Downside crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
9 recorded in this period, compared with 3 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Downside
Downside is a rural locality situated in the Riverina region of New South Wales, within the City of Wagga Wagga local government area and the 2650 postcode. Located north of the regional city of Wagga Wagga, the area is characterized by flat, fertile plains dedicated primarily to agricultural production, including broadacre cropping and livestock grazing. The population is small and dispersed, typical of surrounding agricultural districts in the region, with residents largely relying on nearby Wagga Wagga for employment, secondary education, and major commercial services.
Local life in Downside centers around its agricultural identity and close ties to the broader Wagga Wagga community. The area is largely residential-rural, featuring scattered farm homesteads and rural acreage. While Downside does not possess a major commercial hub, it is served by the wider infrastructure of the City of Wagga Wagga. Community life is supported by regional sporting clubs, volunteer rural fire services, and local road networks that facilitate the transport of agricultural goods to regional markets.
The history of Downside is closely tied to the post-European settlement and agricultural development of the Riverina in the 19th century. Originally inhabited by the Wiradjuri people, the land was progressively alienated for pastoral leases and subsequent Closer Settlement Acts, which divided large pastoral holdings into smaller family farms. The locality derives its name from early local infrastructure and geographical designations, maintaining a quiet rural heritage embedded within the historical expansion of the New South Wales wheat-belt.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle theft | 3 | 0 |
| Assault Police | 1 | 0 |
| Fraud | 1 | 0 |
| Malicious damage to property | 1 | 0 |
| Other theft | 1 | 0 |
| Resist or hinder officer | 1 | 0 |
| Steal from motor vehicle | 1 | 0 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 124 residents. This is not a current population estimate.
Sources and interpretation
These are police-recorded incident or victim counts, not every unreported incident or a prediction of personal safety. Percentage changes are not tests of statistical significance; small counts need particular care.