NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Blacksmiths, NSW, 2281
Desirability index
18.4/100
How this score is calculated#604 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Blacksmiths is a small locality in the Lake Macquarie area, home to around 1,881 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,016 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+2%), roughly 540.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $725 (flats $550, houses $750), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 1,881
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,252
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 82 of 850
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 49.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 71 / 53 / 18
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)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
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)
- 1,016
- Against the person
- 260
- Against property
- 374
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 540.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 7 residents
- State safety percentile
- 25.4th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +2.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,004
- Blacksmiths Public SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
47 public transport stops in this suburb
- Pacific Hwy After Turea St
- Pacific Hwy At Awabakal Av
- Pacific Hwy At Docker St
- Pacific Hwy At Maneela St
- Pelican Flat Park, Pacific Hwy
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).
123 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure157 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Under Assessment
April 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (external)145 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool91 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool13 KOLANG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool4 AWABAKAL AVENUE BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)3 WAREA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 MITTI STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 AWABAKAL AVENUE BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 MITTI STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 BINDA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 CARAWA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 BIWONG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
September 2025
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (external)145 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure3 GOMMERA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 PARK PARADE BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space13 GOMMERA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 MANEELA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
August 2025
- Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool1 AMAROO STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 GARRAWANTARA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 GOMMERA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
June 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)59 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 KOLANG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 CARAWA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 GOMMERA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool16 KALINDA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 MITTI STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
2024· 15 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 BOIKON STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 MITTI STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool28 KOLANG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure91 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 AMAROO STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
August 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure29 PACIFIC HIGHWAY BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development14 TIRRANNA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 MANEELA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 ALDUNGA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
May 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 KALINDA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (indoor); Recreation facility (outdoor)118 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
April 2024
- Business premises; Erection of a new structure78 Pacific Highway, BLACKSMITHS NSW 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space14 BINDA STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport81 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Determined
2023· 31 proposals
31 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 25 proposals
25 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 23 proposals
23 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 3 proposals
3 proposals 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
33 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- The Bakers DenBakery
- Bicycle Parking
- Pacific Hwy after Gommera StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy after Turea StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Awabakal AvBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Docker StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy at Maneela StBus stop
- Pacific Hwy opp Lake Macquarie AirportBus stop
- Pelican Flat Park, Pacific HwyBus stop
- Piriwal St after Warea StBus stop
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
- Dobinson ReservePark
- Park or reserveNature reserve
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)
- 3/10
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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 18.4/100
- Cohort rank
- #604 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
- Pacific Hwy After Turea Sttransport
- Pacific Hwy At Awabakal Avtransport
- Pacific Hwy At Docker Sttransport
- Pacific Hwy At Maneela Sttransport
- Pelican Flat Park, Pacific Hwytransport
- Dobinson Reservegovernmentpark
- Park or reservegovernmentnature_reserve
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (indoor); Recreation facility (outdoor)planning118 UNGALA ROAD BLACKSMITHS 2281Lodged 01 May 2024 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning13 KOLANG STREET BLACKSMITHS 2281Lodged 20 Mar 2026 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning4 AWABAKAL AVENUE BLACKSMITHS 2281Lodged 13 Mar 2026 · 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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