NSW · Newcastle Council
Cooks Hill, 2300
Current weather
18.1°CClear sky
64% humidity · 14.1 km/h wind · 21.8° / 14.1° today · 2.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Café precinct
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Cooks Hill hums with inner-city energy, a mid-sized suburb where there is always something happening nearby. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
There is a genuine buzz to daily life, with restaurants, bars and cultural outings all within reach. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker housing affordability and parks and green space against similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment and growth momentum holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 3,774
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,881
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 228 of 1,942
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,297
- Employment rate
- 65.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 92 / 879 / 532
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)
- $680
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $690
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 335
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)
- 939
- Against the person
- 172
- Against property
- 375
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 248.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 98.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions756
- Malicious Damage To Property206
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault197
- Other Theft189
- Steal From Motor Vehicle173
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
- 949
- Alesco Secondary CollegeSpecial
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
28 public transport stops in this suburb
- Newcastle Grammar School, Union St
- Parkway Av After Bruce St
- Parkway Av At Bruce St
- Union St After Parry St
- Union St After Parry 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).
223 planning-related records
2026· 13 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space48 TOOKE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation179 DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Landscaping structures41 CORLETTE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure1 79 BRUCE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure83 TOOKE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Demolition; Commercial development; Advertising and signage; 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 Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)1 126 DARBY STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club98A DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 YOUNG STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure9 QUEEN STREET COOKS HILL 2300Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 RAILWAY STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
February 2026
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Tourist and visitor accommodation140 DARBY STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure140 BRUCE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure9 QUEEN STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
2025· 27 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation60 RAILWAY STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)50 PARKWAY AVENUE COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 RAILWAY STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure123 DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure9 QUEEN STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure157 DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 CORLETTE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure92 BRUCE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 PARRY STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space48 TOOKE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation118 DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah98A DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure65 TOOKE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure123 DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure130 BRUCE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Residential flat building; Commercial development; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation113-125 DARBY STREET COOKS HILL 2300Withdrawn
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure48 BRUCE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation60 RAILWAY STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport50 BRUCE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure77 TOOKE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Fences2 CORLETTE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility; Other Infrastructure1 LAMAN STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation111 DAWSON STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
February 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure100 BRUCE STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation86 BULL STREET COOKS HILL 2300Determined
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
129 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Alcohol
- Vintage CellarsAlcohol
- Winning AppliancesAppliance
- ATM
- 5 Sawyers Darby StreetBar
- Bar RomeoBar
- Terrace on DarbyBar
171 Darby Street, Cooks Hill
- SKiiNsureBeauty salon
- The Beauty BarBeauty salon
- Bench (10)
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
- Centennial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Darby Street Day Night Chemistpharmacy
- The Good Dentistdentist
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)
- 7/10
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
- St John's Church, Hall & Grounds1D Parry Street Cooks HillSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 1
- 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
- 37.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3913th in Australia
- State rank
- 1232nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #269 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #675 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
- 3 Monkeysamenitiescafe
- 5 Sawyers Darby Streetamenitiesbar
- ATMamenitiesatm
- Abicusamenitiesclothes
- Alcoholamenitiesalcohol
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Australian Sports Nutritionamenitiesnutrition_supplements
- Baba Yagaamenitiescafe
- Bar Romeoamenitiesbar
- Beach Burrito Coamenitiesrestaurant
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.