Opening a pharmacy in Hurstville, NSW: Market & Competitor Analysis (2026)

Sixteen pharmacies operate in Hurstville. Against a population of 23,608, that puts competitive density at 71 out of 100 — one of the tighter clusters in the area. In practice, a new operator is entering a suburb already well served, so differentiation on location, hours or services matters more than in a typical outer suburb.

The numbers point to caution rather than a clear yes. Hurstville scores 43/100 overall, with market opportunity at 54/100 offset by high competitive density (71/100). It's not a closed market, but it's not an easy gap either — anyone going in needs a specific angle, not just a shopfront.

Weaker than the headcount suggests. The Competitor Strength Index sits at just 29/100 and effective density at 21/100, meaning most of the 16 pharmacies aren't performing strongly. Terrywhite Chemmart Hurstville leads on reputation with 4.5 stars from 104 reviews, while Chemist Warehouse Hurstville Forest Rd has volume (244 reviews) but a weak 2.8-star rating — a sign of unresolved service complaints.

Hurstville's 23,608 residents have a weekly household income of $1,379, roughly in line with the Sydney median. That supports steady spend on prescriptions, front-of-store health items and consultations, but it's not an affluent enough base to justify a premium-only model — volume and repeat scripts will matter more than high-margin retail.

Start by targeting the gap Chemist Warehouse Forest Rd has left open — its 2.8-star rating despite 244 reviews shows service complaints an operator can exploit with better dispensing turnaround or advice. Second, avoid clustering near Terrywhite Chemmart's stronghold and look at underserved pockets away from Forest Rd and Hurstville Central. Third, budget for a service that competes on care, not price, given weak effective density.