Megalong Valley crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
5 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 Megalong Valley
Megalong Valley is a secluded rural locality situated west of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, within the City of Blue Mountains local government area (Postcode 2785). Geographically, the area is defined by a deep, expansive valley floor flanked by dramatic sandstone escarpments of the Great Dividing Range. The population is small and predominantly rural, with residents dispersed across pastoral properties, acreage, and scattered homesteads, contributing to a quiet and sparsely populated demographic profile.
Local life in Megalong Valley is centered around agriculture, particularly beef cattle grazing, horse riding, and boutique horticulture, alongside a growing eco-tourism and weekend-getaway sector. Amenities within the valley are minimal, consisting primarily of a local tearoom, a winery, horse-riding establishments, and basic community infrastructure, with residents relying on nearby Blackheath and Katoomba for comprehensive retail, medical, and educational services. The area is accessed via the winding Megalong Road, which descends steeply from the plateau into the valley.
Historically, the valley was traditionally inhabited by the Gundungurra Aboriginal people before European exploration in the early 19th century. Following the discovery of a route down the escarpment, the area was settled for cattle grazing, timber getting, and later, shale oil mining in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, notably at the Megalong and Hartley Vale workings. Today, the remnants of these industrial pasts are largely subsumed by the surrounding Blue Mountains National Park, preserving a heritage defined by isolation, pioneering agriculture, and rugged wilderness.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Malicious damage to property | 2 | 1 |
| Arson | 1 | 1 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 1 | 0 |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | 1 | 0 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 148 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.