NSW · Northern Beaches Council
Fairlight, 2094
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
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
At the heart of the metro area, Fairlight is a mid-sized suburb where cafés, culture and everyday convenience overlap. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because housing affordability and parks and green space lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and growth momentum.
Population
- Population
- 6,141
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $3,251
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 219 of 2,623
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,467
- Employment rate
- 67.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 113 / 538 / 1,223
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)
- $940
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 77
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)
- 89
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 55
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 14.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 323 residents
- State safety percentile
- 0.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling8
- Fraud16
- Malicious Damage To Property6
- Steal From Motor Vehicle12
- Trespass7
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
62 public transport stops in this suburb
- Sydney Rd At Austin St
- Sydney Rd At Bellevue St
- Sydney Rd Opp Cohen St
- Sydney Rd Opp Crescent St
- Sydney Rd Opp Crescent 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).
335 planning-related records
2026· 23 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 BELLEVUE STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure181 SYDNEY ROAD FAIRLIGHT 2094Under Assessment
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)17 JAMIESON AVENUE FAIRLIGHT 2094Additional Information Requested
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure149-153 Sydney Road FairlightUnder Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Fences127 BALGOWLAH ROAD FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool37 FRANCIS STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Under Assessment
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure5 LAUDERDALE AVENUE FAIRLIGHT 2094Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)48 UPPER CLIFFORD AVENUE FAIRLIGHT 2094Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 FRANCIS STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces17 THORNTON STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)1 LAUDERDALE AVENUE FAIRLIGHT 2094Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure38 HILLTOP CRESCENT FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Stairway41 FAIRLIGHT CRESCENT FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure54 GRIFFITHS STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Under Assessment
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 BALTIC STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 FAIRLIGHT CRESCENT FAIRLIGHT 2094Additional Information Requested
- Shop top housing; Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure144 SYDNEY ROAD FAIRLIGHT 2094Additional Information Requested
- Residential flat building; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure81 Raglan Street, FairlightDetermined
February 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool2 KRUI STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation83 FAIRLIGHT STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 BOLINGBROKE PARADE FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 BELLEVUE STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 GRIFFITHS STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Additional Information Requested
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool82 GRIFFITHS STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Swimming pool80 LAUDERDALE AVENUE FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 THORNTON STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 AUGUSTA ROAD FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation5 PARKVIEW ROAD FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)75 LAUDERDALE AVENUE FAIRLIGHT 2094Pending Court Appeal
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation13 HILLTOP CRESCENT FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Subdivision1 LA PEROUSE STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling4 WILLIAM STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 BALTIC STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 BELLEVUE STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation24 THORNTON STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure38 HILLTOP CRESCENT FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 EDWIN STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
September 2025
- Subdivision1 LA PEROUSE STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Residential Accommodation8 BALTIC STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
August 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling66 GRIFFITHS STREET FAIRLIGHT 2094Determined
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
81 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Alcohol
- CoinFlip Bitcoin ATMATM
- Honeybee BoulangerieBakery
- St Remy BakeryBakery
- Bench (17)
- 79 Lauderdale AvBus stop
- Arthur St at Francis StBus stop
- Balgowlah Rd at Hill StBus stop
- Balgowlah Rd before Suwarrow StBus stop
- Balgowlah Rd opp Hill 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
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Weerona 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
- Fairlight Pharmacypharmacy
- Myora Medicaldoctor
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Only About Childrenchildcare
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)
- 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
- 50.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 28% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1864th in Australia
- State rank
- 594th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #213 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #410 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 79 Lauderdale Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Alcoholamenitiesalcohol
- Arthur St at Francis Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Avo's Auto Repairsamenities126 Sydney Roadcar_repair
- Balgowlah Rd at Hill Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Balgowlah Rd before Suwarrow Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Balgowlah Rd opp Hill Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Balgowlah Rd opp Manly Golf Clubamenitiesbus_stop
- Balgowlah Rd opp Suwarrow Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Northern Beaches Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.