Kempsey, NSW 2440

Happi, I agree whole-heartedly with your comments. After growing up in the Macleay Valley, I returned two years ago with my two children to give them the same upbringing I enjoyed. I am degree qualified and have had a great career and it took me no time at all to find a fantastic job (two, actually, I had to make a tough choice). I don't really understand the negative elements in the town who don't appear to appreciate what we have, or see the many opportunities that exist, however I choose to focus the positive. Having travelled a lot, and experienced many different towns and cities within and outside Australia, it just doesn't get any better than Kempsey, South West Rocks, Hat Head, Crescent Head, Bellbrook, Gladstone, Smithtown and all the other hidden gems that exist here in the Macleay. My social life is rich, access to the bigger world is right at my doorstop, I am surrounded by happy, friendly and relaxed friends and colleagues who share a love of a simple life that affords us the luxury of time and space. I not only don't regret my decision to relocate "back home", I thank my lucky stars every day that I made this choice. My kids, now at highschool, are the happiest they have ever been, and they are achieving amazing academic results at local schools (one of them a public highschool). And as a single mother, I don't ever feel unsafe or vulnerable. I treat everyone I meet with courtesy and respect and I take the same basic precautions I've taken my entire life, regardless of where we live, to keep my family, my home and my possessions safe. I can't speak highly enough of this place and it's community - there are so many wonderful people here, from all walks of life, with a shared passion for the Macleay lifestyle.

What can you tell me about south west rocks as a place to live and work and rent for a professional older man please?

Looking at buying in kempsey, what areas should we avoid?

Angela- gerarda- avoid the entire Macleay Vallley. If you invest your capital growth will be poorer than almost every other town on the north coast. Deeply entrenched socioeconomic deprivation has made Kempsey a welfare town. Average household income is approximately equal to two people on the pension.The retail sector consists of pharmacies, charity shops and a few struggling cafes which strangely are always for sale. The residents are proud of their town for easily understood reasons - it is very attractive superficially.But these residents are in deep denial about how dysfunctional their town is.All the stories you read about how they love living there are meaningless. Currently the town is in the grip of a crim epidemic linked to the reemergence of heroin as a drug if choice , that is apart from the habitual use of weed and ice by many there. Let me put it this way - when the police drug tested the drivers in Hastings Valley 10% of all drivers wrre found to be drug affected. Not to be outshone thecMacleay valeey had 13% of all drivers so intoxicated. Lical police had to have a public statement issued saying it just has to change!
If you have school age children the local high schools have collapsed , parents are withdrawing their kids as soon as they can afford to send them to the low fee christian schools which have opened in Port Macquarie. 4 buses leave town faily packed with kids going out of town to avoid the local schools.
The local National politicians are bent as, funnelling public funds to their local mates. The local press are not interested in reporting any of this as the only advertisers arevrealestate agents and the Council.
Just go to Facebook and join Kempsey Crime watch.The entries tell a sad tale.

I disagree, I have just read a 58 page Government report on crime trends in NSW, I focused on Port Macquarie and Kempsey. Over the past 2yrs Port Macquarie has a higher crime rate than Kempsey. More businesses are growing and creating jobs. I see this as I am a courier. Port Macquarie drivers are more aggressive and arrogant than Kempsey, thus your concern for children is worse in Port Macquarie. Kempsey has some socio-economic issues and they are being addressed by locals and not-for-profit organisations. On an investment level, cost of home to rental return is higher, with less capital output. I believe some of what you say is a little biased, with minimal data to back it up. Every place has crime. Some people choose to talk about it more. You can download the report off www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au nsw recorded crime statistics report June 2018. Happy resident of Kempsey NSW who purchased home 12 months ago.

The crime by number count in Port Macquarie is higher , true , but the population density of the town is much higher than that if kempsey town.

What areas in Kempsey would be a safe place to buy?

East is pretty good. I live in West-I like to tell people I reside in "Kempsey Heights", as unfortunately, not all of West is "best". The entire town is improving and costs to buy rising rapidly. Get in while you can. There are big plans for Kempsey-it really will be a sought after area in the near future. People are rising...and it's wonderful to witness.

There is car theift , stealing car to burn, house arson , break enter .....too much of it to ignore ...poor ambulance service ....It took 2 to three hours wait for and my elderly neighbor who had broken leg to get a treated by paramedic...when I called for and as ambulance.ay 3 am , at about the same time that a care was being burnt on Middleton road, for back injury , it was told that it was going to be a delay ...I would live somewhere else ..... Come and take a drive to where you would live , look around before you make a decision to relocate. One car was being burnt as we were diving past on Bloomfield last night ....on a reasonably busy street.

I live in a village near cowra where the nearest beach is 4 hours away, kempsey area looks amazing with so much to do, I have started to check the real estate in this amazing area.

Yes awesome for Hipsters!

Hi there, i'm from south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, so i don't know the streets that you are talking about. I would love to move to kempsey in the next few years, and want to know how bad the unemployment really is?? i don't want to move there just to have to move again to find work. It sounds like there is a lot of crime there, but it is everywhere. I love it here on the Peninsula but it is now too busy now with a jump in population over the last few years. So my family want to move to a more relaxed lifestyle. (We holiday in Crescent head and Scotts head every year) and love the atmosphere.

we only have such a high unemployment rate because we have a very low education rate with most young people dropping out at or before year 10. if you have any type of qualification then getting work is real easy, there are also a lot of bar attendant and waitperson jobs usually advertised. i would much rather raise my family here than in any suburb of sydney

Its not because most people drop out of high school, there are no jobs.
I speak on behalf of the young adults of Kempsey.
I'm 19 years old with numerous qualifications but because of lack of job opportunities (Apart from the Coles or Woolworths jobs that float around from time to time)
Apart from retail there is nothing, this town is not big enough business wise to allow everyone to have jobs.
The exact reason people move away from this town, don't come here as you'll be lucky to get out

Because of the lack of opportunities I've been without REAL work for almost 4 months***

I am looking at buying a house on Clarence Ryan Avenue, or Tozer st. Both of these houses are beautiful and seem to have a good amount of security. Will I be making a mistake by Buying either of these places? I'm moving with young children and animals as well so i have to be careful. Also, which area would be safer of the two? Thanks

Clarence ryan can be sketchy in parts. Tozer ok depending on location. The middle of tozer is best between wide and broughton st. And the part near north st is ok, but you dont wantt o be on north st due to problematic foot traffic. Avoid the end closest to town definitely avoid most of south kempsey particularly anywhere near middleton or west st. Avoid areas between cochrane st and sea st near north st end.

The beach villages of Crescent Head and South West rocks are the pick of the area, but it involves travel. Euroka area is nice as is aldavilla. And crescent head road area is oretty good. East part of East kempsey is pretty good also.

It lacks growth so new employment and turnover of staff is low. Good skilled people will find some work, but compared to bigger towns and more progressive towns employment will prospects are limited. Nott he type of place you would give up a job to move to, hoping to find work when you arrive. If your prepared to do anything and mix in you will find some work. But if you move hear and wait for a job in your field to come up, it could be a very long wait.

Sorry about spelling..auto correct grrrr

Thanks condog, I've decided to go with the place on tozer street since it seems like a good spot and it is within the area you suggested would be a lesser evil. Thanks again, as for employment, there aren't many opportunities here in wauchope anyway. Any recommendations for childcare?

what can people please tell me about South West rocks down side, as I have experienced the positive. Rental areas, troubled peoples, Kempsey overflow of problems? Safety from troubled people?

areyoudeadset....mate, it's time to move.
Come to Ipswich, QLD. yes it's boring and prices are going up, BUT businesses are screaming for workers, especially in manufacturing and warehousing. Bring some mates and rent a unit in Booval or Bundamba together.

Hi, I'm looking to buy a house on Lord Street, East Kempsey. Any feedback? Would this be a good investment, or a bad investment, do you think?