NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Nords Wharf, 2281
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.2° / 14.1° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Nords Wharf anchors everyday life in Lake Macquarie, a regional smaller community with its own identity and rhythm. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. 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.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability against similar regional towns, even with growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 895
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,679
- Dwelling vacancy
- 15.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 63 of 408
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 58.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 28 / 5 / 3
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)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
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)
- 59
- Against the person
- 15
- Against property
- 22
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 65.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 60 residents
- State safety percentile
- 44.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +2%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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
- 1,023
- Nords Wharf 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
25 public transport stops in this suburb
- Nords Wharf Rd After Government Rd
- Nords Wharf Rd Before Government Rd
- Pacific Hwy After Awabakal Dr
- Pacific Hwy After Montefiore St
- Pacific Hwy At Nords Wharf 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).
172 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support10 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support4 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool77 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Under Assessment
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool9 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support29 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah93 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool1 MARINE PARADE NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 LILY CRESCENT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
2025· 31 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool105 GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support29 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure61A GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure47 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure85 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)55 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 WINNIE STREET NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 Waterview Road, Nords WharfAdditional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 CROSSWINDS CLOSE NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 HAVANA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation38 GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure71 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure76 GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support43 NORDS WHARF ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure86 GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)21 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 HUNTER ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space37 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 YOLANDA STREET NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure59 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure77 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 HAVANA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation12 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah93 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 YOLANDA STREET NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences78 MARINE PARADE NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
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
17 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Government Rd after Crosswinds ClBus stop
- Government Rd opp Crosswinds ClBus stop
- Marine Pde before Hunter RdBus stop
- Marine Pde before Waterview RdBus stop
- Marine Pde opp Hunter RdBus stop
- Marine Pde opp Nords Wharf Public SchoolBus stop
- Nords Wharf Public School, Marine PdeBus stop
- Nords Wharf Rd after Government RdBus stop
- Nords Wharf Rd before Government RdBus stop
- Pacific Hwy after Awabakal DrBus 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
- Baxter ParkPark
- Gathercole ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- 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
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)
- 2
- 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
- 29.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5346th in Australia
- State rank
- 1690th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #272 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #734 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
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Government Rd after Crosswinds Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Government Rd opp Crosswinds Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Marine Pde before Hunter Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Marine Pde before Waterview Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Marine Pde opp Hunter Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Marine Pde opp Nords Wharf Public Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Nords Wharf Post Officeamenities51 Marine Paradepost_office
- Nords Wharf Public School, Marine Pdeamenitiesbus_stop
- Nords Wharf Rd after Government Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.