NSW · Port Stephens Council
Swan Bay, 2324
Current weather
16.7°CClear sky
65% humidity · 8.4 km/h wind · 22.9° / 10.8° today · 0.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Swan Bay is a quieter smaller community in Port Stephens, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
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 local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access the main drags compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 310
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,156
- Dwelling vacancy
- 20.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 29 of 141
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,400
- Employment rate
- 45.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 8 / 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)
- $498
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $610
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $578
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 194
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)
- 35
- Against the person
- 11
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 112.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 28 residents
- State safety percentile
- 79.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions384
- Domestic Violence Related Assault228
- Fraud159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment331
- Malicious Damage To Property237
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
- 115 Moffats Rd
- 115 Moffats Rd
- Morten Rd At Swan Bay Rd
- Morten Rd At Swan Bay 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)
Roadworks & transport
2 active roadworks / incidents
- Exercise caution. Expect delays. Reduce your speed. Maintenance grading.Moffats Road, Swan Bay Road17 May 2026 – 02 Jul 2026
- Reduce your speed. Expect delays. Exercise caution. Maintenance Grading.Lilleys Road, Swan Bay Road18 Jun 2026 – 02 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).
55 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure160 SWAN BAY SCHOOL ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Stairway925 WOODBURN CORAKI ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure865 WOODBURN CORAKI ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure860 SWAN BAY ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure100 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure90 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure62 EUCALYPT DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)395 REARDONS LANE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure90 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure75 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Rainwater tanks209/1306115Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodation65 EUCALYPT DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Farm buildings; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure395 REARDONS LANE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure369 SWAN BAY NEW ITALY ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure103 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure111 MINJEHLA ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure550 WOODBURN CORAKI ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureGINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation1107 SWAN BAY ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Determined
November 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structureGINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure395 REARDONS LANE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
October 2024
- Subdivision458 SWAN BAY ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Determined
September 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure104 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure23 CASUARINA DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure105 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
May 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool248 LILLEYS ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure383 SWAN BAY NEW ITALY ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Determined
January 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure49 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
2023· 7 proposals
November 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure102 GINIBI DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure337 SWAN BAY ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling65 EUCALYPT DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
June 2023
- Shed20 CASUARINA DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
May 2023
- Retaining walls, protection of trees; Shed113 MINJEHLA ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Determined
April 2023
- Dwelling147 MOFFATS ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Determined
- Dwelling; Shed18 EUCALYPT DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
2022· 5 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing99 CASUARINA DRIVE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
November 2022
- Shed18 GREVILLEA PLACE SWAN BAY 2471Determined
October 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development25A WATERFRONT ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Withdrawn
- Farm buildings545 SWAN BAY NEW ITALY ROAD SWAN BAY 2471Determined
- Group homes2 OLD PUNT ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Determined
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 17.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6742nd in Australia
- State rank
- 2095th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #571 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #1021 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime384
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime228
- Fraudcrime159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime331
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime237
- 115 Moffats Rdtransport
- 115 Moffats Rdtransport
- Morten Rd At Swan Bay Rdtransport
- Morten Rd At Swan Bay Rdtransport
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning25A WATERFRONT ROAD SWAN BAY 2324Lodged 28 Oct 2022 · Withdrawn
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Port Stephens Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.