubbo • SHR #01130

👥 Population of Dubbo

Census 2016
38,943
Census 2021
43,516
▲ 11.7% growth
Est. 2026 projection
~48,630

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
📈 2026 estimate: projection from census growth trend, not an official figure

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 35,338
Born Overseas 4,533

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. India 750
  • 2. Nepal 703
  • 3. England 416
  • 4. Philippines 336
  • 5. New Zealand 304
  • 6. Sri Lanka 179
  • 7. Pakistan 162
  • 8. China 153
  • 9. Bangladesh 140
  • 10. South Africa 108

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 17,540
English 15,757
Australian Aboriginal 6,428
Irish 4,690
Scottish 3,617
German 1,339
Indian 720
Italian 626
Chinese 466
Filipino 439

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace

31,460
Both parents born in Australia
5,544
Both parents born overseas
2,772
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
57.4%
No Religion
27.4%
Hinduism
2.8%
Islam
1.2%
Buddhism
0.8%
Sikhism
0.7%
Judaism
0.0%

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📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
3,214 (7.4%)
5-14 years
6,138 (14.1%)
15-19 years
2,512 (5.8%)
20-24 years
2,520 (5.8%)
25-34 years
6,841 (15.7%)
35-44 years
5,343 (12.3%)
45-54 years
4,893 (11.2%)
55-64 years
4,816 (11.1%)
65-74 years
3,848 (8.8%)
75-84 years
2,450 (5.6%)
85+ years
938 (2.2%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dubbo known for? +

Dubbo is the main regional city of central west NSW, best known for Taronga Western Plains Zoo on Obley Road and as a service centre where the Newell, Mitchell and Golden highways meet. The town sits on the Macquarie River, with Macquarie Street shops, Orana Mall and the heritage-listed Old Dubbo Gaol. A daily NSW TrainLink XPT links the city with Sydney.

How far is Dubbo from Sydney CBD? +

Dubbo Regional Council puts the drive at 395 kilometres via the Mitchell Highway, about five hours depending on stops and road conditions. By rail, Dubbo station is 462 kilometres from Central, and the fastest XPT timing is about 6 hours 30 minutes.

Does Dubbo have public transport? +

Dubbo station, on Talbragar Street in the town centre, is the terminus of the daily NSW TrainLink Central West XPT to Sydney. Dubbo Buslines routes 570, 571, 572, 573 and 575 all serve the CBD and Orana Mall, with hospital stops on some routes and route 573 continuing to the zoo. There is no suburban rail, so a car is the practical way around the wider locality.

Is Dubbo a good place to live? +

Dubbo suits people who want a regional city with a hospital, schools such as Dubbo College and St Johns College, a shopping centre and a daily train, without a Sydney commute. Median weekly household income in 2021 was $1,690, and median weekly rent was $310. The town centre is usable on foot, but most of the surrounding locality is car dependent.

What is the postcode for Dubbo? +

The postcode for Dubbo, New South Wales, is 2830. The same postcode covers nearby localities, so postcode-level taxable income is wider than the suburb population count.

What is the average income in Dubbo? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Dubbo is about $876 per week (around $45,600 per year). The median household income is $1,690 per week and the median family income is $2,047 per week.

What is the median house price in Dubbo? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $620,000, up 7.8% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $321,750, down 19.7% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Dubbo? +

The median age in Dubbo is 35. The largest age group is 25–34 (6,841 residents, around 16%). Around 27% of residents are under 20 and about 17% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

What is the population of Dubbo? +

The population of Dubbo is 43,516 according to the 2021 Census, up 11.7% from 38,943 in 2016. Projecting that growth trend forward, the estimated 2026 population of Dubbo is around 48,630. This is a projection, not an official ABS figure.

How much is rent in Dubbo? +

In Dubbo, the median weekly rent is $310, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,582 (2021 Census).