NSW · Maitland Council
Lochinvar, 2321
Current weather
16.3°CClear sky
66% humidity · 11.5 km/h wind · 21.5° / 13.2° today · 3.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Lochinvar is a regional centre in Maitland that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with family life visible on every street. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with growth momentum and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,095
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $2,287
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 53 of 417
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 62.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 21 / 3 / 10
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)
- $680
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 293
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)
- 58
- Against the person
- 24
- Against property
- 21
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 53
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 46 residents
- State safety percentile
- 29.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +9.7%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault132
- Fraud62
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment151
- Malicious Damage To Property99
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 996
- Lochinvar Public SchoolPrimary
- St Joseph's CollegeSecondary
- St Patrick's 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
57 public transport stops in this suburb
- Lochinvar Public School, New England Hwy
- New England Hwy After Robert Rd (Temp Stop)
- New England Hwy At Windermere Rd
- New England Hwy Opp Lochinvar Public School
- New England Hwy Opp Windermere Rd
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).
758 planning-related records
2026· 40 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 CHARLOTTE STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
- Temporary building, structure or use; Portable offices51 STATION LANE LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 LIVISTONA DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 MEADOW STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 CHARLOTTE STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation40 MAHONEY STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 HERDSMEN ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 STABLES PLACE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support50 JOHANNES STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
- Subdivision898 NEW ENGLAND HIGHWAY LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool53 DROUGHTMASTER AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)56 LILAC AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures51 STATION LANE LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support50 JOHANNES STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Rejected
- Shed; Erection of a new structure3 CLYDESDALE STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Carport28 LILAC AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support3 CHRISTOPHER ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support6 DEXTER ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure62 STATION LANE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7 BORDEAUX TERRACE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Subdivision134 Station Lane Lochinvar - Lot 101 DP1282345Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure53 DROUGHTMASTER AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport331 OLD NORTH ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Subdivision70 CHRISTOPHER ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 DROVER DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7 SEBASTIAN STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Subdivision70 CHRISTOPHER ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Under Assessment
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure45 LILAC AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support4 BRAHMAN STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Swimming pool; Hours of operation and trading10 LILAC AVENUE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure42 HERDSMEN ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 LINDEN STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure3 CLYDESDALE STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Subdivision; Dual occupancy (attached)81 ROBERT ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)103 ROBERT ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 DEXTER ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation81 ROBERT ROAD LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 MARIKA STREET LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool40 DAIRYMAN DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure35 SANCTUARY DRIVE LOCHINVAR 2321Determined
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
29 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Gregory Rd opp St Patricks Primary SchoolBus stop
- Lochinvar Hotel, New England HwyBus stop
- Lochinvar Public School, New England HwyBus stop
- New England Hwy at Windermere RdBus stop
- New England Hwy opp All Saints CollegeBus stop
- New England Hwy opp Lochinvar Public SchoolBus stop
- New England Hwy opp Windermere RdBus stop
- St Helena Cl after New England HwyBus stop
- St Joseph's College, New England HwyBus stop
- St Patricks Primary School, Gregory RdBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Porter PlacePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
- Nowlands Lochinvar Coach House7 Cantwell Road, LochinvarSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 25
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 46.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 35% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2395th in Australia
- State rank
- 747th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #75 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #174 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Gregory Rd opp St Patricks Primary Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Jack Lane Fieldsamenitiespitch
- Lochinvaramenitiestrain_station
- Lochinvar 1amenitiestrain_station
- Lochinvar 2amenitiestrain_station
- Lochinvar Hotel, New England Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Lochinvar Post Officeamenities119 New England Highway, Lochinvarpost_office
- Lochinvar Public School, New England Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Lochinvar Sports Complexamenitiessports_centre
- New England Hwy at Windermere Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- 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.