NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Balcolyn, NSW, 2264
Desirability index
#699 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Balcolyn is a small locality in the Lake Macquarie area, home to around 1,002 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,365 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-13%), roughly 1362.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $610, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 1,002
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,525
- Dwelling vacancy
- 15.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 70 of 457
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 51.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 22 / 0 / 16
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.
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)
- 1,365
- Against the person
- 348
- Against property
- 515
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 1,362.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 3 residents
- State safety percentile
- 38.5th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -13.2%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault97
- Fraud105
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment115
- Malicious Damage To Property97
- Transport Regulatory Offences251
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
15 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bay St At Centour St
- Bay St At Helena St
- Bay St Opp Centour St
- Yarrawonga Park Rd After Lake Rd
- Yarrawonga Park Rd Opp Lake Rd
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
62 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 LAKE ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool32 KING STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision110 LAKE ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Under Assessment
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development6 BEACH ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 BALCOLYN STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
2025· 11 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 QUEEN STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure31 LAKE ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure35 LAKE ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation59 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool14 BEACH ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space1 LAWRIE STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Demolition; Swimming pool65 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure60 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 COLBAN STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool40 BALCOLYN STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers11 BALCOLYN STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 HELENA STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool37 QUEEN STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Carport; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool114 LAKE ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
July 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure32 KING STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 BEACH ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
March 2024
- Demolition40 BALCOLYN STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Community facility40 YARRAWONGA PARK ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation14 BEACH ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
2023· 11 proposals
November 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure13 CENTOUR STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
October 2023
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure28 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 BEACH ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees8C LAKE ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development55 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Secondary dwelling35 LAKE ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 BEACH ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces18 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
February 2023
- Subdivision of land6 LAKE ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition; Retaining walls, protection of trees8 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
2022· 17 proposals
November 2022
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land56 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
- Secondary dwelling4 QUEEN STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development17 KING STREET BALCOLYN 2264Determined
August 2022
- Other19 BEACH ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Determined
July 2022
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling2/8 Lake, Road, Balcolyn NSWDetermined
2021· 9 proposals
9 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 1 proposal
1 proposal lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 67 Bay StBus stop
- Bay St at Centour StBus stop
- Bay St at Helena StBus stop
- Bay St opp 67Bus stop
- Bay St opp Centour StBus stop
- Yarrawonga Park Rd after Lake RdBus stop
- Yarrawonga Park Rd opp Lake RdBus stop
- Playground
- Public toilets
- Slipway
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Balcolyn Hall ReservePark
- Shingle SplittersPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
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.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 5.7/100
- Cohort rank
- #699 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bay St At Centour Sttransport
- Bay St At Helena Sttransport
- Bay St Opp Centour Sttransport
- Yarrawonga Park Rd After Lake Rdtransport
- Yarrawonga Park Rd Opp Lake Rdtransport
- Balcolyn Hall Reservegovernmentpark
- Shingle Splittersgovernmentpark
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning55 BAY STREET BALCOLYN 2264Lodged 09 Aug 2023 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning3 BEACH ROAD BALCOLYN 2264Lodged 19 Jun 2023 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning17 KING STREET BALCOLYN 2264Lodged 23 Sep 2022 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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