NSW · Kempsey Council
Gladstone, 2440
Current weather
18.4°CClear sky
83% humidity · 12.1 km/h wind · 22.9° / 15.6° today · 1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Gladstone offers a slower smaller community life in Kempsey, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because growth momentum and safety lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability.
Population
- Population
- 437
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,281
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 15 of 165
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,437
- Employment rate
- 47.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 16 / 0 / 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $380
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $490
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $480
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 112
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)
- 77
- Against the person
- 20
- Against property
- 30
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 176.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 95.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.8%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order264
- Breach Bail Conditions556
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment411
- Malicious Damage To Property362
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
- 1,004
- Gladstone 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
16 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bernard St At Ashton St
- Darkwater St Opp Gladstone Lane
- Gladstone Public School, Kinchela St
- Kinchela St Opp Macleay St
- Verge St Gladstone
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).
25 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
May 2026
- Demolition; Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise21 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Under Assessment
2025· 2 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)89 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
February 2025
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Outdoor dining - general; Food and drink premise21 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2024· 2 proposals
April 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use73 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
March 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise11 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2023· 7 proposals
October 2023
- Retail premises19 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support364 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD GLADSTONE 2440Determined
June 2023
- Earthworks / change in levels; Shed364 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD GLADSTONE 2440Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Shed24 DARKWATER STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
April 2023
- Home business91 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
March 2023
- Dwelling7 NORTH STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition6 MEMORIAL AVENUE GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2022· 10 proposals
November 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development13 DARKWATER STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
- Change of use68-72 BARNARD STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
September 2022
- Change of use68-72 BARNARD STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development49 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
August 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development21 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
June 2022
- Dwelling; Mixed use development14 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Withdrawn
May 2022
- DwellingSOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD GLADSTONE 2440Determined
April 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels1380 SOUTH WEST ROCKS ROAD GLADSTONE 2440Determined
February 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels; Business premises91 BARNARD STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
January 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces58 BARNARD STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
2021· 3 proposals
October 2021
- Alterations and additions to commercial development21 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling; Alterations and additions to commercial development20 KINCHELA STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
August 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing15 DARKWATER STREET GLADSTONE 2440Determined
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
- Crusty's BakeryBakery
Unit 3 4 Ashton Street
- Bernard St at Ashton StBus stop
- The Valley ButcheryButcher
- Gladstone General Store and NewsagencyConvenience store
- Cascade Garden CentreGarden Centre
- Gladstone Fruit and VegetablesGreengrocer
- LibertyPetrol station
52 Barnard Street
- Gladstone PharmacyPharmacy
4 Ashton Street
- Australia PostPost office
- Margaret's Treasure TroveSecond Hand
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
- Gladstone Pioneer ParkPark
- Memorial ParkPark
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
- Gladstone PharmacyAshton Streetpharmacy
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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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)
- 2
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
- 30.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5282nd in Australia
- State rank
- 1678th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #373 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #724 among Country & regional 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
- Australia Postamenitiespost_office
- Bernard St at Ashton Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Cascade Garden Centreamenitiesgarden_centre
- Crusty's BakeryamenitiesUnit 3 4 Ashton Streetbakery
- Gladstone Fruit and Vegetablesamenitiesgreengrocer
- Gladstone General Store and Newsagencyamenitiesconvenience
- Gladstone Pharmacyamenities4 Ashton Streetpharmacy
- Libertyamenities52 Barnard Streetfuel
- Margaret's Treasure Troveamenitiessecond_hand
- The Valley Butcheryamenitiesbutcher
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Kempsey Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.