NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Fassifern, 2283
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
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Fassifern is a well-connected smaller community in Lake Macquarie with everyday amenities close at hand. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, 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 nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and parks and green space. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 586
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,343
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 12 of 259
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,777
- Employment rate
- 53%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 16 / 28 / 8
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 89
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)
- 49
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 13
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 83.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 59.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions387
- Domestic Violence Related Assault156
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment194
- Malicious Damage To Property138
- Transport Regulatory Offences278
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 1,005
- Charlton Christian CollegeCombined
- Fassifern 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
20 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Tucker Cl
- FTB Tucker Cl
- Fassifern Station
- Fassifern Station, Platform 1
- Fassifern Station, Platform 2
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).
37 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development10 LAKE STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool15 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure10 BRIDGE STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
2025· 10 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development33 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)98 MACQUARIE ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool22 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development1 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
April 2025
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School43 FASSIFERN ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Additional Information Requested
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Educational establishment; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; School43 FASSIFERN ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Additional Information Requested
2024· 3 proposals
June 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School43 FASSIFERN ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Determined
April 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School43 FASSIFERN ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Withdrawn
March 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure40 WANGI ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Determined
2023· 8 proposals
August 2023
- Dwelling30 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces2 COOPER AVENUE FASSIFERN 2283Determined
April 2023
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces33 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
March 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing6 BRIDGE STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
February 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs25A FENNELL STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
January 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing6 BRIDGE STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces20 FENNELL STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces34 WANGI ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Determined
2022· 8 proposals
November 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development; Change of use17 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing26 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces20 FENNELL STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
July 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees33B FENNELL STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
June 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing2 BLUEWATER AVENUE FASSIFERN 2283Determined
May 2022
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision of land181 MACQUARIE ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces7 FENNELL STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
March 2022
- Shed36 AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
2021· 4 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling; Demolition26A AWABA STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
- Demolition; Shed96 MACQUARIE ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Determined
October 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development18 FENNELL STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
September 2021
- Secondary dwelling7 BRIDGE STREET FASSIFERN 2283Determined
2020· 1 proposal
November 2020
- Dwelling44 FASSIFERN ROAD FASSIFERN 2283Determined
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
13 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Fassifern Rd after Wallsend RdBus stop
- Fassifern Rd opp Dora StBus stop
- Fassifern Station, Tucker ClBus stop
- Playground (2)
- Fassifern OvalSports field
- Sports field
- Telephone
- Ticket Validator (2)
- FassifernTrain station
- Fassifern, Platform 1Train station
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)
- 3/10
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)
- 20
- 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
- 35.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4380th in Australia
- State rank
- 1391st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #87 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #722 among Metro Sydney 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
- Fassifernamenitiestrain_station
- Fassifern Ovalamenitiespitch
- Fassifern Rd after Wallsend Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Fassifern Rd opp Dora Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Fassifern Station, Tucker Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Fassifern, Platform 1amenitiestrain_station
- Fassifern, Platform 2amenitiestrain_station
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
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.