Manilla crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
184 recorded in this period, compared with 227 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Manilla
Manilla is a rural town located in the North West slopes region of New South Wales, situated within the Tamworth Regional Council local government area and bearing the postcode 2346. Positioned roughly 45 kilometres northwest of Tamworth, the locality sits at the confluence of the Namoi River and the Manilla River. According to the 2021 Australian census, Manilla and its surrounding district recorded a population of approximately 2,200 residents. The surrounding landscape is characterized by agricultural land supporting cattle, sheep, and grain production, alongside nearby water storage infrastructure like Split Rock Dam.
Local life in Manilla centres on a traditional rural service economy, supplemented by tourism and recreation. The town provides essential amenities for residents and surrounding primary producers, including a commercial main street with retail shops, a hospital, schools, and sporting facilities. Manilla has gained international recognition as a premier destination for free-flight paragliding and hang gliding, taking advantage of the thermal updrafts generated by the surrounding Great Dividing Range foothills at Mount Borah. Additionally, the nearby rivers and dams offer recreational opportunities for fishing, boating, and camping.
European settlement in the area began in the mid-19th century, initially driven by pastoralism. The townsite was surveyed and gazetted in the late 1800s, growing as a service hub for the regional agricultural and mining activities. Manilla features several preserved historical buildings dating from the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, reflecting its past as an established rural municipality. The heritage of the district is further tied to the traditional custodianship of the Kamilaroi Aboriginal nation, whose deep historical and cultural connections remain present across the region.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Break and enter non-dwelling | 17 | 4 |
| Domestic violence related assault | 15 | 34 |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 13 | 21 |
| Malicious damage to property | 13 | 25 |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | 13 | 12 |
| Breach bail conditions | 12 | 17 |
| Break and enter dwelling | 12 | 12 |
| Breach Apprehended Violence Order | 9 | 13 |
| Fraud | 9 | 10 |
| Other offences | 7 | 13 |
| Steal from dwelling | 7 | 5 |
| Resist or hinder officer | 6 | 1 |
| Trespass | 6 | 4 |
| Prohibited and regulated weapons offences | 5 | 11 |
| Sexual assault | 5 | 6 |
| Sexual touching, sexual act and other sexual offences | 5 | 8 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 4 | 0 |
| Other theft | 4 | 4 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 2,386 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.