NSW · Newcastle Council
Callaghan, 2308
Current weather
17.6°CClear sky
64% humidity · 11.4 km/h wind · 22.4° / 13.5° today · 1.7 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Callaghan is a practical smaller community in Newcastle, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Young professionals and new households shape much of the local mix. 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.
Getting around the metro area is straightforward, with transport tying neighbouring communities together. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because community and employment and growth momentum lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in parks and green space and schools and education.
Population
- Population
- 1,358
- Median age
- 20
- Median household income / week
- $0
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 0 of 0
- Median monthly mortgage
- $0
- Employment rate
- 36.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 0 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 133
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 40
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 97.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 97 residents
- State safety percentile
- 68.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -3.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Malicious Damage To Property9
- Other Theft7
- Prohibited And Regulated Weapons Offences5
- Steal From Motor Vehicle13
- Transport Regulatory Offences68
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
21 public transport stops in this suburb
- Mathematics Building, Ring Rd
- Ring Rd Opp Mathematics Building
- Ring Rd Opp The Wollotuka Institute
- The Wollotuka Institute, Ring Rd
- University Of Newcastle Western Entrance, University Dr
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).
4 planning-related records
2025· 1 proposal
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Co-living130 UNIVERSITY DRIVE CALLAGHAN 2308Determined
2022· 1 proposal
October 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels; Other130 UNIVERSITY DRIVE CALLAGHAN 2308Determined
2021· 1 proposal
February 2021
- Dwelling12 Callaghan St, Marsden Park NSW 2765Determined
2020· 1 proposal
October 2020
- Signage130 UNIVERSITY DRIVE CALLAGHAN 2308Determined
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
244 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq (5)
- Bench (14)
- Bicycle Parking (25)
- University of NewcastleBicycle Parking
- Mathematics Building, Ring RdBus stop
- Ring Rd opp Mathematics BuildingBus stop
- Ring Rd opp The Wollotuka InstituteBus stop
- Shuttle Stop: Carpark 16Bus stop
- Shuttle Stop: ChancelleryBus stop
- Shuttle Stop: ChemistryBus 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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bernie Curran Oval (Oval 1)Park
- Great LawnPark
- Oval 4Park
- Park On The HillPark
- Scobie HeathPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Callaghan Campus PharmacyUnion Lanepharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- KU Kintaiba (KIN)University Drivekindergarten
- KU Kooinda (KOO)Kintaiba Roadkindergarten
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 83
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- 40.8/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 49% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3332nd in Australia
- State rank
- 1045th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #300 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #614 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 72%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 2NURFM 103.7amenitiesstudio
- Auchmuty LibraryamenitiesRing Road, Callaghanlibrary
- Auchmuty Prayer Roomamenitiesplace_of_worship
- Bar on the HillamenitiesRing Road, Callaghanpub
- Batting Cageamenitiespitch
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Newcastle Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.