NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Cardiff South, 2285
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
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie, Cardiff South is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker parks and green space and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and safety holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,931
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $1,688
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 41 of 1,151
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,777
- Employment rate
- 64.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 77 / 88 / 27
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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 226
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)
- 214
- Against the person
- 52
- Against property
- 101
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 73
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 56 residents
- State safety percentile
- 51.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud222
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment170
- Malicious Damage To Property232
- Steal From Motor Vehicle186
- Transport Regulatory Offences264
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
- 1,017
- Cardiff South 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
51 public transport stops in this suburb
- First St At Lake Av
- Gertrude St At Helen St
- Hillsborough Rd After Crocket St
- John St At Francis St
- Maud St At Ethel St
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).
115 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure13 ELIZABETH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)7 LEWIS STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia36 GERTRUDE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 ORCHARD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support14 WATERVIEW ROAD CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support14 WATERVIEW ROAD CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28B BEESON STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space7 MAUD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation5 CROCKETT STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Group home (permanent)10 FLORENCE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 EVELEEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure56 SECOND STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 BEESON STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure37 SECOND STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces33 HELEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia36 GERTRUDE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure11 HADDINGTON DRIVE CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure10 BEESON STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 HELEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 ELIZABETH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure26B ELIZABETH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 HELEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah24 CROCKETT STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent)22 GERTRUDE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 HELEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah1 ARTHUR STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 FLORENCE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
October 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support53 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation27 Elizabeth Street, Cardiff South NSW 2285Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 MAUD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 15 MAUD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 FLORENCE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
June 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 FLORINA CLOSE CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support53 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 LEWIS STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
May 2024
- Advertising and signage; School9 LAKE AVENUE CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Fences; Privacy screens; Rainwater tanks3 PRINCE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space42 MAUD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
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
31 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Cardiff South Public School, Lake AvBus stop
- Crockett St after Hillsborough RdBus stop
- Crockett St after Knight StBus stop
- Fifth opp Elm AvBus stop
- Fifth St at Lewis StBus stop
- Fifth St before Elm StBus stop
- Fifth St opp Lewis StBus stop
- First St at John StBus stop
- First St at Lake AvBus stop
- First St at Pine AvBus 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
- Ulinga ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- childcarechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 2
- 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
- 43.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 42% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2786th in Australia
- State rank
- 889th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #273 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #556 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Post Boxamenitiespost_box
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Telephoneamenitiestelephone
- Butcheramenitiesbutcher
- Cardiff South Convenience Storeamenitiesconvenience
- Cardiff South Public School, Lake Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Childcareamenitieschildcare
- Crockett St after Hillsborough Rdamenitiesbus_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.