NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Fennell Bay, 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
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie, Fennell Bay is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and schools and education lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,780
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,375
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 39 of 737
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,734
- Employment rate
- 50.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 62 / 42 / 41
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)
- 148
- Against the person
- 42
- Against property
- 39
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 83.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 58th (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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 889
- Fennell Bay 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
28 public transport stops in this suburb
- Fennell Bay Public School, Bay Rd
- Macquarie Rd At Brougham Av
- Macquarie Rd At Prince St
- Macquarie Rd Opp Brighton St
- Main Rd Before Bay Rd
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).
69 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure15 MARGARET STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure; Boat launching ramp28 EDWARD STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Under Assessment
April 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure6 ELIZABETH STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space34 ELIZABETH STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development16 PRINCE STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Additional Information Requested
2025· 14 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 SANDRA STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space16 MACQUARIE ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation321 MAIN ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 BAY ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Swimming pool34 PRINCE STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space4 MAHOGANY PLACE FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 BLANDFORD STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers36 MACQUARIE ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure22 LAKE ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space4 MARGARET STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support19 PRINCE STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
January 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure10 BROUGHAM AVENUE FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space4 MARGARET STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- 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 Australia20 HARRINGTON STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Withdrawn
2024· 14 proposals
November 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 MARGARET STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation36 ELIZABETH STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space13 PRINCE STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation6 BELLEVUE LANE FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure293 MAIN ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah54 MACQUARIE ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Subdivision12 TURNBULL STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)22 BLANDFORD STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool50 MACQUARIE ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 BROUGHAM AVENUE FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
March 2024
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Dual occupancy (detached)89 MACQUARIE ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation6 BELLEVUE LANE FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
January 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool15 ELIZABETH STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure6 EDWARD STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 TURNBULL STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 BROUGHAM AVENUE FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures1 MAHOGANY PLACE FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
October 2023
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)87 MACQUARIE ROAD FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 BLANDFORD STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
August 2023
- Subdivision of land12 TURNBULL STREET FENNELL BAY 2283Determined
July 2023
- Retaining walls, protection of trees1 MAHOGANY PLACE FENNELL BAY 2283Withdrawn
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
16 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bay Rd at Blandford StBus stop
- Bay Rd opp Fennell Bay Public SchoolBus stop
- Fennell Bay Public School, Bay RdBus stop
- Macquarie Rd at Brighton StBus stop
- Macquarie Rd at Brougham AvBus stop
- Macquarie Rd at Prince StBus stop
- Macquarie Rd before Main RdBus stop
- Macquarie Rd opp Brighton StBus stop
- Macquarie Rd opp Brougham AvBus stop
- Main Rd after Ottys LaneBus 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)
- 3/10
- 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)
- 4
- 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
- 28.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5520th in Australia
- State rank
- 1741st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #113 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #800 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
- Bay Rd at Blandford Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Bay Rd opp Fennell Bay Public Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
- Fennell Bay Public School, Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Macquarie Rd at Brighton Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Macquarie Rd at Brougham Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Macquarie Rd at Prince Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Macquarie Rd before Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Macquarie Rd opp Brighton Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Macquarie Rd opp Brougham Avamenitiesbus_stop
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.