Rates
Paying your rates
Your rate payments help us to provide the Woollahra community with services including road maintenance, footpaths, upkeep of parks and reserves, planning and development services, libraries, and dedicated services for young people, families and people with a disability.
All rates are levied in July for the upcoming financial year and may be paid in full by the end of August or by four equal instalments by the last day of August, November, February and May each year. Interest at the rate of 9.0% from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 per annum accrues daily on overdue amounts.
Online rates services
Methods of payment
Council's preferred method of payment is direct debit.
Rates can also be paid:
- At any branch of the Commonwealth Bank
* To use this payment option, a Rate Notice is required
- By cheque (payable to Woollahra Council) mailed to Locked Bag W146 Sydney NSW 1292
* To use this payment option, a Rate Notice is required
- By credit card over the phone on 1300 859 660 (charges apply)
- Online payment service (charges apply)
- In person at our Customer Service Centre by cash, cheque, credit card (charges apply) and EFTPOS.
For more details phone Council's Rates Department on 9391 7051.
Residential rates
Approximately 94% of the rateable properties in the Woollahra Local Government Area are residential.
The rates on residential properties consist of a base amount plus an amount calculated by multiplying land value by a rate in the dollar. The base amount generates 50% of total residential rates with the other 50% calculated based on land value.
A State Government rebate of up to $250 per year can be granted to eligible pensioners, subject to verification by the Department of Veterans Affairs or Centrelink. Eligible pensioners also receive a full rebate for Council's Environmental and Infrastructure Renewal Levy.
Business rates
Approximately 6% of rateable properties in Woollahra are businesses.
Business rates are based on the following categories:
- General business
- Double Bay business area
- Rose Bay business area
- Oxford Street, Paddington business area
- Edgecliff business area
- Bellevue Hill business area
- Edgecliff/Grosvenor Streets business area
- Fiveways, Paddington, business area
- New South Head Road, Vaucluse, business area
- Old South Head Road, Rose Bay, business area
- Old South Head Road, Vaucluse, business area
- Plumer Road business area
- Queen Street business area
- Watsons Bay business area
The business rates are calculated by multiplying land value by a rate in the dollar, subject to a minimum rate of $779 for 2023/24 (a fixed rate in the dollar based on varying land values).
Valuations
The Valuer General is an independent statutory officer responsible for providing impartial land values.
Council is currently utilising a valuation base date of 01/07/2022 which is supplied by the Valuer General.
See the Valuer General's Land values and Council rates fact sheet for more information about land valuations.