NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Glendale, 2285
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
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
Suburb profile
Glendale is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Lake Macquarie with everyday amenities close at hand. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. There are enough cafés and casual dining options to keep weekends interesting. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by growth momentum and housing affordability, while community and employment sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 3,260
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $1,514
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 60 of 1,329
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 58%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 86 / 100 / 60
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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 226
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)
- 238
- Against the person
- 58
- Against property
- 112
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 73
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 56 residents
- State safety percentile
- 51.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud222
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment170
- Malicious Damage To Property232
- Steal From Motor Vehicle186
- Transport Regulatory Offences264
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 996
- Glendale East Public SchoolPrimary
- Glendale Technology High SchoolSecondary
- Holy Cross Primary SchoolPrimary
- Newcastle Waldorf 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
106 public transport stops in this suburb
- Glendale Dr At Michele Cres (Hail And Ride)
- Macquarie College
- Macquarie College
- Macquarie College, College Rd
- Macquarie College, College 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).
149 planning-related records
2026· 23 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Subdivision544 MAIN ROAD GLENDALE 2285Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure27 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation23 GLENDALE DRIVE GLENDALE 2285Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space600 MAIN ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure231 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation10 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure267 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure21 AMBER WAY GLENDALE 2285Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 GLENDALE DRIVE GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Demolition; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent)335 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Hot water systems; Rainwater tanks11 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Hot water systems; Rainwater tanks8 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies10 ROSE AVENUE GLENDALE 2285Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure533 MAIN ROAD GLENDALE 2285Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7 GREENWOOD PARADE GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)59 RESERVOIR ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 SEAN COURT GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)25 RESERVOIR ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development8 GARDENIA PLACE GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Subdivision294A LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 CLARE STREET GLENDALE 2285Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Health services facility313-315 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure387 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Group home; Group home (permanent)335 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Co-living627 MAIN ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support13 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah302 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Subdivision294A LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support23 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Determined
September 2025
- Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure387 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 VALLEY VIEW CRESCENT GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool10 SEAN COURT GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah298 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
July 2025
- Advertising and signage; Neighbourhood shop387 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure26 STRAWBERRY TERRACE GLENDALE 2285Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure265 LAKE ROAD GLENDALE 2285Determined
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
87 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Commonwealth BankATM
- Banjo's Bakery CafeBakery
- Commonwealth BankBank
- Bench (2)
- Bicycle Parking (2)
- 608 Main RdBus stop
- Booth Park, Main RdBus stop
- Glendale City Centre, Stand ABus stop
- Glendale City Centre, Stand BBus stop
- Glendale City Centre, Stand CBus 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
- Clarence Street ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Chemistworkspharmacy
- nib Eye Careoptometrist
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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
- Glendale Early Education CentreStockland Drivechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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)
- 18
- 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
- 63.3/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 10% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 560th in Australia
- State rank
- 208th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #58 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #152 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 608 Main Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- ALDIamenitiessupermarket
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- BCFamenitiesUnit T22 25 Stockland Driveoutdoor
- Banjo's Bakery Cafeamenitiesbakery
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bill Bower Ovalamenitiespitch
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.