NSW · Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Fernbank Creek, 2444
Current weather
16.8°CClear sky
90% humidity · 6.2 km/h wind · 23.1° / 11.8° today · 1 mm rain
Updated
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Fernbank Creek is a residential smaller community in Port Macquarie-Hastings with a familiar suburban feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Population
- Population
- 122
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,625
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 48
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,625
- Employment rate
- 60.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 3 / 0 / 0
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)
- $490
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $660
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 551
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)
- 11
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 4
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 90.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 41 residents
- State safety percentile
- 63.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Reported offences are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions379
- Fraud335
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment422
- Malicious Damage To Property387
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault342
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
5 public transport stops in this suburb
- Hastings River Dr At Oakes Cres
- Hastings River Dr At Oakes Cres
- Hastings River Dr Before Winery Dr
- Hastings River Dr Before Winery Dr
- Hastings River Dr Opp Oakes Cres
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).
12 planning-related records
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportOAKES CRESCENT FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Waterway structures - minor alterations4 GLEN EWAN ROAD FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
- Demolition; Freight transport facility4 GLEN EWAN ROAD FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
2024· 2 proposals
February 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool89 OAKES CRESCENT FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool461 FERNBANK CREEK ROAD FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
2023· 2 proposals
October 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Farm building72 OAKES CRESCENT FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
April 2023
- Other706 FERNBANK CREEK ROAD FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
2022· 2 proposals
October 2022
- Secondary dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces608 FERNBANK CREEK ROAD FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Other706 FERNBANK CREEK ROAD FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
2021· 3 proposals
August 2021
- Dwelling608 FERNBANK CREEK ROAD FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
April 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development43 WILLOW CRESCENT FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
January 2021
- Telecommunications and communication facilities201 FERNBANK CREEK ROAD FERNBANK CREEK 2444Determined
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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)
- 10
- 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
Recent changes
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime379
- Fraudcrime335
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime422
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime387
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime342
- Hastings River Dr At Oakes Crestransport
- Hastings River Dr At Oakes Crestransport
- Hastings River Dr Before Winery Drtransport
- Hastings River Dr Before Winery Drtransport
- Hastings River Dr Opp Oakes Crestransport
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)
More in Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.