NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Highfields, 2289
Current weather
18.1°CClear sky
64% humidity · 14.1 km/h wind · 21.8° / 14.1° today · 2.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Highfields is a practical smaller community in Lake Macquarie, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. 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 a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. 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 local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access 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
- 936
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $2,198
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 19 of 344
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 66.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 17 / 5 / 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)
- $580
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $760
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 151
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)
- 86
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 48
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 91.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 67 residents
- State safety percentile
- 64.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud119
- Malicious Damage To Property119
- Steal From Motor Vehicle172
- Steal From Retail Store342
- Transport Regulatory Offences258
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
20 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kahibah Rd After George St
- Kahibah Rd At Collarena Cres
- Kahibah Rd At Margaret St
- Kahibah Rd Opp Highfields Pde
- Pacific Hwy Opp George St
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).
61 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
May 2026
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation21 GEORGE STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 MARGARET STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 HIGHFIELDS PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool356 PACIFIC HIGHWAY HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 MARGARET STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Withdrawn
2025· 8 proposals
November 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 HIGHFIELDS PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support12A VALAUD CRESCENT HIGHFIELDS 2289Withdrawn
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 MARGARET STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation51 VALAUD CRESCENT HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation21 GEORGE STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space8 KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures; Pathways and paving; Hours of operation and trading2 VALAUD CRESCENT HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool356 PACIFIC HIGHWAY HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space8 KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 VALAUD CRESCENT HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool52A KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
August 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)10A GEORGE STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
April 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation29 KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Withdrawn
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation40 HIGHFIELDS PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
February 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 VALAUD CRESCENT HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
2023· 9 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation17 VALAUD CRESCENT HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 HILLCREST PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
July 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development15 HIGHFIELDS PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development76 KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
March 2023
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces10A GEORGE STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development17 VALAUD CRESCENT HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development16 HIGHFIELDS PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces8 MARGARET STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
January 2023
- Signage; Recreational Uses16 GEORGE STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
2022· 10 proposals
November 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces16 KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
October 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces35 HILLCREST PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
September 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees8 KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Dwelling358 PACIFIC HIGHWAY HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
July 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces39 HIGHFIELDS PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development31 KAHIBAH ROAD HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development15 MARGARET STREET HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
May 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development39 HIGHFIELDS PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees56 HIGHFIELDS PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development26 HILLCREST PARADE HIGHFIELDS 2289Determined
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
- Bench
- Highfields Pde Exit at Pacific HwyBus stop
- Kahibah Rd after George StBus stop
- Kahibah Rd at Collarena CresBus stop
- Kahibah Rd at Margaret StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy after George StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at George StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Kahibah RdBus stop
- Pacific Hwy opp George StBus stop
- Playground
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)
- 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
- KU Kahibah Roadchildcare
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)
- 4
- 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
- 33.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4731st in Australia
- State rank
- 1518th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #294 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #749 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 76%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Highfields Pde Exit at Pacific Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Kahibah Rd after George Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Kahibah Rd at Collarena Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Kahibah Rd at Margaret Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy after George Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy at George Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy at Kahibah Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Pacific Hwy opp George Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
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.