NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Balmoral, 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
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Balmoral is a practical smaller community in Lake Macquarie, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. 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.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 730
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,931
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 20 of 290
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 59.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 18 / 3 / 0
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)
- 61
- Against the person
- 17
- Against property
- 16
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 83.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 43 residents
- State safety percentile
- 59.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1.3%
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
Public transport
19 public transport stops in this suburb
- Clydebank Rd Opp Letchworth Pde
- Letchworth Pde At Clydebank Rd
- Letchworth Pde At Hampstead Way
- Oakwood Rd At Clydebank Rd
- Woodlands Av At Clydebank 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).
98 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure37 WOODLANDS AVENUE BALMORAL 2283Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 EVESHAM CLOSE BALMORAL 2283Additional Information Requested
2025· 6 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 HASTINGS ROAD BALMORAL 2283Determined
August 2025
- Subdivision61 RAILWAY PARADE BALMORAL 2571Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)60 HAMPSTEAD WAY BALMORAL 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 CHELSEA CLOSE BALMORAL 2283Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)24 FRED AVERY DRIVE BALMORAL 2283Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Jetty10 LETCHWORTH PARADE BALMORAL 2283Determined
2024· 11 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support74 HAMPSTEAD WAY BALMORAL 2283Withdrawn
November 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 BOLANS ROAD BALMORAL 2571Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah24 FRED AVERY DRIVE BALMORAL 2283Determined
September 2024
- Subdivision7 NEWHAVEN CLOSE BALMORAL 2283Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation101 LETCHWORTH PARADE BALMORAL 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 WOODLANDS AVENUE BALMORAL 2283Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 FRED AVERY DRIVE BALMORAL 2283Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space5 HENDON CLOSE BALMORAL 2283Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure68 CLYDEBANK ROAD BALMORAL 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 Chelsea Close BalmoralDetermined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 NEWHAVEN CLOSE BALMORAL 2283Determined
2023· 17 proposals
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation20 FRED AVERY DRIVE BALMORAL 2283Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure400 WILSON DRIVE BALMORAL 2571Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling7 TRURO PLACE BALMORAL 2571Determined
July 2023
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land15 WOODLANDS AVENUE BALMORAL 2283Determined
- Shed9 STATION STREET BALMORAL 2571Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees32 FRED AVERY DRIVE BALMORAL 2283Withdrawn
- Dwelling; Shed2 TRURO PLACE BALMORAL 2571Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed2 LETCHWORTH PARADE BALMORAL 2283Determined
- Dwelling7 TRURO PLACE BALMORAL 2571Withdrawn
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed9 HASTINGS ROAD BALMORAL 2283Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs5 HADLEIGH ROAD BALMORAL 2283Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs18 HASTINGS ROAD BALMORAL 2283Determined
March 2023
- Shed13 WILLIAM STREET BALMORAL 2571Determined
- Dwelling412 WILSON DRIVE BALMORAL 2571Withdrawn
February 2023
- Other1 BALMORAL PLACE BALMORAL 2283Determined
January 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Shed1 VICTORIA STREET BALMORAL 2571Determined
- Shed3 TRURO PLACE BALMORAL 2571Determined
2022· 4 proposals
November 2022
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees74 HAMPSTEAD WAY BALMORAL 2283Determined
- Subdivision of land61 RAILWAY PARADE BALMORAL 2571Determined
October 2022
- Dwelling21 RAILWAY PARADE BALMORAL 2571Determined
- Dwelling; Shed3 EMILY STREET BALMORAL 2571Determined
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
6 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Letchworth Pde at Clydebank RdBus stop
- Letchworth Pde at Hampstead WayBus stop
- Letchworth Pde at Lambeth WalkBus stop
- Letchworth Pde before Clydebank RdBus stop
- Letchworth Pde opp Hamstead WayBus stop
- Letchworth Pde opp Lambeth WalkBus 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 25.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6068th in Australia
- State rank
- 1894th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #124 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #832 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Letchworth Pde at Clydebank Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Letchworth Pde at Hampstead Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- Letchworth Pde at Lambeth Walkamenitiesbus_stop
- Letchworth Pde before Clydebank Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Letchworth Pde opp Hamstead Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- Letchworth Pde opp Lambeth Walkamenitiesbus_stop
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime387
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime156
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime194
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime138
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- 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.