NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Cams Wharf, 2281
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.2° / 14.1° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Cams Wharf is a residential smaller community in Lake Macquarie with a familiar suburban feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. There is a settled, neighbourly feel to the area that rewards people who like knowing their patch.
Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
Population
- Population
- 182
- Median age
- 56
- Median household income / week
- $1,385
- Dwelling vacancy
- 56%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 107 of 191
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,400
- Employment rate
- 44.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 12 / 53 / 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)
- $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)
- 12
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 4
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 65.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 61 residents
- State safety percentile
- 44.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Reported offences are unchanged 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
Public transport
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Cams Wharf Rd After Raffertys Rd
- Cams Wharf Rd After Raffertys Rd
- Cams Wharf Rd Opp Crangan Bay Dr
- Cams Wharf Rd Opp Crangan Bay 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).
22 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2025· 4 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 POINT STREET CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 POINT STREET CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision170 CURRAWONG CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Withdrawn
March 2025
- Pub; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Function centre; Hours of operation and trading1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2024· 5 proposals
October 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Recreation area1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Withdrawn
August 2024
- Pub; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Function centre; Hours of operation and trading1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
May 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool1A CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
April 2024
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 KINGFISHER CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2023· 2 proposals
December 2023
- Temporary building, structure or use; Recreation area1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed11 CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2022· 5 proposals
September 2022
- Dwelling1A CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
July 2022
- Demolition; Pub1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing7 RAFFERTYS ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
- Recreational Uses1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
March 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing404 CURRAWONG CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2021· 5 proposals
November 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces83 KINGFISHER CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling614 CURRAWONG CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
June 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development4 CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
May 2021
- Other8 CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
April 2021
- Dwelling1A CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 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
16 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Cams Wharf Rd after Raffertys RdBus stop
- Cams Wharf Rd opp Crangan Bay RdBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Cams Wharf RdBus stop
- Picnic Table (10)
- Cams Wharf TavernPub
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
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)
- 4/10
- 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
- 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
Recent changes
- Cams Wharf Rd after Raffertys Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Cams Wharf Rd opp Crangan Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Cams Wharf Tavernamenitiespub
- Pacific Hwy at Cams Wharf Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
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.