NSW · Sydney Council
Forest Lodge, 2037
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
- Green suburb
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Forest Lodge is a lively inner mid-sized suburb with dining, shopping and leisure options right on the doorstep. Sitting close to the city centre, it is easy to dip into neighbouring suburbs for work, dining and events. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix. Neighbourhood food and coffee spots add warmth to the local routine. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because housing affordability and safety lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and growth momentum.
Population
- Population
- 4,965
- Median age
- 34
- Median household income / week
- $2,437
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 322 of 2,622
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,033
- Employment rate
- 71.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 132 / 794 / 1,413
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)
- $860
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,090
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $850
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 530
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)
- 848
- Against the person
- 177
- Against property
- 364
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 170.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 28 residents
- State safety percentile
- 94.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.9%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions534
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment181
- Malicious Damage To Property182
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault195
- Steal From Retail Store299
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
- 1,161
- Forest Lodge 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
24 public transport stops in this suburb
- Minogue Cres At Wigram Rd
- Minogue Cres Before Wigram Rd
- Minogue Cres Opp Scotsman St
- Ross St After Bridge Rd
- The Crescent Before Scotsman 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).
235 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13-15 CHARLES STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Under Assessment
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Co-living13 ROSS STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure113 HEREFORD STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure61 HEREFORD STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise; Shop; Hours of operation and trading1 DALGAL WAY FOREST LODGE 2037Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure128 WIGRAM ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 WOOD STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)21 CREEK STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure53 ROSS STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 Culgoora Street Kings ForestDetermined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise; Specialised Retail Premises1 DALGAL WAY FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation22 CREEK STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 UPPER ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Operational consent issued
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure264 BRIDGE ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure191 ST JOHNS ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation240 ST JOHNS ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure117 HEREFORD STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation45 CHARLES STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 LODGE STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Attached dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure270 BRIDGE ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13-15 CHARLES STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 UPPER ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 ALBERT STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure228 ST JOHNS ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Maintenance of buildings in draft heritage conservation areas; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Skylights, roof windows and ventilators39 CHARLES STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 KIMBER LANE FOREST LODGE 2037Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling12 LODGE STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 FOREST STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure117 HEREFORD STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 CONEILL PLACE FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 CREEK STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
July 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35 FOSS STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 ALBERT STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 KIMBER LANE FOREST LODGE 2037Rejected
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 FOREST STREET FOREST LODGE 2037Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Other Infrastructure1 DALGAL WAY FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces205 WIGRAM ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 Charles Street Forest Lodge 2037Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home240 ST JOHNS ROAD FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6A CONEILL PLACE FOREST LODGE 2037Determined
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
103 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Chambers CellarsAlcohol
- AustiquesAntiques
- Glebe Antiques CentreAntiques
- Goose BakeryBakery
38 Ross Street
- Bbq
- The Depot Nail BarBeauty salon
- Bench (14)
- Bicycle Parking (11)
- Booth St at Nelson StBus stop
- Bridge Rd opp Forest Lodge Public SchoolBus 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
9 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Arundel Street ReservePark
- AV Henry ReservePark
- Canal ReservePark
- Harold ParkPark
- John Victor McMahon ReservePark
- Lewis Hoad ReservePark
- Minogue Crescent ReservePark
- Ross Street ReservePark
- Smith, Hogan & Spindler ParksPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Harold Park Medical Centredoctor
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)
- 9/10
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
- Johnston's Creek Sewer AqueductTaylor Street (Off), Hogan Park, AnnandaleSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
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
- 47.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 33% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2238th in Australia
- State rank
- 701st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #193 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #468 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 19th Nervous Breakdownamenities44 Ross Streetmusic
- Athletica Pilatesamenitiesfitness_centre
- Austiquesamenitiesantiques
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Sydney Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.