NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Macmasters Beach, 2251
Current weather
16.1°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 21.8° / 13.6° today · 4.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Life in Macmasters Beach revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Sea and sand are the main draw, with neighbouring coastal communities easy to explore on a free afternoon. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,399
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $2,190
- Dwelling vacancy
- 35.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 280 of 786
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,468
- Employment rate
- 56.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 29 / 0 / 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $850
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $778
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 142
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)
- 39
- Against the person
- 12
- Against property
- 18
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 27.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 117 residents
- State safety percentile
- 5.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault79
- Fraud74
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment114
- Malicious Damage To Property110
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
28 public transport stops in this suburb
- Lakeside Dr After Three Points Av
- The Scenic Rd Opp 737
- The Scenic Rd Opp Bounty Hill Rd
- Tudibaring Pde Opp Three Points Av
- Warri Cres At The Scenic 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).
202 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 1 WARRI CRESCENT MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure797 THE SCENIC ROAD MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Under Assessment
May 2026
- Subdivision9 MACMASTER PARADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure57 BEACHVIEW ESPLANADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)707A THE SCENIC ROAD MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool498 THE SCENIC ROAD MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Under Assessment
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 BEACHVIEW ESPLANADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Under Assessment
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 SOUTH PACIFIC DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure32 OCEAN DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision14 MACMASTER PARADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support568 THE SCENIC ROAD MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport43 MACMASTER PARADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 STONE PLACE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation47 LAKESIDE DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 NEWELL ROAD MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure66 BEACHVIEW ESPLANADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Stairway7 STONE PLACE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool704 The Scenic Road Macmasters Beach 2251Determined
- Subdivision20 LAKESIDE DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 BOMBI ROAD SOUTH MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 BOMBI ROAD SOUTH MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)17 OCEAN DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)2A SOUTH PACIFIC DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 WARRI CRESCENT MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation20 LAKESIDE DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures6 GRAHAME DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation29 MacMaster Parade, MacMasters BeachDetermined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14 STONE PLACE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
May 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming poolTHE SCENIC ROAD MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure434 THE SCENIC ROAD MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 MACMASTER PARADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 OCEAN DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 BEACHVIEW ESPLANADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 WYVERN CRESCENT MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure101 BEACHVIEW ESPLANADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Carport; Swimming pool; Supporting Development179 DAJANI DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation87 BEACHVIEW ESPLANADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Withdrawn
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport53 TUDIBARING PARADE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool413-429 THE SCENIC ROAD MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 LAKESIDE DRIVE MACMASTERS BEACH 2251Determined
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
16 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (4)
- Lakeside Dr after Three Points AvBus stop
- Namatjira Dr at The Scenic RdBus stop
- The Scenic Rd at Ocean DrBus stop
- The Scenic Rd opp 737Bus stop
- The Scenic Rd opp Bounty Hill RdBus stop
- Warri Cres at The Scenic RdBus stop
- Picnic Table (2)
- Playground
- Shower
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Banavie ReservePark
- Corribeg ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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)
- 4
- 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
- 31.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4960th in Australia
- State rank
- 1590th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #82 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #152 among Coastal & beach 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
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Lakeside Dr after Three Points Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Namatjira Dr at The Scenic Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Showeramenitiesshower
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Central Coast (NSW) Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.