NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Barnsley, 2278
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
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Barnsley 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. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and schools and education lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,735
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,784
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 23 of 639
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 64.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 41 / 0 / 4
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 90
- Against the person
- 29
- Against property
- 48
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 51.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 60 residents
- State safety percentile
- 28.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +4.9%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault15
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment15
- Malicious Damage To Property15
- Motor Vehicle Theft9
- Steal From Motor Vehicle13
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
- 950
- Barnsley 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
45 public transport stops in this suburb
- Appletree Rd Before Taylor Av
- Government Rd At Prince St
- Government Rd Opp Taylor Memorial Reserve
- Johnson Av Opp Taylor Memorial Reserve
- Northville Dr After Government 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).
80 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces21 NELSON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Under Assessment
- Subdivision15 CODRINGTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah5 COLLEGE STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure60 CODRINGTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
2025· 10 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool15 BENDIGO ROAD BARNSLEY 2278Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure21 THOMAS STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space25 CLIFFBROOK STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 ALBERT STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 CHARLTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
June 2025
- Subdivision32 CHARLTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation72 GEORGE STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
April 2025
- Subdivision7 CHARLTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40A NORTHVILLE DRIVE BARNSLEY 2278Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 ALBERT STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
2024· 11 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 GOVERNMENT ROAD BARNSLEY 2278Determined
October 2024
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)7 CHARLTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool51 THOMAS STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure27 NELSON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah17 CLIFFBROOK STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 VICTORIA STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure67 THOMAS STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 NORTHVILLE DRIVE BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 NELSON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation16 TAYLOR AVENUE BARNSLEY 2278Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)28B CODRINGTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
2023· 13 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport22A THOMAS STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space15 MACQUARIE STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
November 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 MACQUARIE STREET BARNSLEY 2278Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 NORTHVILLE DRIVE BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Subdivision8 JOHNSON AVENUE BARNSLEY 2278Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 CODRINGTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Advertising and signage; Information and education facility6 CLIFFBROOK STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure10 NELSON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
July 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development11 GOVERNMENT ROAD BARNSLEY 2278Determined
June 2023
- Secondary dwelling33 CODRINGTON STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
April 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development23 NORTHVILLE DRIVE BARNSLEY 2278Determined
March 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing39 MACQUARIE STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling2 COLLEGE STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
2022· 2 proposals
November 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing25 CLIFFBROOK STREET BARNSLEY 2278Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development23 NORTHVILLE DRIVE BARNSLEY 2278Determined
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
27 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- Appletree Rd before Taylor AvBus stop
- Appletree Rd opp Taylor AvBus stop
- Barnsley Primary School, Cliffbrook StBus stop
- Charlton St At Bendigo StBus stop
- Government Rd at Prince StBus stop
- Government Rd opp Taylor Memorial ReserveBus stop
- Government Rd opp Victoria StBus stop
- Johnson Av opp Taylor Memorial ReserveBus stop
- Northville Dr after George 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
- Taylor Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
- Overlay applies
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)
- 9
- 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
- 38.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3814th in Australia
- State rank
- 1200th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #325 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #664 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
- Appletree Rd before Taylor Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Appletree Rd opp Taylor Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Barnsley Primary School, Cliffbrook Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Charlton St At Bendigo Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Government Rd at Prince Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Government Rd opp Taylor Memorial Reserveamenitiesbus_stop
- Government Rd opp Victoria Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Johnson Av opp Taylor Memorial Reserveamenitiesbus_stop
- Northville Dr after George 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.