NSW · Port Stephens Council
Lemon Tree Passage, 2319
Current weather
19.8°CClear sky
59% humidity · 14.4 km/h wind · 22.4° / 16.8° today · 1.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Lemon Tree Passage is a regional centre in Port Stephens that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker community and employment and safety against similar regional towns, even with parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,686
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,071
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 163 of 1,272
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,600
- Employment rate
- 40.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 99 / 101 / 15
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 40
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)
- 200
- Against the person
- 66
- Against property
- 62
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 74.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 41 residents
- State safety percentile
- 53.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +20.1%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order43
- Domestic Violence Related Assault50
- Fraud41
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment65
- Other Offences46
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
34 public transport stops in this suburb
- Club Lemon Tree, Kenneth Pde
- Elaine Av At Kenneth Pde
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd Opp Blanch St
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd Opp Crawley Av
- Meredith Av Opp Kenneth Pde
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).
143 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure35 KENNETH PARADE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Shop2 MEREDITH AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure19 GEER CLOSE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Shop2 MEREDITH AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Withdrawn
March 2026
- Secondary dwelling; 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; Minor building alterations (internal)4 CAMBRIDGE AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Under Assessment
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Light industry5 INDUSTRIAL CRESCENT LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Withdrawn
2025· 17 proposals
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 MORTON AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- 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; Ancillary commercial development; Recreation facility (indoor)12 INDUSTRIAL CRESCENT LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Demolition; Shed29 MARINE DRIVE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 JAMES SCOTT CRESCENT LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure; Shop2 MEREDITH AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure94 FRANCIS AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 JOHN PARADE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure41 Gibbers Drive Lemon Tree Passage 2319Determined
June 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise2 44 COOK PARADE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure9 RUSSELL STREET LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure21 GEER CLOSE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 JAMES SCOTT CRESCENT LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool24 WHITBREAD DRIVE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
March 2025
- Subdivision18 SHEARMAN AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure41 Gibbers Drive Lemon Tree Passage 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1 BLANCH STREET LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
2024· 17 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure91 GOULD DRIVE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport34 TORPEY AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport16 ELIZABETH AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation41 RAISS CLOSE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation67 JAMES SCOTT CRESCENT LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 MORTON AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 MARINE DRIVE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation24 WHITBREAD DRIVE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
September 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure26 MORTON AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 WILLIAM CLOSE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport39 RAISS CLOSE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Carport27 TORPEY AVENUE LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1 BLANCH STREET LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dual occupancy; Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation1 WARD STREET LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 STANLEY STREET LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support61A TANILBA ROAD LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 BEACH ROAD LEMON TREE PASSAGE 2319Determined
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
47 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Liquor Legends Lemon Tree PassageAlcohol
5 Cook Parade, Lemon Tree Passage
- Bbq
- Club Lemon Tree, Gould DrBus stop
- Club Lemon Tree, Kenneth PdeBus stop
- Elaine Av at Kenneth PdeBus stop
- Elaine Av opp Kenneth PdeBus stop
- Gould Dr opp Club Lemon TreeBus stop
- John Pde after Gould DrBus stop
- John Pde opp Elizabeth AvBus stop
- Kawarren St before Meredith AvBus 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
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Henderson ParkPark
- John Parade ReservePark
- Koala ReservePark
- Lilli Pilli ParkPark
- McCann ParkPark
- Nyrang ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
- 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)
- 12
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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
- 34.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4536th in Australia
- State rank
- 1451st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #270 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #573 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Australian Premier Financeamenitiesyes
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- CaraBoatamenitiescar
- Club Lemon Tree, Gould Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Club Lemon Tree, Kenneth Pdeamenitiesbus_stop
- Elaine Av at Kenneth Pdeamenitiesbus_stop
- Elaine Av opp Kenneth Pdeamenitiesbus_stop
- Ethica Coffeeamenitiesyes
- Gould Dr opp Club Lemon Treeamenitiesbus_stop
- John Pde after Gould Dramenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Port Stephens Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.