NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Fountaindale, 2258
Current weather
16.1°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 21.8° / 13.6° today · 4.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Central Coast (NSW), Fountaindale 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. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker safety and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 726
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $2,903
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 12 of 226
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,500
- Employment rate
- 65.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 5 / 0 / 4
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)
- $625
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)
- 71
- Against the person
- 17
- Against property
- 30
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 97.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 43 residents
- State safety percentile
- 68.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +24.9%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault40
- Fraud68
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment41
- Transport Regulatory Offences107
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
- 1,092
- Central Coast Steiner SchoolCombined
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
29 public transport stops in this suburb
- Catamaran Rd At Ketch Cl
- Central Coast Rudolf Steiner School
- Enterprise Dr At Peach Orchard Rd
- Enterprise Dr Before Catamaran Rd
- Old Chittaway Rd Opp Ronkana Cemetery
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· 4 proposals
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure3 OLD CHITTAWAY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
February 2026
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)100 BERKELEY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Under Assessment
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure155 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure21 FOUNTAIN ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
2025· 14 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool44 LILLYGROVE LANE FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 CATAMARAN ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space53 MANNS ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool28 CHERRY LANE FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Fences; Residential Accommodation153 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Withdrawn
September 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure155 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure3 OLD CHITTAWAY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support267 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure53 MANNS ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure217 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
April 2025
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 CATAMARAN ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (indoor)2 CATAMARAN ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
January 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Dual occupancy (detached)100 BERKELEY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School10 CATAMARAN ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
2024· 6 proposals
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 BERRYS LANE FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)52 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)52 HEATHCLIFF CLOSE FOUNTAINDALE 2258Withdrawn
April 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)243 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 CHERRY LANE FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
2023· 5 proposals
September 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure144 ENTERPRISE DRIVE FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing32 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Dwelling76 BERKELEY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
June 2023
- Dual occupancy100 BERKELEY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Under Assessment
February 2023
- Group homes60 BERKELEY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
2022· 11 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees41 OLD CHITTAWAY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
November 2022
- Shed22 ORANGE ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Other24 STENNING LANE FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
October 2022
- Shed8 CATAMARAN ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
September 2022
- Change of use25 ORANGE ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Shed166 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
August 2022
- Shed16 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
May 2022
- Shed170 OLD CHITTAWAY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Shed; Other137 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
April 2022
- Dual occupancy100 BERKELEY ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
- Home business110 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD FOUNTAINDALE 2258Determined
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
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Catamaran Rd opp Central Coast Rudolf Steiner SchoolBus stop
- Enterprise Dr after Turpentine RdBus stop
- Enterprise Dr before Old Chittaway RdBus stop
- Enterprise Dr opp Old Chittaway RdBus stop
- Mark Foster ReserveNature Reserve
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Mark Foster ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Follyfoot Farmkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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)
- 5
- 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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 30.3/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5267th in Australia
- State rank
- 1676th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #106 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #785 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Catamaran Rd opp Central Coast Rudolf Steiner Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Enterprise Dr after Turpentine Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Enterprise Dr before Old Chittaway Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Enterprise Dr opp Old Chittaway Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Mark Foster Reserveamenitiesnature_reserve
- Break And Enter Dwellingcrime36
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime40
- Fraudcrime68
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime41
- Transport Regulatory Offencescrime107
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Central Coast (NSW) Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.