NSW · Cessnock Council
Bellbird Heights, 2325
Current weather
16.3°CClear sky
66% humidity · 11.5 km/h wind · 21.5° / 13.2° today · 3.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Bellbird Heights sits up in the Cessnock hills, a smaller community where elevation and tree cover define the mood. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. Fresh country air and elevated outlooks are part of the appeal up here among the hills.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 805
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $1,487
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 24 of 323
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,580
- Employment rate
- 55.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 19 / 6 / 3
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)
- $463
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $570
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 271
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)
- 86
- Against the person
- 27
- Against property
- 34
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 106.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 75.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +2.7%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order198
- Breach Bail Conditions379
- Domestic Violence Related Assault299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment371
- Malicious Damage To Property332
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
17 public transport stops in this suburb
- Mathieson St After Keelendi Rd
- Mathieson St Before Keelendi Rd
- Wollombi Rd After Keelendi Rd
- Wollombi Rd After Lochinvar St
- Wollombi Rd Opp Victoria 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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Reduced speed limit. We are undertaking essential road works in your area to improve safety and infrastructure. To ensure the safety of all road users and our workers, traffic control measures will be in place. Traffic controllers and signage will guide vehicles safely through or around the work zone.Temporary speed reductions will be enforced to protect workers and motorists.Some lanes may be closed, or detours may be in place. Please follow all signage and directions from traffic controllers.Safe paths will be maintained. Please use designated crossings and follow signage.Wollombi Road, Alexander Street01 Sep 2025 – 30 Sep 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
29 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
May 2026
- Subdivision254 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Under Assessment
2025· 3 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Withdrawn
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure98 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool307 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
2024· 9 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah40 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility267 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space332 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
July 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure7 LOCHINVAR STREET BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport326 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure81 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
- Subdivision254 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
May 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility267 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure81 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
2023· 6 proposals
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space101 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
September 2023
- Centre based childcare267 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
August 2023
- Shed67 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
May 2023
- Stormwater management systems; Shed101 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
April 2023
- Shed3 LOCHINVAR STREET BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
February 2023
- Residential flat building; Alterations and additions to residential development99 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
2022· 5 proposals
December 2022
- Shed7 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
October 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces118 MATHIESON STREET BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
September 2022
- Subdivision of land254 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
January 2022
- Shed337 WOLLOMBI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing40 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
2021· 4 proposals
December 2021
- Subdivision of land99 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
November 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing15 CRUICKSHANK STREET BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
October 2021
- Change of use140 MATHIESON STREET BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Deferred Commencement
March 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces124 MATHIESON STREET BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
2020· 1 proposal
November 2020
- Shed68 KEELENDI ROAD BELLBIRD HEIGHTS 2325Determined
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
- Mathieson St after Keelendi RdBus stop
- Mathieson St at Lochinvar StBus stop
- Mathieson St before Keelendi RdBus stop
- Wollombi Rd after Brown StBus stop
- Wollombi Rd after Keelendi RdBus stop
- Wollombi Rd at King 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
- 17.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6731st in Australia
- State rank
- 2090th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #420 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #875 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
- Mathieson St after Keelendi Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Mathieson St at Lochinvar Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Mathieson St before Keelendi Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Wollombi Rd after Brown Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Wollombi Rd after Keelendi Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Wollombi Rd at King Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime198
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime379
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime371
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 Cessnock Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.