NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Blacksmiths, 2281
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
- Coastal
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Blacksmiths 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.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and parks and green space lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,881
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,252
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 82 of 850
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 49.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 71 / 53 / 18
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)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
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)
- 125
- Against the person
- 32
- Against property
- 46
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 59 residents
- State safety percentile
- 44.8th (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 Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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
- 1,004
- Blacksmiths 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
47 public transport stops in this suburb
- Pacific Hwy After Turea St
- Pacific Hwy At Awabakal Av
- Pacific Hwy At Docker St
- Pacific Hwy At Maneela St
- Pelican Flat Park, Pacific Hwy
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).
123 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure157 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Under Assessment
April 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (external)145 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool91 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool13 KOLANG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool4 AWABAKAL AVENUE BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)3 WAREA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 MITTI STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 AWABAKAL AVENUE BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 MITTI STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 BINDA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 CARAWA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 BIWONG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (external)145 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure3 GOMMERA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 PARK PARADE BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space13 GOMMERA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 MANEELA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
August 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool1 AMAROO STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 GARRAWANTARA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 GOMMERA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
June 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)59 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 KOLANG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 CARAWA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 GOMMERA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool16 KALINDA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 MITTI STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
2024· 14 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 BOIKON STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 MITTI STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool28 KOLANG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure91 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 AMAROO STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
August 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure29 PACIFIC HIGHWAY BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development14 TIRRANNA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 MANEELA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 ALDUNGA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
May 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 KALINDA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (indoor); Recreation facility (outdoor)118 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
April 2024
- Business premises; Erection of a new structure78 Pacific Highway, BLACKSMITHS NSW 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space14 BINDA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport81 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
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
40 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- The Bakers DenBakery
- Bicycle Parking
- Pacific Hwy after Gommera StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy after Turea StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Awabakal AvBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Docker StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Maneela StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy opp Lake Macquarie AirportBus stop
- Pelican Flat Park, Pacific HwyBus stop
- Piriwal St after Warea 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Dobinson ReservePark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
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)
- 3/10
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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 43.1/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 44% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2925th in Australia
- State rank
- 927th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #39 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #98 among Coastal & beach 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
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Blacksmiths Post Officeamenities80 Turea Streetpost_office
- Fish Cleaningamenitiesfish_cleaning
- Orana Hotelamenitiespub
- Pacific Hwy after Gommera Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy after Turea Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy at Awabakal Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy at Docker Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy at Maneela Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy opp Lake Macquarie Airportamenitiesbus_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.