Gun ownership across the Illawarra region is on the rise, with new data revealing a significant concentration of firearms in local suburbs. This comes as the New South Wales government, led by Premier Chris Minns, commits to enacting the strictest gun control laws in the nation in the wake of the Bondi Beach mass shooting.
Suburbs with the Highest Firearm Concentrations
According to the latest figures, there are now 27,729 registered firearms in the hands of Illawarra residents. The data paints a clear picture of where these weapons are most densely held.
The postcode area 2530, encompassing Dapto, Koonawarra, Horsley, and Kanahooka, leads the region with a staggering 3,705 guns owned by 941 licensed holders. This averages to nearly four firearms per licence holder in that area.
Not far behind is the 2527 postcode, covering Albion Park, Calderwood, Croom, and Tongarra, with 3,216 guns registered to 900 people. The Shellharbour area, including Shell Cove, Flinders, and Oak Flats (postcode 2529), ranks third with 2,174 firearms owned by 610 licence holders.
Individual Collectors and a Growing Trend
The data uncovers extreme cases of individual ownership. One resident in the 2519 postcode, which includes Balgownie and Fairy Meadow, personally owns 159 individual firearms. Another in Corrimal and Bellambi (2518) owns 140 guns.
This local snapshot emerges against the backdrop of the Bondi Beach attack, where one of the accused, Sajid Akram, legally owned six guns. Overall, the Illawarra's firearm count has grown by 4.4 per cent in the last three years, increasing from 26,553 to the current 27,729.
Government Pledges "Toughest Laws in Australia"
In response to the national tragedy at Bondi, which left 16 dead and 40 injured, political leaders are pursuing urgent legislative reforms. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to ensure NSW has the most stringent gun laws in the country.
"I'm determined to bring in the toughest gun laws in Australia, and they'll be significantly tightened in NSW," Minns stated at a press conference in Sydney. He indicated the government would explore expanding the grounds for licence denial to include police intelligence, even for individuals without a formal criminal record.
The push for reform is supported by groups like the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, which acknowledges the success of the post-Port Arthur laws but argues they have not kept pace with modern technology and ownership patterns. The Alliance reiterates that firearm ownership in Australia is a privilege, not a right, contingent on a genuine public-interest need.
As the debate intensifies, the Illawarra's firearm statistics provide a concrete local example of the ownership landscape that state and national leaders are now urgently seeking to address.
