NSW · Cessnock Council
Ellalong, 2325
Current weather
17.2°CClear sky
60% humidity · 13.6 km/h wind · 21.3° / 14.6° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Cessnock, Ellalong keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,351
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,697
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 30 of 472
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,798
- Employment rate
- 58.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 43 / 0 / 3
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)
- $463
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $570
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 271
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)
- 145
- Against the person
- 46
- Against property
- 58
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 107.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 29 residents
- State safety percentile
- 75.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +2.4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order198
- Breach Bail Conditions379
- Domestic Violence Related Assault299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment371
- Malicious Damage To Property332
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
- 903
- Ellalong 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
19 public transport stops in this suburb
- Church St At Undine St
- Ellalong Rd Opp 272
- Helena St After Truro St
- Rugby St At Olney St
- Rugby St Opp John 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).
119 planning-related records
2026· 8 proposals
June 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure18 UNDINE STREET ELLALONG 2325Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure27 SOUTH STREET ELLALONG 2325Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport18 UNDINE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; 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 Australia23-25 CHURCH STREET ELLALONG 2325Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia105 WALLABY GULLY ROAD ELLALONG 2325Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure31 SOUTH STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation19 HECLA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure58-60 HELENA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
2025· 11 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure53 ALEXANDER STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 HECLA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23-25 CHURCH STREET ELLALONG 2325Rejected
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 HECLA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure28 VULTURE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 VULTURE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 RUGBY STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
May 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 Q4 PRIVATE ACCESS ELLALONG 2325Determined
April 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure58-60 HELENA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 HECLA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure88 VULTURE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
2024· 10 proposals
November 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development39 CHURCH STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 CAMPBELL STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure38 TRURO STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 VULTURE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 VULTURE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation26 VULTURE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool441 WALLABY GULLY ROAD ELLALONG 2325Determined
May 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development39 CHURCH STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah1555 SANDY CREEK ROAD ELLALONG 2325Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure88 VULTURE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
2023· 11 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 WATSON STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 UNDINE STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool25 OLNEY STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 SOUTH STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
October 2023
- Subdivision76-78 HELENA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure70 HELENA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
September 2023
- Subdivision14 WATSON STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Subdivision29-35 CHURCH STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces5-13 HECLA STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
July 2023
- Shed41-43 ALEXANDER STREET ELLALONG 2325Determined
June 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces39 CHURCH STREET ELLALONG 2325Withdrawn
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Hecla St at Campbell StBus 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- 28.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5568th in Australia
- State rank
- 1751st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #85 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #773 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Hecla St at Campbell Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime198
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime379
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime371
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime332
- Church St At Undine Sttransport
- Ellalong Rd Opp 272transport
- Helena St After Truro Sttransport
- Rugby St At Olney Sttransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Cessnock Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.