Australia’s most dangerous suburb

Australia is the 19th most peaceful country in the world according to the 2024 Global Peace Index. Yet amidst this national tranquility, we’ve discovered one suburb that nearly ranks among the world's top 10 most dangerous places to live–and it's not where you might expect.

This sleepy beachside town is riddled with so much crime, infidelity and "accidents" that even Tony Soprano would hesitate to live here.

We've got the stats:

• 133 'potentially avoidable deaths' were recorded over the last 37 years in a community of just 1,652 residents translates to 218 deaths per 100,000 people—more than double Australia's 97 per 100,000.

• Homicides are the most common cause of death with 54 victims for every 100,000 persons, making residents 25 times more likely to be murdered here than elsewhere in Australia.

• It’s not enough to be on good terms with the folk; getting around is eight times more dangerous, with vehicular accidents claiming 37 lives per 100,000 compared to Australia's 5 per 100,000.

The numbers are in, the maths is done, and the shock put aside.

Summer Bay, the coastal set for TV soap opera Home and Away, is Australia's most dangerous suburb.

But could things be taking a turn?

In contrast to the late 90s to early 2000s, which was particularly deadly for the beachside community as deaths spiked to 7-9 in a single year, the last decade has appeared more muted with just 2-3 deaths per year.

The local real estate market adds to the enigma. Property values in Summer Bay were slow moving in the early 2000s and even experienced a decline from 2007 to 2009, coinciding with this period of increased fatalities. Following this dip, prices stagnated until breaking the $1.5M threshold in 2015, after which they have more than doubled.

While this growth pattern largely mirrors Sydney's broader market trends, it's worth considering whether the rising property values correlate with the recent decrease in deaths.