NSW · Cessnock Council
Watagan, 2325
Current weather
17.2°CClear sky
58% humidity · 15 km/h wind · 21.7° / 14.5° today · 5.2 mm rain
Updated
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Watagan is a residential smaller community in Cessnock with a familiar suburban feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. Community life feels grounded and local, with residents who tend to know their neighbourhood well.
This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Population
- Population
- 37
- Median age
- 57
- Median household income / week
- $675
- Dwelling vacancy
- 53.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 16 of 30
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 35.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 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)
- $463
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $570
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 271
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)
- 4
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 2
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 108.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 37 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Reported offences are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order198
- Breach Bail Conditions379
- Domestic Violence Related Assault299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment371
- Malicious Damage To Property332
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
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
3 planning-related records
2025· 1 proposal
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Swimming pool1032 WATAGAN CREEK ROAD WATAGANWithdrawn
2024· 1 proposal
July 2024
- Subdivision138 CRUMP LANE WATAGAN 2325Determined
2020· 1 proposal
June 2020
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Other1348 Watagan Creek Road WataganDetermined
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)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime198
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime379
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime371
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime332
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Swimming poolplanning1032 WATAGAN CREEK ROAD WATAGANLodged 13 Jan 2025 · Withdrawn
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Otherplanning1348 Watagan Creek Road WataganLodged 16 Jun 2020 · Determined
- Subdivisionplanning138 CRUMP LANE WATAGAN 2325Lodged 11 Jul 2024 · Determined
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)
More in Cessnock Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.