NSW · Newcastle Council
Bar Beach, 2300
Current weather
18.1°CClear sky
64% humidity · 14.1 km/h wind · 21.8° / 14.1° today · 2.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Cycling
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Bar Beach is a coastal smaller community where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. Set on the coast at a distance from the capital, it trades city proximity for a slower, beach-led rhythm. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because growth momentum and transport and access lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,292
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,300
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 109 of 626
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,700
- Employment rate
- 63.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 28 / 108 / 199
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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $680
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $690
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 335
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)
- 321
- Against the person
- 59
- Against property
- 129
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 248.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 98.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions756
- Malicious Damage To Property206
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault197
- Other Theft189
- Steal From Motor Vehicle173
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
20 public transport stops in this suburb
- Fenton Av At Light St
- Fenton Av Opp Nickson St
- Parkway Av After Darby St
- Parkway Av Before Brooks St
- Parkway Av Before Light St
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).
97 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 BAR BEACH AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15A WRIGHTSON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
2025· 7 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool35 WRIGHTSON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure210 BROOKS STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Fences8 BAR BEACH AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Fences8 BAR BEACH AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Rejected
June 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 TOOKE STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 TOOKE STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation28 WRIGHTSON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
2024· 17 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah19 TOOKE STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 TOOKE STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 FENTON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
September 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation3 NICKSON STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences169 BROOKS STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 WRIGHTSON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 BAR BEACH AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
June 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces169 BROOKS STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 LIGHT STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure80 MEMORIAL DRIVE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport38 PARKWAY AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 FENTON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Garage, carport or carparking space; Pathways and paving; Privacy screens; Swimming pool11 NICKSON STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 PARKWAY AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 TOOKE STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
February 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation28 WRIGHTSON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Fences16 LIGHT STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
2023· 14 proposals
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Carport204 BROOKS STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure149 BROOKS STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 WRIGHTSON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 FENTON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure165 BROOKS STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
September 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool14 LIGHT STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces15 PARKWAY AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition; Retaining walls, protection of trees12 LIGHT STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Retaining walls, protection of trees; Other7 WRIGHTSON AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
June 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition8 BAR BEACH AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development26 BAR BEACH AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
May 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development14 TOOKE STREET BAR BEACH 2300Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development24 BAR BEACH AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
March 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces15 PARKWAY AVENUE BAR BEACH 2300Determined
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
65 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (4)
- Bicycle Parking (3)
- Darby St at Bar Beach AvBus stop
- Darby St at Parkway AvBus stop
- Fenton Av at Light StBus stop
- Fenton Av at Nickson StBus stop
- Fenton Av opp Nickson StBus stop
- Light St at Tooke StBus stop
- Parkway Av after Darby StBus stop
- Parkway Av before Brooks 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Empire ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- 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)
- 2
- 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
- 32.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4875th in Australia
- State rank
- 1556th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #57 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #150 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bar Beach Bowling & Sporting Clubamenitiessports_centre
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Darby St at Bar Beach Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Darby St at Parkway Avamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Newcastle Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.