Shellharbour, by the facts
New units and Shell Cove
The suburb of Shellharbour is undergoing extensive development, including many new home-units. Shell Cove, beside Bass Point and Killalea State Park, has mixed-density housing and had 7,591 people in 2021.
A city of suburbs
The City of Shellharbour takes in Shell Cove, Albion Park, Albion Park Rail, Warilla, Oak Flats, Barrack Heights, Flinders, Lake Illawarra, Calderwood and Tullimbar, among others.
Albion Park runs hotter and colder
The Bureau's Albion Park (Shellharbour Airport) station averages a January maximum of 26.9 degrees and a July minimum of 6.5. Its records are 45.8 and minus 2.0. The escarpment is to the west.
Houses first
At the 2021 Census, 79.7% of occupied homes in the council area were separate houses, 14.3% semis or townhouses and 4.7% flats. 26.7% were rented and 36.7% owned with a mortgage.
Moving into a new Shellharbour home? Check these first
- What heating and cooling, if any, the builder has included, and its size in kW
- Whether there's roof space and access for ducts, or wall space for splits in the main rooms
- Where an outdoor unit can sit without blocking a side path or a neighbour's window
- Whether the switchboard has room for a dedicated air conditioner circuit
- For a unit or townhouse, the strata or community rules on outdoor units before you book anyone
Which system for which part of Shellharbour?
Albion Park and the suburbs around it: with warmer summer afternoons and cooler nights, size for both. ActronAir says systems lose cooling capacity above 35 degrees, and July nights here average 6.5. In a family house, zoned ducted reverse cycle is worth a quote.
Shellharbour village, Shell Cove and the beaches: milder, damper and salty. A split or two, sized properly rather than big, usually does it. Samsung's warranty card is one that excludes corrosion from salt spray and sand, so ask about coil protection and keep the outdoor unit out of the sea breeze where you can.
Home-units: start with the owners corporation. Our apartments and strata page explains the approvals.
What we'd do
What we'd do
In a new house, we'd plan the system before moving in, while the roof and walls are easy to get to, and we'd choose reverse cycle sized for the Albion Park end of the weather if we lived inland. By the water, we'd pick the model for its coastal warranty terms and book a yearly service.
