NSW · Willoughby Council
Castle Cove, 2069
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
51% humidity · 17.1 km/h wind · 21.2° / 13.8° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Castle Cove is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Willoughby with everyday amenities close at hand. Its inner position means surrounding suburbs are never far away, whether for a meal out or a change of scene. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, 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.
Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,643
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $3,439
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 65 of 942
- Median monthly mortgage
- $4,000
- Employment rate
- 55.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 25 / 53 / 29
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)
- $855
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,295
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $930
- 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)
- 47
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 22
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 17.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 189 residents
- State safety percentile
- 1.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -7.6%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault26
- Fraud31
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment25
- Malicious Damage To Property27
- Transport Regulatory Offences16
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
- 1,167
- Castle Cove 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
52 public transport stops in this suburb
- Boundary St Before Eastern Valley Way
- Castle Cove Public School, Holly St
- Eastern Valley Way At Deepwater Rd
- Eastern Valley Way Opp Smith St
- Holly St Opp Castle Cove Public School
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).
151 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure121 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Under Assessment
March 2026
- Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation74 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 PADULLA PLACE CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation175 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 BAMPI PLACE CASTLE COVE 2069Under Assessment
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 PARNOO AVENUE CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure45 HEADLAND ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 WARRAWEE AVENUE CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure234 BOUNDARY STREET CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 EMERSTAN DRIVE CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 COVE CIRCUIT CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 NEERIM ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure69 NEERIM ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool2 PARNOO AVENUE CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure258 BOUNDARY STREET CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7 CAMMARAY ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure121 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2B WILLOWIE ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure60 WILLOWIE ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure109 NEERIM ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool113 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Residential Accommodation2B KENDALL ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WILLIS ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 WILLIS ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)10 WARRAWEE AVENUE CASTLE COVE 2069Withdrawn
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses60 NEERIM ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure67 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 KENDALL ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
2024· 12 proposals
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 NEERIM ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Business premises; Hours of operation and trading2B HOLLY STREET CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 NEERIM ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 PADULLA PLACE CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 HEADLAND ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
September 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure121 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Subdivision20 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 WILLIS ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure57 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 CAMMARAY ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure193 DEEPWATER ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Residential Accommodation2B KENDALL ROAD CASTLE COVE 2069Determined
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
42 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (4)
- Headland LookoutBench
- Allambie Rd after Neerim RdBus stop
- Allambie Rd at Deepwater RdBus stop
- Castle Cove Country Club Golf Course, Headland RdBus stop
- Castle Cove Country Club Golf Course, Neerim RdBus stop
- Castle Cove Public School, Kendall RdBus stop
- Deepwater Rd before Denawen AvBus stop
- Deepwater Rd before Morella PlBus stop
- Deepwater Rd opp Mannerim PlBus 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
- Castle Cove ParkPark
- Denawen ParkPark
- Explosives ReserveNature reserve
- H.C. Press ParkNature reserve
- North Arm ReserveNature reserve
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
- The Family Doctor Medical PracticeDeepwater Roaddoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Innisfallen Castle and Grounds14 Cherry Place Castle CoveSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 16
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 50.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 28% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1874th in Australia
- State rank
- 599th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #35 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #414 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Allambie Rd after Neerim Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Allambie Rd at Deepwater Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Car repairamenitiescar_repair
- Castle Cove Country Club Golf Course, Headland Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Castle Cove Country Club Golf Course, Neerim Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Castle Cove Ovalamenitiespitch
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Willoughby Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.