NSW · Newcastle Council
Newcastle East, 2300
Current weather
18.1°CClear sky
64% humidity · 14.1 km/h wind · 21.8° / 14.1° today · 2.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Newcastle East wears its coastal identity openly, a smaller community built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. The coast is the anchor, with regional towns nearby for markets, dining and weekend exploring. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because transport and access and housing affordability lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in parks and green space and community and employment.
Population
- Population
- 1,061
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,891
- Dwelling vacancy
- 23.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 140 of 596
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,238
- Employment rate
- 55.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 35 / 173 / 238
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)
- $680
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $690
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 335
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)
- 264
- Against the person
- 48
- Against property
- 106
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 248.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 98.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -4.1%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions756
- Malicious Damage To Property206
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault197
- Other Theft189
- Steal From Motor Vehicle173
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
6 public transport stops in this suburb
- Nobbys Rd Before Wharf Rd
- Nobbys Rd Before Wharf Rd
- Parnell Pl Opp Alfred St
- Scott St After Zara St
- Scott St After Zara St
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).
65 planning-related records
2026· 10 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 26 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure101 1 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport12 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 SHORTLAND ESPLANADE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Under Assessment
April 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure103 1 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation46 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2025· 9 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Under Assessment
November 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development1 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
July 2025
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 NOBBYS ROAD NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
April 2025
- Dual occupancy; Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Tourist and visitor accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Air-conditioning units14 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure46 NOBBYS ROAD NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation25 ALFRED STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Withdrawn
September 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation11 38 ZAARA STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)11 38 ZAARA STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
August 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia7 BOND STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Public Reserve1 NOBBYS ROAD NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
April 2024
- Dual occupancy; Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Tourist and visitor accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2023· 11 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 ZAARA STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
November 2023
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Tourist and visitor accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dual occupancy; Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Tourist and visitor accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
September 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development25 ALFRED STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development1 ALFRED STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development8 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development33 ALFRED STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development37 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 OCEAN TERRACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
February 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development33 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Withdrawn
- Demolition7 BOND STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2022· 2 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Other30 NOBBYS ROAD NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
November 2022
- Office premises2 16 TELFORD STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
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
120 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- ATM
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (34)
- Bicycle Parking (5)
- Bicycle rental
- Nobbys Rd before Wharf RdBus stop
- Parnell Pl opp Alfred StBus stop
- Scott St after Zara StBus stop
- Drinking water (4)
- Fast food
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Foreshore ParkPark
- Parnell ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
- Earp Gillam Bond Store Precinct16 Telford Street Newcastle EastSHR
- Newcastle Ocean Baths Complex30 Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle EastSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 12
- 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
- 40.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 49% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3318th in Australia
- State rank
- 1041st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #43 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #107 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
- ATMamenitiesatm
- Allogioamenitiesrestaurant
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Newcastle Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.