Fowlers Gap crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
2 recorded in this period, compared with 4 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Fowlers Gap
Fowlers Gap is a remote locality situated in the far west of New South Wales, within the Unincorporated Far West local government area and bearing the postcode 2880. Geographically, the area is characterized by arid terrain, low and erratic rainfall, and native semi-arid shrublands typical of the Australian outback. Due to the extreme environment and vast pastoral holdings, the locality has a negligible permanent population, consisting primarily of researchers, pastoral workers, and transient visitors rather than traditional residential communities.
The primary human activity in Fowlers Gap revolves around scientific research and pastoralism. The most prominent facility in the area is the Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station, which is operated by the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Spanning thousands of hectares of Crown land, the station serves as a base for ecological, geological, and agricultural studies focusing on arid-zone management and native wildlife. The locality lacks standard urban amenities, commercial services, and public infrastructure, relying instead on distant regional centers such as Broken Hill for supplies and administrative support.
Historically, the land encompassing Fowlers Gap has deep Indigenous roots, having been inhabited by traditional custodians for millennia who adapted to the harsh desert conditions. Following European settlement in the 19th century, the region was integrated into the broader pastoral expansion of western New South Wales, dominated by large-scale sheep grazing. In 1965, a portion of the Fowlers Gap pastoral lease was reserved for scientific research, leading to the establishment of the current research station in the 1970s, which has since contributed significantly to the understanding of Australian arid environments.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle theft | 1 | 0 |
| Prohibited and regulated weapons offences | 1 | 1 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 26 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.