NSW · Blue Mountains Council
Lawson, 2783
Current weather
11.5°CClear sky
58% humidity · 20.7 km/h wind · 15.5° / 9.8° today · 6.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Dog friendly
Suburb profile
Lawson is a hillside mid-sized suburb in Blue Mountains, with elevated streets and a greener, quieter pace. Connections to the wider metro area are straightforward, with neighbouring communities close at hand. Ridge-top pockets and tree cover give the area a cooler, greener hillside feel.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Local eateries and coffee spots give the area a friendly, everyday social rhythm. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by parks and green space and safety, while housing affordability sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 2,651
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,519
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 87 of 1,170
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,849
- Employment rate
- 57.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 75 / 12 / 46
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
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $530
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)
- 100
- Against the person
- 23
- Against property
- 45
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 37.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 115 residents
- State safety percentile
- 13.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -14.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud6
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment7
- Malicious Damage To Property19
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault6
- Steal From Retail Store10
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)
- 1,038
- Lawson Public SchoolPrimary
- Our Lady of The Nativity 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
51 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Loftus St
- Lawson Station
- PDT Gt West Hwy
- PDT Honour Av
- STR 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).
162 planning-related records
2026· 15 proposals
June 2026
- Subdivision45 FLINDERS STREET LAWSON 2783Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision15 HUGHES AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
- Subdivision12 SAN JOSE AVENUE LAWSON 2783Under Assessment
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure30-34 FLINDERS STREET LAWSON 2783Under Assessment
May 2026
- Neighbourhood shop; Hours of operation and trading7 HONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Additional Information Requested
- Office Premise; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia8 NEW STREET LAWSON 2783Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY LAWSON 2783Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; 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 Australia30 SAN JOSE AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure92 HONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Withdrawn
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 WARATAH STREET LAWSON 2783Withdrawn
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure23 CATARACT STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation25 LEE STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 VIEW STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation21 STEPHEN STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure48 SAYERS STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; General industry15 LIVINGSTONE STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5A MARY STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
November 2025
- Advertising and signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Artisan food and drink industry42-44 PARK STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure60 HAY STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 WERONA STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space17 WILSON STREET LAWSON 2783Withdrawn
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure58 HENRY STREET LAWSON 2783Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 LURNEA STREET LAWSON 2783Withdrawn
August 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (indoor)30 LIVINGSTONE STREET LAWSON 2783Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space18 LEE STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
July 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureHONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation71-73 HONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
- Subdivision36 HONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Withdrawn
June 2025
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise1 HONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 FLINDERS STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 HONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 SAN JOSE AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
- Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure252-254 GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY LAWSON 2783Withdrawn
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure30-34 FLINDERS STREET LAWSON 2783Operational consent issued
April 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure12 WIDE VIEW AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space41 HAY STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support1 ADELAIDE STREET LAWSON 2783Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure65 HONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
2024· 2 proposals
December 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Outdoor dining - general; Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading58 Hay StreetDetermined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications network; Telecommunications facility6 HONOUR AVENUE LAWSON 2783Determined
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
145 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- CellarbrationsAlcohol
- Commonwealth BankATM
- Black Cockatoo BakeryBakery
- Lawson Cake ShopBakery
- Bench (25)
- Bicycle Parking
- 30 Wallis Street (Hail and Ride)Bus stop
- Adelaide Street at Charlie StreetBus stop
- Badgery Crescent at Queens RoadBus stop
- Fairview Road before Hughes AvenueBus 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
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bellevue ParkPark
- Honour GardensPark
- Lawson Town SquarePark
- North Lawson ParkNature reserve
- Queens Oak ParkPark
- South Lawson ParkNature reserve
- Wilson ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Lawson Community Health Centreclinic
- Lawson Medical PracticeOrient Streetdoctor
- Lawson 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)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Lawson Railway Station GroupMain Western railway, LawsonSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Blue Mountains Family Day Carechildcare
- Kookaburra Cottage ChildcareCharles Streetchildcare
- Lawson Community PreschoolHonour Avenuekindergarten
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)
- 90
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 61.3/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 13% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 731st in Australia
- State rank
- 266th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #9 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #191 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
- 30 Wallis Street (Hail and Ride)amenitiesbus_stop
- Adelaide Street at Charlie Streetamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Australia Postamenitiespost_office
- Badgery Crescent at Queens Roadamenitiesbus_stop
- Baptist Churchamenitiesplace_of_worship
- Ben Roberts Caféamenitiescafe
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Blue Mountains Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.