NSW · Port Stephens Council
Fingal Bay, 2315
Current weather
19.8°CClear sky
59% humidity · 14.4 km/h wind · 22.4° / 16.8° today · 1.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Fingal Bay revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Set on the coast at a distance from the capital, it trades city proximity for a slower, beach-led rhythm. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar coastal suburbs, even with growth momentum and transport and access holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,635
- Median age
- 63
- Median household income / week
- $1,114
- Dwelling vacancy
- 37.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 416 of 1,114
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 34.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 40 / 320 / 7
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)
- $560
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $740
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 126
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)
- 116
- Against the person
- 30
- Against property
- 36
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 70.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 54 residents
- State safety percentile
- 49.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +3.9%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions95
- Domestic Violence Related Assault88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment86
- Malicious Damage To Property99
- Other Offences185
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
40 public transport stops in this suburb
- 139 Rocky Point Rd
- Boulder Bay Rd Before Bent St
- Fingal Bay Shops, Market St
- Rocky Point Rd After Creswell Pl
- Rocky Point Rd Opp Coral 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).
130 planning-related records
2026· 12 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation3 LENTARA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure32 BOULDER BAY ROAD FINGAL BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)47 LENTARA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure38 LENTARA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Subdivision1 LENTARA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home20 LENTARA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition78 MARINE DRIVE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6A CRESWELL PLACE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 GARUWA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Swimming pool77 PACIFIC DRIVE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
January 2026
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)46 BOULDER BAY ROAD FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Small bar; Footpaths - outdoor dining; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise14 MARKET STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
2025· 19 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation53 BOULDER BAY ROAD FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool62 MARINE DRIVE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Swimming pool77 PACIFIC DRIVE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah2 BOMBORA PLACE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool44E SQUIRE STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)34 PACIFIC DRIVE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 SQUIRE STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool51 SQUIRE STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces32 BOULDER BAY ROAD FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure89 PACIFIC DRIVE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 AMAROO CRESCENT FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation18 BOULDER BAY ROAD FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool51A SQUIRE STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool10 ROCKY POINT ROAD FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)5 PEBBLE PARADE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 PEBBLE PARADE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
March 2025
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)44D SQUIRE STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
February 2025
- Demolition23 GARUWA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)5 PEBBLE PARADE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
2024· 9 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool41 BOULDER BAY ROAD FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)4 SURF CLOSE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 GARUWA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Withdrawn
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 BOULDER BAY ROAD FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure77 PACIFIC DRIVE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Landscaping structures4 LENTARA STREET FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
June 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool62 MARINE DRIVE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation13 PEBBLE PARADE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 JELLICOE CLOSE FINGAL BAY 2315Determined
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
43 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq (2)
- BBQ areaBbq
- Bench (5)
- 139 Rocky Point RdBus stop
- Boulder Bay Rd at Farm RdBus stop
- Boulder Bay Rd before Bent StBus stop
- Boulder Bay Rd before Iluka ClBus stop
- Fingal Bay Shops, Market StBus stop
- Fingal Bay Sports Club, Rocky Point RdBus stop
- Marine Dr before Darramba RdBus 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Barry ParkPark
- Shark Island Nature ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Point Stephens Lighthouse GroupShark Island, Port StephensSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
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
- 31.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5090th in Australia
- State rank
- 1612th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #91 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #162 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 139 Rocky Point Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- BBQ areaamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Boulder Bay Rd at Farm Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Port Stephens Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.