NSW · Maitland Council
Horseshoe Bend, 2320
Current weather
17.5°CClear sky
65% humidity · 12.2 km/h wind · 21.9° / 12.6° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Horseshoe Bend is a practical smaller community in Maitland, 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. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. 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 transport and access and parks and green space against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 427
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $1,375
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 174
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,344
- Employment rate
- 52.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 24 / 13 / 3
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)
- $485
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 357
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)
- 45
- Against the person
- 12
- Against property
- 16
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 105.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 36 residents
- State safety percentile
- 74.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions609
- Domestic Violence Related Assault329
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment381
- Malicious Damage To Property307
- Steal From Motor Vehicle237
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
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
55 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
May 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support110 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Demolition; Horticulture64 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision111 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
January 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation9 RAGLAN STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Minor building alterations (external)8 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure64 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
September 2025
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation32 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)15 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Demolition9 RADFORD STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation128 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Fences34 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
May 2025
- Attached dwelling; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure108 Carrington Street HORSESHOE BEND NSW 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool88 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
April 2025
- Attached dwelling; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure108 Carrington Street HORSESHOE BEND NSW 2320Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)128 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure85 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure102 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space28 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
2024· 12 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Subdivision7 BELLA STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house23 ALBERT STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure89 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences32 JAMES STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
May 2024
- Demolition; Educational establishment; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; School24 HUNTER STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
April 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure7 BELLA STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support45 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
March 2024
- Demolition9 RAGLAN STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
January 2024
- Attached dwelling; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure110 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Attached dwelling; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure108 Carrington Street HORSESHOE BEND NSW 2320Determined
2023· 6 proposals
October 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure15 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure68 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
July 2023
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision of land110 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Rejected
May 2023
- Multi-dwelling housing67 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
January 2023
- Shed46 ODD STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
- Other2 CATHCART STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
2022· 1 proposal
August 2022
- Dwelling64 CARRINGTON STREET HORSESHOE BEND 2320Determined
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
6 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Place of worship
- PCYCSports centre
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (3)
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)
- 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Saint Nicholas Early EducationHunter Streetchildcare
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)
- 1
- 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
- 26.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5798th in Australia
- State rank
- 1814th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #389 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #816 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 69%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- PCYCamenitiessports_centre
- Place of worshipamenitiesplace_of_worship
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Swimming poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime609
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime329
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime381
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime307
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Maitland Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.