NSW · Inner West Council
Petersham, 2049
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
- Education hub
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
Suburb profile
At the heart of the metro area, Petersham is a established suburb where cafés, culture and everyday convenience overlap. Sitting close to the city centre, it is easy to dip into neighbouring suburbs for work, dining and events. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, 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. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
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.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by growth momentum and schools and education, while housing affordability sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 8,200
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $2,217
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 454 of 3,876
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,900
- Employment rate
- 66.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 170 / 908 / 1,618
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)
- $875
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 292
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)
- 481
- Against the person
- 109
- Against property
- 240
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 58.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 75 residents
- State safety percentile
- 35.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault39
- Fraud100
- Malicious Damage To Property69
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault36
- Steal From Dwelling38
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 (3 schools)
- 1,137
- Fort Street High SchoolSecondary
- NSW School of LanguagesSecondary
- Petersham Public SchoolPrimary
- Taverners Hill Infants 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
61 public transport stops in this suburb
- FTB Terminus
- FTB Trafalgar
- Petersham Station
- STR Trafalgar St
- STR/LFT To P1/2
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksNew Canterbury Road, Hunter Street15 Jun 2026 – 01 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
444 planning-related records
2026· 33 proposals
June 2026
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 40 MARIA STREET PETERSHAM 2049Under Assessment
May 2026
- Shop top housing29 GORDON STREET PETERSHAM 2049Under Assessment
- Advertising and signage; Advertising structure606-610 PARRAMATTA ROAD PETERSHAM 2049Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 SEARL STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 FORT STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 SHAW STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure80 BRIGHTON STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Commercial development; 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 Australia4 LIVINGSTONE ROAD PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 AUDLEY STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition14 BELGRAVE STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition; 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; Co-living50 LIVINGSTONE ROAD PETERSHAM 2049Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool249 TRAFALGAR STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia26 AUDLEY STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition; Shop top housing; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Retail PremiseL1 82-86 NEW CANTERBURY ROAD PETERSHAM 2049Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club; Recreation/Tourist Premise77 BRIGHTON STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Pathways and paving; Swimming pool26 AUDLEY STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Boarding house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 FORT STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 THE AVENUE PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition50 PALACE STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling9 HOPETOUN STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure232 CORUNNA ROAD PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 ANDREAS STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 ALBERT STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure98 CRYSTAL STREET PETERSHAM 2049Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house35 RAILWAY STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 SEARL STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure67 MARGARET STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure70 PALACE STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation72 WESTBOURNE STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition56 AUDLEY STREET PETERSHAM 2049Withdrawn
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Garage, carport or carparking space; Landscaping structures; Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool123A WESTBOURNE STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Attached dwelling; Medium Density Housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 WEST STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation52 Crystal Street PetershamDetermined
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators22B LIVINGSTONE ROAD PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition84 PALACE STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 LIVINGSTONE ROAD PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Residential flat building; Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 LIVINGSTONE ROAD PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure111 WESTBOURNE STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; FencesCP/-/SP78608Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 ROSE STREET PETERSHAM 2049Determined
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
161 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Alcohol
- BWSAlcohol
- Petersham Liquor MartAlcohol
- One Art StudioArt
- La PatisserieBakery
- MansartBakery
- Bbq
- Newtown Nails & SpaBeauty salon
- Bench (8)
- Bicycle Parking (3)
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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Brighton Street ReservePark
- Maundrell ParkPark
- Petersham ParkPark
- Quinn PlaygroundPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 8
- Emergency department
- On site
- Family Practiceclinic
- Pension Beautemps BeaupréFort Streetyes
- Petersham Dental PracticeFisher Streetdentist
- Petersham Eye Centreoptometrist
- Petersham Family Medical Centreclinic
- Petersham Pharmacypharmacy
- Royal Rehab Private PetershamAddison Roadhospital
- Your Integrative Health Clinicalternative
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)
- 8/10
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
3 state heritage places
- Egyptian Room Scottish Temple23-35 New Canterbury Road PetershamSHR
- Petersham Railway Station groupTerminus Street, PetershamSHR
- Petersham Service Reservoir & SiteNew Canterbury Road, PetershamSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
4 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Greek Orthodox childcare centrekindergarten
- KU Petersham Preschoolkindergarten
- Petersham Early Childhood Education CentreBrighton Streetkindergarten
- childcareMiddleton Streetchildcare
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)
- 7
- 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
- 65.7/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 8% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 395th in Australia
- State rank
- 153rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #40 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #109 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
- A Grade Alterationsamenitiesdry_cleaning
- Addison Rd at Shaw Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Addison Rd opp Shaw Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Adriana Floristamenitiesflorist
- Alcoholamenitiesalcohol
- Arcella Freshamenitiesgreengrocer
- Art & Framingamenitiesframe
- Art Framingamenitiesframe
- Audley St at Fisher Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Audley St opp Fisher Stamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Inner West Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.