NSW · Port Stephens Council
Fullerton Cove, 2318
Current weather
17.6°CClear sky
64% humidity · 11.4 km/h wind · 22.4° / 13.5° today · 1.7 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Fullerton Cove is a coastal smaller community where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. Set on the coast at a distance from the capital, it trades city proximity for a slower, beach-led rhythm. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and parks and green space against similar coastal suburbs, even with housing affordability and transport and access holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 735
- Median age
- 69
- Median household income / week
- $1,062
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 37 of 344
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,873
- Employment rate
- 24.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 11 / 80 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 63
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)
- 34
- Against the person
- 13
- Against property
- 14
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 46.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 57 residents
- State safety percentile
- 23.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud93
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment92
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
41 public transport stops in this suburb
- 145 Fullerton Cove Rd
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp 260
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp Coxs Lane
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp Stanley Park
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Fullerton Cove 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).
29 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure281 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 Sugar Glider Way, Fullerton CoveDetermined
2025· 5 proposals
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)2 RINGTAIL PLACE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
April 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure407 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure440 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support432 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility6 THE COVE DRIVE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
2024· 3 proposals
May 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Advertising and signage; 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 premise432 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Animal care premises1 ZIRCON LANE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Caravan park21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Demolition; Signage; Commercial development; Advertising and signage; 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 Australia; Business identification sign; Retail Premise; Shop; Sewage reticulation system; Waste Infrastructure; Sewerage system42 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
August 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces468 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
July 2023
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces3 GEORGE STREET FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Under Assessment
April 2023
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces488 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces488 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Rejected
2022· 3 proposals
November 2022
- Farm buildings305 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
October 2022
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
February 2022
- Other1 ZIRCON LANE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
2021· 9 proposals
November 2021
- Other1 ZIRCON LANE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
October 2021
- Home business374 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Other77 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
August 2021
- Shed27 WILLOW LANE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
July 2021
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
June 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development334 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
May 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development50 1 WAGTAIL WAY FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
March 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development456 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
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
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 425 Fullerton Cove RdBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd after Coxs LaneBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd after George StBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd before Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp 425Bus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp Coxs LaneBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp George StBus stop
- Nelson Bay Rd opp Fullerton Cove RdBus stop
- Nelson Bay Road after Coxs LaneBus stop
- Nelson Bay Road before Coxs 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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)
- 2
- 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
- 34.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4426th in Australia
- State rank
- 1408th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #70 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #138 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
- 425 Fullerton Cove Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd after Coxs Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd after George Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd before Nelson Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp 425amenitiesbus_stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp Coxs Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp George Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Nelson Bay Rd opp Fullerton Cove Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Nelson Bay Road after Coxs Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Nelson Bay Road before Coxs Laneamenitiesbus_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.