NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Rathmines, 2283
Current weather
16.9°CClear sky
67% humidity · 13.5 km/h wind · 20.8° / 13.8° today · 3.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Rathmines is a practical smaller community in Lake Macquarie, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play.
Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and growth momentum.
Population
- Population
- 2,076
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,517
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 38 of 805
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 52%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 58 / 54 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 89
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)
- 173
- Against the person
- 49
- Against property
- 45
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 83.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 58.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions387
- Domestic Violence Related Assault156
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment194
- Malicious Damage To Property138
- Transport Regulatory Offences278
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
- 996
- Rathmines 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
39 public transport stops in this suburb
- Clydebank Rd At Kooringal Cl
- Clydebank Rd At Sutton St
- Dorrington Rd Opp Karoonda Pl
- Rosemary Row At Josephine St
- Secret Corner Rd Opp Rathmines Public School
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).
110 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Under Assessment
May 2026
- Signage; Industrial development; Subdivision; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Building identification sign; Business identification sign; Self storage units; Light industry; Hours of operation and trading13 DARRAMBAL CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool56 ROSEMARY ROW RATHMINES 2283Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool68 ROSEMARY ROW RATHMINES 2283Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7 BURNAGE PLACE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 OVERHILL ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space44 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Residential flat building; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure18 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support55 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
2025· 14 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool3 BAYSWATER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool3 BAYSWATER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Withdrawn
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport18 STARBOARD CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
October 2025
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure12 DARRAMBAL CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support55 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
April 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support63 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure69 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure58 ROSEMARY ROW RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport15 LINCOLN CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool3 BAYSWATER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; 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; Dual occupancy (detached); Carport39 SECRET CORNER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; General industry7 DARRAMBAL CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support63 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
2024· 14 proposals
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences81 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure61 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
September 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 HILLCREST AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation79 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Under Assessment
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure69 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)21 KAROONDA CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Residential flat building; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure18 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure69 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport38 SECRET CORNER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space87 ROSEMARY ROW RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space8 NORTHVIEW STREET RATHMINES 2283Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure47 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
February 2024
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)61 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 ROTHLEY GARDENS RATHMINES 2283Determined
2023· 3 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)1 STILLING STREET RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support63 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
November 2023
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure12A KAROONDA CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
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
28 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Rathmines Cake & Bread ShopBakery
- Clydebank Rd after Rosemary RowBus stop
- Dorrington Rd at Karoonda ClBus stop
- Dorrington Rd opp Karoonda PlBus stop
- Fishing Point Rd at Secret Corner RdBus stop
- Rathmines Public School, Secret Corner RdBus stop
- Rosemary Row at Hillcrest AvBus stop
- Rothley Garden Rd at Secret Corner RdBus stop
- Secret Corner Rd after Stirling StBus stop
- Secret Corner Rd at Eltham AvBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Rathmines ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- 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
1 state heritage place
- Rathmines Park, former RAAF Seaplane BaseDorrington Road, RathminesSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 42.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 45% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3049th in Australia
- State rank
- 965th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #64 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #591 among Metro Sydney 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
- Cafeamenitiescafe
- Clydebank Rd after Rosemary Rowamenitiesbus_stop
- Dorrington Rd at Karoonda Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Dorrington Rd opp Karoonda Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Fishing Point Rd at Secret Corner Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Hairdresseramenitieshairdresser
- IGAamenitiessupermarket
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Post Boxamenitiespost_box
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
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.