Illawong is a quiet, leafy suburb tucked into the Sutherland Shire in southern Sydney, known for its bushland surrounds, family-friendly streets, and proximity to the Georges River. It's also a suburb where home insurance costs can vary quite significantly — making it all the more important to understand what drives your premium. This article breaks down a real home and contents insurance quote for a four-bedroom, free-standing home in Illawong (NSW 2234), and compares it against suburb, state, and national benchmarks to help you understand whether you're getting a fair deal.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question comes in at $2,398 per year (or $234 per month) for a combined home and contents policy. The building is insured for $852,000, with contents covered at $50,000, and a $2,000 excess applying to both building and contents claims.
Our price rating for this quote is CHEAP — below average — and the data backs that up convincingly.
Compared to the suburb average of $5,352 per year, this quote is sitting at less than half the typical price paid by Illawong homeowners. Even against the suburb's 25th percentile — meaning the cheapest quarter of quotes — this premium of $2,398 still comes in well below the $4,036 mark. That's a genuinely strong result.
At the state level, the NSW average home insurance premium sits at $3,801 per year, and the median is $3,410. This quote beats both figures comfortably. Nationally, the average premium across Australia is $2,965 per year, with a median of $2,716 — and again, this quote comes in below both.
In short, this is a well-priced policy relative to every benchmark we can compare it against. Whether that reflects smart shopping, a favourable risk profile, or a combination of both, it represents real savings for the homeowner.
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How Illawong Compares
Illawong sits in an interesting position when it comes to insurance pricing. Suburb-level data for NSW 2234 shows a wide spread of premiums — from around $4,036 at the 25th percentile up to $6,648 at the 75th percentile — suggesting that insurers are pricing risk quite differently depending on the specific property and its features.
| Benchmark | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $2,398 |
| Illawong Suburb Average | $5,352 |
| Illawong Suburb Median | $5,197 |
| Illawong 25th Percentile | $4,036 |
| Illawong 75th Percentile | $6,648 |
| NSW State Average | $3,801 |
| NSW State Median | $3,410 |
| Sutherland LGA Average | $3,650 |
| National Average | $2,965 |
| National Median | $2,716 |
The Illawong suburb average of $5,352 is notably higher than both the NSW state average and the national average — likely reflecting the area's bushfire exposure, proximity to bushland, and the higher property values typical of the Sutherland Shire. The LGA average for Sutherland ($3,650) is more moderate, suggesting that some parts of the Shire attract lower premiums than Illawong specifically.
It's worth noting that the suburb sample size here is 10 quotes, so while the data is directionally useful, a larger sample would give even greater confidence in these figures.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this particular property are worth examining in the context of insurance pricing.
Brick Veneer Walls & Tiled Roof Brick veneer construction with a tiled roof is generally viewed favourably by insurers. Brick offers solid fire resistance and durability, while tiles are a robust, long-lasting roofing material. Together, they typically attract lower premiums compared to properties with timber cladding or metal roofing, which can be more vulnerable to certain weather events.
Stump Foundation The home sits on stumps, which is common for properties built in this era (1988) across parts of Sydney. Stumped foundations can be more susceptible to movement and moisture-related issues over time, and some insurers may factor this into their assessment — though it doesn't appear to have significantly impacted this quote.
Heritage Overlay This property carries a heritage overlay, which is an important consideration. Heritage-listed or heritage-affected homes can be more expensive to repair or rebuild to the required standard — think period-accurate materials, specialist trades, and council approval requirements. Homeowners in this situation should ensure their sum insured genuinely reflects the cost of a heritage-compliant rebuild, not just a standard construction estimate.
Swimming Pool A pool on the property adds liability exposure and can contribute to a slightly higher premium. Pools also require specific safety compliance under NSW law, and insurers will factor in the risk of accidents and property damage.
Solar Panels Solar panels are increasingly common on Australian homes and are generally covered under a standard home insurance policy, though it's worth confirming this with your insurer. Panels represent a meaningful asset — worth checking that your sum insured accounts for their replacement value.
Tile Flooring Tiled flooring throughout is a practical choice in the Illawong climate and is generally considered a lower-risk material from an insurance perspective compared to timber floors, which can be more susceptible to water damage and warping.
Building Size: 235 sqm At 235 square metres, this is a substantial family home. Larger homes generally cost more to rebuild, which is reflected in the $852,000 sum insured. Getting the sum insured right is critical — underinsurance is one of the most common and costly mistakes homeowners make.
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Tips for Homeowners in Illawong
1. Don't benchmark your premium against the suburb average alone The Illawong suburb average of $5,352 is high relative to state and national figures. If your renewal quote is creeping towards that figure, don't assume it's normal — it may simply mean you haven't compared the market recently. Use CoverClub's quote comparison tool to see what other insurers would charge for your property.
2. Review your sum insured carefully — especially with a heritage overlay Heritage-affected properties can cost significantly more to rebuild than a comparable non-heritage home. Make sure your building sum insured reflects the true cost of restoring the property to its required standard, including any heritage-compliant materials and council requirements.
3. Check your pool and solar panel coverage Confirm with your insurer that both your pool and solar panels are explicitly covered under your policy. Some policies may have sublimits or exclusions for these items, and it's better to know before you need to make a claim.
4. Consider your excess strategically This policy carries a $2,000 excess for both building and contents. A higher excess typically reduces your annual premium — but make sure it's an amount you could comfortably pay in the event of a claim. If $2,000 would be a stretch, it may be worth adjusting your excess and seeing how it affects your premium at renewal.
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Compare Your Home Insurance Today
Whether you're renewing your policy or shopping for the first time, it pays to compare. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive quotes in Illawong is striking — and as this example shows, significant savings are achievable. Head to CoverClub to get a home and contents insurance quote tailored to your property, and see how your current premium stacks up against the market.