NSW · Maitland Council
Bolwarra, 2320
Current weather
17.5°CClear sky
65% humidity · 12.2 km/h wind · 21.9° / 12.6° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Maitland, Bolwarra is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. 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 local dining and lifestyle amenities and parks and green space lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,350
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,217
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 19 of 489
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 63.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 38 / 14 / 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $485
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 357
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)
- 143
- Against the person
- 39
- Against property
- 52
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 105.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 35 residents
- State safety percentile
- 74.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions609
- Domestic Violence Related Assault329
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment381
- Malicious Damage To Property307
- Steal From Motor Vehicle237
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
- 1,032
- Bolwarra 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
32 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bolwarra Lookout, Paterson Rd
- Bolwarra Rd Opp Bolwarra Public School
- Bolwarra Uniting Church, Paterson Rd
- Kensington Rd After Bayswater Rd
- Kensington Rd At Denison 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).
179 planning-related records
2026· 13 proposals
May 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure22 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure120 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah39 PANDANUS CIRCUIT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 ADDISON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation35 HUNTERGLEN DRIVE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers7 COTTONWOOD CLOSE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure63 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development40 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Demolition86 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Withdrawn
- Subdivision31 HUNTERGLEN DRIVE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure70 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation17 ADDISON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support23 ADDISON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
2025· 26 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)108 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 VANTAGE COURT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport5 VICTORIA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure22 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)5A LAGOON AVENUE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Subdivision23 HUNTERGLEN DRIVE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures; Pathways and paving; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers; Swimming pool10 RIVERSIDE STREET BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)5 LAGOON AVENUE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 BAYSWATER ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Operational consent issued
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support34 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development108 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure61 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Withdrawn
- Subdivision29 BAYSWATER ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Horticulture18 BAYSWATER ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Subdivision5 HUNTERGLEN DRIVE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool42 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure69A BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development7 RIVERSIDE STREET BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure123 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure37 PANDANUS CIRCUIT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Landscaping structures16 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Fences140 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 VANTAGE COURT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development27 FLAT ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 VANTAGE COURT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
2024· 1 proposal
December 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space27 ADDISON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
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
33 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Addison Rd after Bayswater RdBus stop
- Addison Rd after Westbourne RdBus stop
- Addison Rd at Bayswater RdBus stop
- Addison Rd before Westbourne RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Heights Public School, Bolwarra RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Lookout, Paterson RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Rd at Maitland RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Rd opp Bolwarra Public SchoolBus stop
- Bolwarra Rd opp Maitland RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Uniting Church, Paterson RdBus 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
- Bolwarra Heights LookoutPark
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)
- 9/10
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)
- 1
- 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
- 38.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3779th in Australia
- State rank
- 1184th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #321 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #657 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
- Addison Rd after Bayswater Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Addison Rd after Westbourne Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Addison Rd at Bayswater Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Addison Rd before Westbourne Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bolwarra Heights Lookout Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Bolwarra Heights Public School, Bolwarra Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bolwarra Lookout, Paterson Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bolwarra Ovalamenitiespitch
- Bolwarra Rd at Maitland Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bolwarra Rd opp Bolwarra Public Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Maitland Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.