NSW · Port Stephens Council
Williamtown, 2318
Current weather
17.6°CClear sky
64% humidity · 11.4 km/h wind · 22.4° / 13.5° today · 1.7 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Williamtown is a regional centre in Port Stephens that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because community and employment and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in safety and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 762
- Median age
- 56
- Median household income / week
- $889
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 25 of 327
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 44.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 30 / 6 / 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)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 63
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
- 13
- Against property
- 14
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 45.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 59 residents
- State safety percentile
- 22.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud93
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment92
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
48 public transport stops in this suburb
- 2318 Nelson Bay Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Banksia Grove Village
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Medowie Rd
- RAAF Base North Gate, Medowie Rd
- RAAF Base South Gate, Medowie 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).
90 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2374 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2372 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Under Assessment
- Demolition; Industrial development; Restaurant or cafe; Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Food and drink premise; High technology industry; Hours of operation and trading6 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Under Assessment
- Subdivision6 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Under Assessment
March 2026
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; High technology industry38 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2250 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Air transport facility; Airport55C Slades Road WilliamtownDetermined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation2383 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)2230 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2395 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2374 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2395 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport2163 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2 BARRIE CLOSE WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Air transport facility; Airport55C Slades Road WilliamtownDetermined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2 BARRIE CLOSE WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Commercial development; Advertising and signage3 WILLIAMTOWN DRIVE WILLIAMTOWN 2318Withdrawn
April 2025
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; High technology industry38 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2374 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Withdrawn
2024· 15 proposals
November 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure495 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)2230 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
October 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)2407 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure; Building identification sign1 TECHNOLOGY PLACE WILLIAMTOWN 2318Withdrawn
September 2024
- Farm buildings; Shed; Erection of a new structure2352 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
July 2024
- Subdivision38 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
June 2024
- Educational establishment; Advertising and signage; Industrial training facility495 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
May 2024
- Business premises; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2163 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
April 2024
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure243 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 BARRIE CLOSE WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
February 2024
- Signage; Advertising and signage55 Slades Road, Williamtown. Lot 43, DP1045602Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure5 BARRIE CLOSE WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)2330 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; High technology industry38 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
January 2024
- Business premises; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure55 Slades Road, Williamtown Lot 43, DP1045602Determined
2023· 6 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Air transport facilityKindler and Cresswell Way, WilliamtownDetermined
November 2023
- Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 WILLIAMTOWN DRIVE WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
October 2023
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use2163 NELSON BAY ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
September 2023
- Alterations and additions to industrial development55C Slades Road WilliamtownDetermined
August 2023
- Other103 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Earthworks / change in levels575 CABBAGE TREE ROAD WILLIAMTOWN 2318Determined
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
17 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- Nelson Bay Rd before Lavis LaneBus stop
- Nelson Bay Rd before Medowie RdBus stop
- Nelson Bay Rd before Slades RdBus stop
- Nelson Bay Rd opp Medowie RdBus stop
- Nelson Bay Rd opp Slades RdBus stop
- Newcastle Airport, Williamtown DrBus stop
- RAAF Base South Gate, Medowie RdBus stop
- Fighter Beans CafeCafe
- Frontline CanteenCafe
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
- No overlay at centroid
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)
- 17
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- 52.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 25% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1667th in Australia
- State rank
- 534th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #36 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #100 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
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Enterpriseamenities1 Williamtown Drive,car_rental
- Fighter Beans Cafeamenitiescafe
- Frontline Canteenamenitiescafe
- Metro Petroleumamenities3 Williamtown Drivefuel
- Nelson Bay Rd before Lavis Laneamenitiesbus_stop
- Nelson Bay Rd before Medowie Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Nelson Bay Rd before Slades Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Nelson Bay Rd opp Medowie Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Nelson Bay Rd opp Slades Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
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.