Drake crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
48 recorded in this period, compared with 28 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Drake
Drake is a rural locality in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, situated within the Tenterfield Shire local government area and carrying the postcode 2469. Located along the Bruxner Highway between Tenterfield and Casino, the area is characterized by rugged, mountainous terrain, dense eucalypt forests, and proximity to the Toonumbar National Park. Due to its remote setting, the population is very small and largely dispersed across rural landholdings, contributing to a quiet, community-focused demographic profile typical of the remote Northern Rivers hinterland.
Local life in Drake is centered around basic services, with the community relying primarily on neighboring regional centers for advanced infrastructure, healthcare, and education. The locality features a local public school and a historic community hall, which serve as focal points for local gatherings and emergency response coordination. Outdoor recreation, bushwalking, and nature appreciation are prominent in the area due to the surrounding wilderness and the picturesque gorges of the Rocky River catchment.
Historically, Drake emerged as a prominent goldmining settlement in the late 19th century, originally known as Fairfield before being renamed. During the gold rush era, the township supported a substantial population, numerous mining operations, and multiple pubs to service prospectors working the local reefs and alluvial deposits. Today, tangible reminders of this heritage remain visible in the surrounding landscape through abandoned mine shafts and historic buildings, while the broader region continues to be periodically impacted by, and resilient to, natural events such as bushfires and floods.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Arson | 11 | 2 |
| Domestic violence related assault | 6 | 2 |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 6 | 2 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 5 | 1 |
| Break and enter dwelling | 3 | 4 |
| Malicious damage to property | 3 | 1 |
| Other theft | 3 | 5 |
| Prohibited and regulated weapons offences | 3 | 3 |
| Break and enter non-dwelling | 2 | 1 |
| Criminal intent | 2 | 0 |
| Steal from motor vehicle | 2 | 0 |
| Receiving or handling stolen goods | 1 | 1 |
| Steal from dwelling | 1 | 1 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 244 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.