Wards River crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
5 recorded in this period, compared with 10 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Wards River
Wards River is a small rural locality situated within the Mid-Coast Council local government area of New South Wales, carrying the postcode 2422. Geographically, it is defined by its position within the Gloucester region, characterized by undulating pastoral landscapes and proximity to the Wards River waterway. The population is small and dispersed, primarily consisting of residents engaged in agricultural pursuits, acreage living, and small-scale primary production.
Life in Wards River is defined by a quiet, semi-rural atmosphere, with residents typically relying on the nearby town of Gloucester for essential services, retail, and education. The area is served by basic local infrastructure, including rural road networks that connect the community to the wider Mid-Coast region. Historical development in the locality is tied to the expansion of 19th-century agricultural settlement in the Manning River catchment, with early European presence centered on timber getting and grazing. Today, the area retains its heritage through a landscape of historic farmsteads and remnant rural architecture that reflects the traditional economic history of the New South Wales North Coast.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Malicious damage to property | 2 | 0 |
| Break and enter non-dwelling | 1 | 0 |
| Fraud | 1 | 1 |
| Steal from dwelling | 1 | 0 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 178 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.