Macquarie Pass crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
1 recorded in this period, compared with 2 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Macquarie Pass
Macquarie Pass is a rural locality situated in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands regions of New South Wales, primarily within the City of Shellharbour local government area, carrying the postcode 2577. Geographically, the area is defined by the steep escarpment of the Great Dividing Range and is traversed by the Macquarie Pass National Park, which protects dense rainforests, waterfalls, and rugged terrain. Due to the challenging topography, the population is very sparse, consisting primarily of rural landholders and conservation areas rather than a distinct residential township.
Amenities within the locality are minimal, reflecting its remote and heavily protected geographical nature, though the area is well-known to motorists and tourists via the winding Macquarie Pass road that connects the coastal plain to the Southern Highlands. Local life is largely centered around environmental conservation, outdoor recreation, and agriculture. Visitors frequent the national park for bushwalking, birdwatching, and exploring local waterfalls such as Cascade Falls, while daily commercial and municipal services are accessed in nearby regional centers like Albion Park and Robertson.
Historically, the pass and surrounding locality are named after Lachlan Macquarie, the early Governor of New South Wales. The route originated as an Indigenous track before being engineered into a vehicular road in the 19th century to connect the Illawarra region to the tablelands, a project that presented significant engineering challenges due to the sheer cliffs and dense vegetation. Today, the area holds heritage significance both for its early colonial transport history and its ecological value as a preserved remnant of subtropical and temperate rainforest.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Steal from motor vehicle | 1 | 0 |
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.