NSW · Newcastle Council
Kotara, 2289
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
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Kotara is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Newcastle with everyday amenities close at hand. Connections to the wider metro area are straightforward, with neighbouring communities close at hand. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by parks and green space and community and employment, while schools and education and local dining and lifestyle amenities sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 3,980
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $2,077
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 68 of 1,541
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 65.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 101 / 169 / 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)
- 366
- Against the person
- 59
- Against property
- 204
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 92
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 67 residents
- State safety percentile
- 64.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.5%
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 942.5
- Kotara SchoolSpecial
- Kotara South 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
98 public transport stops in this suburb
- Acc To P1/2
- ENT Kotara Park
- ENT Kotara Pl
- FTB Kotara Park
- Kotara Station
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).
218 planning-related records
2026· 16 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space57 SPRINGFIELD AVENUE KOTARA 2289Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences5 NESBITT CLOSE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Residential Accommodation8 CLAYTON CRESCENT KOTARA 2289Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure361 PARK AVENUE KOTARA 2289Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 BRYSON AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Subdivision111 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA 2289Withdrawn
- Demolition100 GRAYSON AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
February 2026
- Attached dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)51 RODWAY PARADE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 VISTA PARADE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah30 WALLACE STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure100 GRAYSON AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation110 GRINSELL STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 WALLACE STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation61 GRINSELL STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Privacy screens21 RODWAY PARADE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support94 RAE CRESCENT KOTARA 2289Determined
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision111 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA 2289Withdrawn
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space97 GRAYSON AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
October 2025
- Demolition94 RAE CRESCENT KOTARA 2289Withdrawn
- Signage; Advertising and signage30 VISTA PARADE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Supporting Development56 JOSLIN STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation345 PARK AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure60 MORUYA PARADE KOTARA 2289Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision173 PARK AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 WALLACE STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation110 GRINSELL STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 SPRINGFIELD AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah133 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA 2289Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Group home168 Park Avenue Kotara NSW 2289Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool50 GRAYSON AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure91 GRINSELL STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool119 MARSHALL STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
- Subdivision138 SPRINGFIELD AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 BRYSON AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool35 RODWAY PARADE KOTARA 2289Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure6 CASEY AVENUE KOTARA 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation108 RAE CRESCENT KOTARA 2289Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation113 RAE CRESCENT KOTARA 2289Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure205 GRINSELL STREET KOTARA 2289Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space44 JOSLIN STREET KOTARA 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
86 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Dan Murphy'sAlcohol
108 Park Avenue
- ATM
- Drift BikesBicycle
Unit 1 58 Northcott Drive, Kotara
- Drift Bikes WorkshopBicycle
18 McDougall Street, Kotara
- Bicycle Parking (3)
- Bicycle Repair Station
- 157 Grinsell StBus stop
- 250 Park AvBus stop
- Carnley Av opp Carisbrooke AvBus stop
- Charlestown Rd after Kimbarra ClBus 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
9 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bromley ParkPark
- Glover ParkPark
- Gregory Parade ReservePark
- Grinsell Street ReservePark
- Kotara ParkPark
- Lugar ParkPark
- Nesbitt ParkPark
- Rodway Parade ReservePark
- Springfield Avenue ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 7
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- AudioClinicclinic
- Kotara Family Practicedoctor
- Laser Clinics Australiaclinic
- Medical and Surgical Eye Centredoctor
- Pacifc SmilesPark Avenuedentist
- Priceline Pharmacypharmacy
- Scott Dibben Chemistpharmacy
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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
- 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)
- 25
- Parks (OSM)
- 11
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
- 58.3/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 16% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1012th in Australia
- State rank
- 334th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #129 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #238 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
- 157 Grinsell Stamenitiesbus_stop
- 250 Park Avamenitiesbus_stop
- ALDIamenities30 Northcott Drive, Kotarasupermarket
- ATMamenitiesatm
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bicycle Repair Stationamenitiesbicycle_repair_station
- Boost Juiceamenitiescafe
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Newcastle Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.