NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Sunshine, 2264
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.2° / 14.1° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Sunshine is a well-connected smaller community in Lake Macquarie with everyday amenities close at hand. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with housing affordability and transport and access the main drags compared with similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 475
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,575
- Dwelling vacancy
- 21%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 47 of 224
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 50.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 15 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $628
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 99
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)
- 40
- Against the person
- 10
- Against property
- 15
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 84.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 48 residents
- State safety percentile
- 59.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault97
- Fraud105
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment115
- Malicious Damage To Property97
- Transport Regulatory Offences251
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
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Silverwater Rd At Cessnock Rd
- Silverwater Rd At Cessnock Rd
- Sunshine Pde Opp Cessnock Rd
- Sunshine Pde Opp Cessnock 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).
46 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure; Jetty; Boat launching ramp41 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Additional Information Requested
2025· 4 proposals
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
2024· 6 proposals
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure; Jetty; Non-standard Housing1 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
September 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation54 CESSNOCK ROAD SUNSHINE 2264Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty101 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 NORMAN AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah20 MAITLAND AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation14 MAITLAND AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
2023· 9 proposals
December 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
November 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation85 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development23 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 Maitland Ave Sunshine NSW 2264Determined
September 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house85 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition; Retaining walls, protection of trees85 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing23 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Demolition16 MAITLAND AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development4 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
2022· 11 proposals
November 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development97 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
October 2022
- Dwelling26 NORMAN AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
August 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Shed30 MAITLAND AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
July 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Stormwater management systems; Place of public worship; Other54 CESSNOCK ROAD SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Secondary dwelling42 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Retaining walls, protection of trees32 MAITLAND AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces23 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development42 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
June 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing93 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
May 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development7 WATERSIDE AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
February 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development97 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
2021· 9 proposals
December 2021
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land20 NORMAN AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
November 2021
- Dwelling30 MAITLAND AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
October 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Shed30 MAITLAND AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
July 2021
- Retaining walls, protection of trees15 NORMAN AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
June 2021
- Dwelling18 NORMAN AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
May 2021
- Dwelling30 MAITLAND AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land22 CESSNOCK ROAD SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Dwelling15 NORMAN AVENUE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development4 SUNSHINE PARADE SUNSHINE 2264Determined
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
7 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- Silverwater Rd at Cessnock RdBus stop
- Sunshine Pde opp Cessnock RdBus stop
- Playground
- Slipway
- Sunshine ParkSlipway
- Waste Basket
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
- Casuarina Point ReservePark
- Sunshine Baths ReservePark
- Sunshine ParkPark
- Waterside ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- 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
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)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- 16.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6810th in Australia
- State rank
- 2113th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #147 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #882 among Metro Sydney 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
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Silverwater Rd at Cessnock Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Slipwayamenitiesslipway
- Sunshine Parkamenitiesslipway
- Sunshine Pde opp Cessnock Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Waste Basketamenitieswaste_basket
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime97
- Fraudcrime105
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime115
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 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.