NSW · North Sydney Council
Neutral Bay, 2089
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
51% humidity · 17.1 km/h wind · 21.2° / 13.8° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Café precinct
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
Suburb profile
At the heart of the metro area, Neutral Bay is a established suburb where cafés, culture and everyday convenience overlap. Its inner position means surrounding suburbs are never far away, whether for a meal out or a change of scene. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. There is a genuine buzz to daily life, with restaurants, bars and cultural outings all within reach. 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. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by parks and green space and transport and access, while housing affordability sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 10,090
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $2,443
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 719 of 5,452
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,895
- Employment rate
- 69.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 255 / 512 / 3,792
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)
- $780
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,050
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $800
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 257
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)
- 305
- Against the person
- 80
- Against property
- 169
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 30.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 126 residents
- State safety percentile
- 7.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -9.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud29
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment30
- Malicious Damage To Property41
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault23
- Steal From Retail Store46
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,169
- Neutral Bay 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
65 public transport stops in this suburb
- Big Bear Shopping Centre, Military Rd
- Neutral Bay Junction, Military Rd, Stand B
- Neutral Bay Junction, Military Rd, Stand C
- Neutral Bay Junction, Military Rd, Stand D
- Watson Street Interchange, Stand B
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).
320 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 ROSE AVENUE NEUTRAL BAY 2089Under Assessment
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure1 17 LINDSAY STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure72 SHELLCOVE ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Under Assessment
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure25 THRUPP STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure72 KURRABA ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 UNDERCLIFF STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure78 WYCOMBE ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)8 EATON STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision341 ERNEST STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Subdivision76 BEN BOYD ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (outdoor)3 WESTLEIGH STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia19 BARRY STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Additional Information Requested
February 2026
- Subdivision1 14 HAYES STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 HOLDSWORTH STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
January 2026
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure96 BEN BOYD ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Vehicle Sales or Hire Premises312 FALCON STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Residential flat building54-64 Barry Street, Neutral BayDetermined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling22 PREMIER STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 WYCOMBE ROAD, NEUTRAL BAY (60 SHELLCOVE ROAD)Determined
- Subdivision76 BEN BOYD ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation112-114 WYCOMBE ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation6A LOWER WYCOMBE ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure4 BYDOWN STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Residential Accommodation60 BENT STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure16 WATSON STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure96 BEN BOYD ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise116 Military Road, Neutral BayDetermined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies4 68 KURRABA ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Subdivision62 BENT STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure59A SPRUSON STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Operational consent issued
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure1 1 SPRUSON STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling52 RAYMOND ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
September 2025
- Shop top housing; 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; Residential Accommodation6 32 MAY LANE NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- SubdivisionSHOP 1 12 WATERS ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7 ANDERSON STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Withdrawn
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation27 BYDOWN STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation6A LOWER WYCOMBE ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
August 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure156 MILITARY ROAD NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Advertising and signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading355 ERNEST STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure7 PREMIER STREET NEUTRAL BAY 2089Determined
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
301 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Alcohol
- LiquorlandAlcohol
116 Military Road
- Village GoodsAntiques
- Bourke Street BakeryBakery
- Honey RiderBar
- So CalBar
- Luxury NailsBeauty salon
- Ben Boyd Rd at Lindsay StBench
- Ben Boyd Rd at Yeo StBench
- Ben Boyd Rd before Undercliff StBench
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
19 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Anderson ParkPark
- Anderson Street Road ReservePark
- Bed Boyd Road ParkPark
- Forsyth ParkPark
- Harriette Street Road ReservePark
- Holdsworth Road ReservePark
- Ilbery ReservePark
- Kenneth Bolton LookoutPark
- McIntosh Lane ReservePark
- Merlin Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 7
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Full Face Orthodonticsdentist
- Inform Pharmacypharmacy
- L&C Quality HealthcareMilitary Roadphysiotherapist
- Neutral Bay Medical Centreclinic
- Pharmacypharmacy
- Sage AcupunctureYoung Streetalternative
- The Mojo KlinikYeo Streetclinic
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)
- 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
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- Hastings2 Hayes Street Neutral BaySHR
- St John's Uniting Church and Pipe OrganYeo Street, Neutral BaySHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Cameragal Montessori Schoolkindergarten
- Neutral Bay Public School Kindergartenkindergarten
- kindergartenkindergarten
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)
- 41
- Parks (OSM)
- 23
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
- 69.6/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 5% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 220th in Australia
- State rank
- 91st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #38 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #64 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
- 57 Coffee Baramenitiescafe
- Against The Grainamenitiescafe
- Alcoholamenitiesalcohol
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Australian Red Crossamenities181 Military Roadcharity
- Austrian Schnitzelhausamenitiesrestaurant
- Bangkok Bettyamenitiesrestaurant
- Bay Roastersamenitiescafe
- Ben Boyd Rd at Lindsay Stamenitiesbench
- Ben Boyd Rd at Phillips Stamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in North Sydney Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.