NSW · Port Stephens Council
Medowie, 2318
Current weather
17.6°CClear sky
64% humidity · 11.4 km/h wind · 22.4° / 13.5° today · 1.7 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
As a regional hub in Port Stephens, Medowie combines local convenience with the appeal of a established suburb that feels genuinely its own. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Neighbourhood food and coffee spots add warmth to the local routine. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by growth momentum and housing affordability, while schools and education and local dining and lifestyle amenities sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar regional towns.
Population
- Population
- 10,879
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $2,044
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 193 of 3,789
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 63.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 270 / 74 / 17
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)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 63
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)
- 505
- Against the person
- 191
- Against property
- 205
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 46.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 57 residents
- State safety percentile
- 23.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud93
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment92
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,006.5
- Catherine McAuley Catholic CollegeSecondary
- Medowie Christian SchoolCombined
- Medowie Public SchoolPrimary
- Wirreanda Public 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
268 public transport stops in this suburb
- Abundance Rd After Ferodale Rd
- Abundance Rd Opp Uniting Church Medowie
- Kirrang Dr At Ferodale Rd
- Kirrang Dr At Wilga Rd
- Kula Rd At Kirrang Dr
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).
987 planning-related records
2026· 40 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure19 WINDEYER CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Subdivision39A BROCKLESBY ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool27 RYAN ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah13 NORTHVIEW CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure71 MAYA DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 FORD AVENUE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 INDIGO STREET MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure62 WESTERN ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool9 SAM COURT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5B FERODALE ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Subdivision49 KULA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 SUNNINGDALE CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport41 BRUSH BOX AVENUE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)31 SILVER WATTLE DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool100 SUNNINGDALE CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 RYAN ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)5 CHERRY TREE CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development37 LEWIS DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support110 COACHWOOD DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16 BROCKLESBY ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 EAGLE CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure36 SASSIN CRESCENT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Take away food and drink21 ABUNDANCE ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure120 SUNNINGDALE CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure11A EVANS ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30A KULA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 OSPREY CIRCUIT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5D WAROPARA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure46 SILVER WATTLE DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure27 KULA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 COLLINS COURT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 WAROPARA ROAD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 NUT BUSH DRIVE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 INDIGO STREET MEDOWIE 2318Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure13 POTOROO BOULEVARD MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure1A HERITAGE AVENUE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2A BALLAT CLOSE MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 SOUTH STREET MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure49 YALE CRESCENT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool47 YALE CRESCENT MEDOWIE 2318Determined
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
91 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- ATM
- Bakehouse & CafeBakery
- 61 James RdBus stop
- 66 James RdBus stop
- Brush Box Av opp Coolabah RdBus stop
- Brush Box Ave at Coolabah RdBus stop
- Coachwood Dr after Laurina StBus stop
- Coachwood Dr after Tupelo StBus stop
- Coachwood Dr opp Laurina StBus 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Coolabah ReservePark
- Kindlebark OvalPark
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)
- 7/10
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
- Medowie Community Preschoolkindergarten
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)
- 16
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- 70.7/100 — Excellent
- State standing
- Top 4% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 174th in Australia
- State rank
- 71st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #2 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #8 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 61 James Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 66 James Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- ATMamenitiesatm
- Active Fitnessamenities58 Ferodale Roadfitness_centre
- Australia postamenitiespost_office
- BPamenitiesfuel
- BWSamenitiesalcohol
- Bakehouse & Cafeamenitiesbakery
- Boyd Ovalamenitiespitch
- Brush Box Av opp Coolabah Rdamenitiesbus_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.