NSW · Cessnock Council
Pokolbin, 2320
Current weather
15.5°CClear sky
57% humidity · 14.9 km/h wind · 19.3° / 12.3° today · 5.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Cessnock, Pokolbin keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar regional towns, even with growth momentum and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,049
- Median age
- 57
- Median household income / week
- $2,395
- Dwelling vacancy
- 34.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 207 of 607
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,550
- Employment rate
- 58.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 17 / 0 / 0
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)
- $485
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 357
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)
- 111
- Against the person
- 31
- Against property
- 41
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 105.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 34 residents
- State safety percentile
- 74.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions609
- Domestic Violence Related Assault329
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment381
- Malicious Damage To Property307
- Steal From Motor Vehicle237
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
33 public transport stops in this suburb
- Broke Rd At McDonalds Rd
- Broke Rd At Wine Country Dr
- McDonalds Rd After Wine Country Dr
- McDonalds Rd Before Deaseys Rd
- McDonalds Rd Opp Deaseys 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).
527 planning-related records
2026· 29 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure32 CEDAR DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure118 CASUARINA DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Subdivision963 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 PAPERBARK DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Air transport premises455 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 ANGOPHORA DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Subdivision963 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Withdrawn
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Function centre336C OLD NORTH ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision447 DE BEYERS ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Under Assessment
April 2026
- Bed and breakfast accommodation; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Tourist and visitor accommodation120 OLD NORTH ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool24 PAPERBARK DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure26 BLUE CLIFF ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure257 HERMITAGE ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure95 CASUARINA DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture749 DE BEYERS ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 PEPPERTREE DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
March 2026
- Office Premise; Temporary building, structure or use963 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 AZAPA LANE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure66 CASUARINA DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Controlled access road2342 BROKE ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 PAPERBARK DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Serviced apartment119 MCDONALDS ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1 WATTLE CLOSE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Bed and breakfast accommodation; Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation78 BENTWOOD DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Commercial development; Hours of operation and trading2198 BROKE ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Subdivision298 MCDONALDS ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 PEPPERTREE DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation221 DE BEYERS ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 MACULATA ACCESS POKOLBIN 2320Determined
2025· 11 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision963 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation78 CASUARINA DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Tourist and visitor accommodation14-18 SPRING HARVEST CLOSE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 VERDALE CLOSE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Serviced apartment119 MCDONALDS ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure27 VERDALE CLOSE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 VERDALE CLOSE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool2 MAGNOLIA CLOSE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 MAPLE DRIVE POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1744 BROKE ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Serviced apartment119 MCDONALDS ROAD POKOLBIN 2320Determined
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
9 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Harrigan'sAlcohol
- EnzoCafe
Broke Road
- Harrigan's Irish PubCafe
2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin
- The Alpaca BarnClothes
- Sports field
- Waste Basket
- David Hook WinesWine
- Scarborough WineWine
179 Gillards Road
- Tyrrell's WinesWine
1838 Broke Road
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
- Hunter Valley GardensPark
- Pokolbin ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · 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
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)
- 113
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
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
- 35.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4228th in Australia
- State rank
- 1339th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #222 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #499 among Country & regional 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
- David Hook Winesamenitieswine
- EnzoamenitiesBroke Roadcafe
- Harrigan'samenitiesalcohol
- Harrigan's Irish Pubamenities2090 Broke Road, Pokolbincafe
- Scarborough Wineamenities179 Gillards Roadwine
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
- The Alpaca Barnamenitiesclothes
- Tyrrell's Winesamenities1838 Broke Roadwine
- Waste Basketamenitieswaste_basket
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime609
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Cessnock Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.