NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Arcadia Vale, 2283
Current weather
16.9°CClear sky
67% humidity · 13.5 km/h wind · 20.8° / 13.8° today · 3.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Arcadia Vale is a well-connected smaller community in Lake Macquarie with everyday amenities close at hand. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability against similar metro suburbs, even with parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,431
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,550
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 53 of 594
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,684
- Employment rate
- 56.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 51 / 3 / 6
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 89
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 119
- Against the person
- 34
- Against property
- 31
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 83.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 58th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions387
- Domestic Violence Related Assault156
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment194
- Malicious Damage To Property138
- Transport Regulatory Offences278
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 971
- Arcadia Vale Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
31 public transport stops in this suburb
- Alexander Pde At Brooks St
- Alexander Pde At Glen Av
- Donnelly Rd At Glade St
- Ilford Av Before Barry St
- Wangi Oval, Donnelly Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
107 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space97 ILFORD AVENUE ARCADIA VALE 2283Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 PARK STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure94 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Under Assessment
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool121 ILFORD AVENUE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure15 BROOKS STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development123 DONNELLY ROAD ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Jetty35 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 GLEN AVENUE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Boat launching ramp39 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support13 PARK STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
September 2025
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure110 ILFORD AVENUE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah110 ILFORD AVENUE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure74 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure89 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)39 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure; Jetty15 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure60 GLADE STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool40 BROOKS STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure; Jetty13 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home48 MACQUARIE STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 GLADE STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure; Jetty13 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Boat launching ramp39 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure60 GLADE STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
2024· 9 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure123A DONNELLY ROAD ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
October 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation15 BRIGHTON STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure; Jetty13 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool75 DONNELLY ROAD ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 ARCADIA STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Carport5 BRIGHTON STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
January 2024
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)110 ILFORD AVENUE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Other15 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 GLADE STREET ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure72 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure87 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 GLEN AVENUE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure95 ALEXANDER PARADE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation53 DONNELLY ROAD ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
November 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation125 ILFORD AVENUE ARCADIA VALE 2283Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
18 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Alexander Pde at Brooks StBus stop
- Alexander Pde at Donnelly RdBus stop
- Alexander Pde at Glen AvBus stop
- Alexander Pde opp Donnelly RdBus stop
- Alexander Pde opp Glen AvBus stop
- Alexander Pde opp Kyrwood LaneBus stop
- Ilford Av at Lisburn StBus stop
- Ilford Av before Barry StBus stop
- Ilford Av opp Barry StBus stop
- Illford Av opp Lisburn StBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Arcadia ReservePark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
- Sylvan ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 13
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 30.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5230th in Australia
- State rank
- 1661st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #103 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #780 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Alexander Pde at Brooks Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Alexander Pde at Donnelly Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Alexander Pde at Glen Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Alexander Pde opp Donnelly Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Alexander Pde opp Glen Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Alexander Pde opp Kyrwood Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Arcadia Reserve Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Ilford Av at Lisburn Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Ilford Av before Barry Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Ilford Av opp Barry Stamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.