NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Booragul, 2284
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
Booragul 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. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with family-friendly schooling within easy reach. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,623
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,114
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 31 of 614
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,636
- Employment rate
- 39%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 46 / 73 / 16
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)
- $510
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $675
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $655
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 84
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)
- 152
- Against the person
- 37
- Against property
- 65
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 93.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 44 residents
- State safety percentile
- 65.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +8.1%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud81
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment88
- Malicious Damage To Property89
- Steal From Motor Vehicle89
- Transport Regulatory Offences174
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 928
- Booragul Public SchoolPrimary
- Five Islands SchoolSpecial
- Lake Macquarie High SchoolSecondary
- St Paul's Catholic CollegeSecondary
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
49 public transport stops in this suburb
- Booragul Station
- Booragul Station, Toronto Rd
- FTB Station St
- RMP Station St
- STR To P1/2
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).
59 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development79 MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 GAINFORD STREET BOORAGUL 2284Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 WELLARD PARADE BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation11 FOURTH STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise2B FIRST STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 FIRST STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 WELLARD PARADE BOORAGUL 2284Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia15 Third Street, Booragul, NSW 2284Determined
October 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Function centre; Hours of operation and trading18 Marmong Street BooragulDetermined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool60 PRIMROSE STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 FOURTH STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Seniors housing; Erection of a new structure79 MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 BELL STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Dual occupancy; Temporary building, structure or use; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development79 MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
July 2025
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Manufactured home15 ELLESMERE STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care37 RANCLAUD STREET BOORAGUL 2284Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Manufactured home15 ELLESMERE STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7A MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 GRETEL CRESCENT BOORAGUL 2284Determined
2024· 7 proposals
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool6 MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
August 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Function centre; Hours of operation and trading18 Marmong Street BooragulDetermined
July 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Function centre; Hours of operation and trading18 Marmong Street BooragulDetermined
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures6 MERRIWA STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Seniors housing; Erection of a new structure79 MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 HAYDEN BROOK ROAD BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah9 BELL STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
2023· 14 proposals
December 2023
- Advertising and signage; School16 MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
November 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 ELLESMERE STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 WELLARD PARADE BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Seniors housing; Erection of a new structure79 MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35 FIRST STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
September 2023
- Signage14 MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition2 THIRD STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels7B MARMONG STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Dual occupancy3 BELL STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development7 ASPINALL STREET BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Dual occupancy7 LOYOLA CLOSE BOORAGUL 2284Determined
- Group homes4 LOYOLA CLOSE BOORAGUL 2284Determined
May 2023
- Dwelling37 MUSWELLBROOK CRESCENT BOORAGUL 2284Withdrawn
April 2023
- Dwelling37 MUSWELLBROOK CRESCENT BOORAGUL 2284Determined
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
25 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- 77 Marmong StBus stop
- Anglican Care Booragul, York StBus stop
- Booragul Station, Toronto RdBus stop
- First St after Fourth StBus stop
- First St at Fourth StBus stop
- Five Islands School, Marmong StBus stop
- Hayden Brook Rd after Merriwa StBus stop
- Hayden Brook Rd at Ranclaud StBus stop
- Hayden Brook Rd opp Merriwa 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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 17
- 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
- 40.2/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3447th in Australia
- State rank
- 1085th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #70 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #629 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
- 3 BearsamenitiesFirst Street, Booragulcafe
- 77 Marmong Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Anglican Care Booragul, York Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Booragulamenitiestrain_station
- Booragul Station, Toronto Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Booragul, Platform 1amenitiestrain_station
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
- First St after Fourth Stamenitiesbus_stop
- First St at Fourth 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.