NSW · Canterbury-Bankstown Council
Lakemba, 2195
Current weather
15.7°CClear sky
59% humidity · 11.9 km/h wind · 21.1° / 12.6° today · 2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
Suburb profile
Lakemba hums with inner-city energy, a established suburb where there is always something happening nearby. 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.
A younger crowd gives the area energy, with family life visible on every street. Food and coffee are a real part of local identity, with plenty of places to meet and linger. 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 parks and green space, while community and employment and housing affordability sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 17,092
- Median age
- 32
- Median household income / week
- $1,227
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 502 of 5,447
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,712
- Employment rate
- 36.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 421 / 201 / 3,453
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)
- $520
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $530
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 347
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)
- 782
- Against the person
- 268
- Against property
- 318
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 45.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 64 residents
- State safety percentile
- 22.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -0.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault125
- Fraud107
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment124
- Malicious Damage To Property105
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault104
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
- 7
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 999
- Al Hikma CollegePrimary
- Canterbury Vale SchoolSpecial
- Hampden Park Public SchoolPrimary
- Holy Spirit Catholic CollegeSecondary
- Lakemba Public SchoolPrimary
- Rissalah CollegeCombined
- St Therese's Catholic Primary 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
130 public transport stops in this suburb
- FTB Railway Pde
- FTB The Boulevarde
- Lakemba Station
- STR Railway Pde
- STR/LFT To P1/2
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).
223 planning-related records
2026· 23 proposals
June 2026
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise60 HALDON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling35 DENNIS STREET LAKEMBA 2195Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure71 TAYLOR STREET LAKEMBA 2195Under Assessment
- Temporary building, structure or use; Car park57 WANGEE ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Under Assessment
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)101 YANGOORA ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development67 WANGEE ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Under Assessment
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 YERRICK ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Under Assessment
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)24 WILLEROO STREET LAKEMBA 2195Under Assessment
- Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise60 HALDON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation20 DENNIS STREET LAKEMBA 2195Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure57 MORETON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
March 2026
- Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading1 33-36 RAILWAY PARADE LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure104 TAYLOR STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation20 DENNIS STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure74 MORETON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Restaurant or cafe; Hours of operation and tradingSHOP 1 188 HALDON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 DENNIS STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Vehicle Sales or Hire Premises194-198 LAKEMBA STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Commercial development; Warehouse or distribution centre; Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure492-494 PUNCHBOWL ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia8-9 FRAZER STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading1 33-36 RAILWAY PARADE LAKEMBA 2195Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure113 ERNEST STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Stormwater management system; Other InfrastructurePUNCHBOWL ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Withdrawn
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading194-198 LAKEMBA STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation3 MYEE STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading1 33-36 RAILWAY PARADE LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Respite day care centreGO 5 917 CANTERBURY ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure57 MORETON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure9 CROYDON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 BELLEVUE AVENUE LAKEMBA 2195Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure564 PUNCHBOWL ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 HALDON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading1 33-36 RAILWAY PARADE LAKEMBA 2195Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Warehouse or distribution centre; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure68 YERRICK ROAD LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure23 MORETON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling35 DENNIS STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Shop; Hours of operation and trading166 HALDON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
July 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading172-176 HALDON STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure48 ERNEST STREET LAKEMBA 2195Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling35 DENNIS STREET LAKEMBA 2195Withdrawn
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
156 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- King Of SweetsBakery
- Bbq
- Bench (14)
- Bicycle Parking (4)
- Islamic Bookstore AustraliaBooks
- Al Hikma College, Haldon StBus stop
- Benaroon Rd after Kennedy AvBus stop
- Benaroon Rd after Lakemba StBus stop
- Benaroon Rd at Yangoora RdBus stop
- Bus 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
11 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Anne Pringle ReserveNature reserve
- Dennis Street ReservePark
- Fairmount Street ReservePark
- Gillies Lane ReservePark
- Hampden Road reservePark
- Harold Bull ReservePark
- Hunt ParkPark
- Jubilee ReservePark
- McCourt Street ReservePark
- Parry ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 5
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Chemist Warehousepharmacy
- Lakemba Early Childhood Health CentreCroydon Streetdoctor
- Lakemba Radiologydoctor
- Nas Medical CentreCanterbury Roaddoctor
- StarChem Pharmacypharmacy
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)
- 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
- Arabic Australian Child Care Centrechildcare
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)
- 12
- Parks (OSM)
- 12
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
- 61.5/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 13% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 716th in Australia
- State rank
- 261st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #75 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #188 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
- Afghan foodamenitiesbutcher
- Al Hikma College, Haldon Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Al Mustafa Petrolamenitiesfuel
- Alfakher Lakemba Convenience Storeamenitiesconvenience
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benaroon Rd after Kennedy Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Benaroon Rd after Lakemba Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Benaroon Rd at Yangoora Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Canterbury-Bankstown Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.