Olney crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
3 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 Olney
Olney is a rural locality situated in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, within the Cessnock City Council local government area and the 2325 postcode. Geographically, the area is defined by its bushland setting, rugged terrain, and proximity to the Watagans National Park. Due to its expansive natural landscape, the population is extremely sparse, consisting primarily of rural landholdings and dispersed residences rather than a concentrated township.
The locality offers limited local commercial amenities, with residents relying heavily on nearby towns such as Cessnock and Cooranbong for retail, healthcare, educational, and professional services. Life in Olney is largely defined by its quiet, semi-rural environment. The area's geography supports outdoor recreational pursuits, particularly four-wheel driving, bushwalking, and camping within the surrounding state forests and national park reserves.
Historically, the region's development is closely tied to the timber industry, coal mining, and agricultural expansion of the greater Hunter Valley. The lands surrounding Olney are part of the traditional country of the Wonnarua and Awabak nations, who managed the area for thousands of years prior to European settlement. Today, the locality functions primarily as a protected natural and rural residential buffer zone on the fringes of the Watagans.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Malicious damage to property | 1 | 1 |
| Other theft | 1 | 0 |
| 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.