NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Gateshead, 2290
Current weather
16.9°CClear sky
67% humidity · 13.5 km/h wind · 20.8° / 13.8° today · 3.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie, Gateshead is a settled mid-sized suburb 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. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. 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. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker community and employment and safety against similar metro suburbs, even with transport and access and schools and education holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 3,121
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,232
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 81 of 1,264
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,705
- Employment rate
- 49.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 107 / 61 / 51
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)
- $575
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $670
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 207
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)
- 229
- Against the person
- 56
- Against property
- 126
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 73.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 56 residents
- State safety percentile
- 51.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +1.2%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault162
- Fraud206
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment188
- Malicious Damage To Property201
- Steal From Retail Store455
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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 955
- Hunter Sports High SchoolSecondary
- Lakeside SchoolSpecial
- St Mary's Catholic CollegeSecondary
- St Paul's Primary SchoolPrimary
- Wiripaang 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
70 public transport stops in this suburb
- Pacfic Hwy Opp Hughes St
- Pacific Hwy Opp Hunter Sports High
- Pacific Hwy Opp Lake St
- Pacific Hwy Opp Mick Middleton Fields
- St Mary's High School, Pacific Hwy
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).
118 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 CADAGA ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation56 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development11 HESHBON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
February 2026
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure87 OAKDALE ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure27 JAMIESON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision5 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 OXFORD STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation53 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
September 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation63 GOUNDRY STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure24 JAMIESON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)34 MAHOGANY CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation50 BEAN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Subdivision5 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space58 MAHOGANY CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation15 REDWOOD CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation15 REDWOOD CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 JAMIESON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers5 TEAK STREET GATESHEAD 2290Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Centre-based child care74 FELTON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure70 CADAGA ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Medical centre; Health Infrastructure49 O'BRIEN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)5 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4A CADAGA ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14 BEAN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
2024· 12 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space29 HICKORY ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Educational establishment; Erection of a new structure45-47 Pacific Highway, GatesheadDetermined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure25 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation21 ALDER CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
July 2024
- Demolition; Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; Light industry51 OAKDALE ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
June 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure19 O'BRIEN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Residential Accommodation50 BEAN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 HESHBON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Carport3 JENNINGS STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure32 REDWOOD CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
January 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Animal care premises; Animal boarding or training establishment52 OAKDALE ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Health services facility; Hospital; Health Infrastructure3 SYDNEY STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Vehicle body repair workshop4 NEVIN CLOSE GATESHEAD 2290Withdrawn
- Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading17 METRO COURT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
November 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 GOUNDRY STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure57 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
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
27 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Hunter Dog CentreAnimal Boarding
- Bench (3)
- Hunter Sports High, Pacific HwyBus stop
- Pacfic Hwy opp Hughes StBus stop
- Pacific HwyBus stop
- Pacific Hwy after Lake StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Hughes StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Oxford StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy opp Hunter Sports HighBus stop
- Pacific Hwy opp Mick Middleton FieldsBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Sylvia Grozdanovski Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- On site
- Lake Macquarie Private Hospitalhospital
- Macquarie Physiotherapyphysiotherapist
- Physiotherapistphysiotherapist
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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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)
- 8
- 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
- 40.7/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3354th in Australia
- State rank
- 1060th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #248 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #619 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
- 7-Elevenamenitiesfuel
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Fred Wright Ovalamenitiespitch
- Gateshead Post Officeamenities8 Hughes Streetpost_office
- Gateshead Tavernamenitiespub
- Gymamenitiesfitness_centre
- Harold Knight Ovalamenitiespitch
- Hunter Dog Centreamenitiesanimal_boarding
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.