NSW · Maitland Council
Bolwarra (NSW), NSW, 2320
Desirability index
77.1/100
How this score is calculated#210 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Bolwarra (NSW) is a small locality in the Maitland area, home to around 1,350 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 4,159 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-5%), roughly 3080.7 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $600 (flats $485, houses $620), 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
- 1,350
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,217
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 19 of 489
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 63.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 38 / 14 / 0
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)
- $485
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 357
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)
- 4,159
- Against the person
- 1,143
- Against property
- 1,512
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 3,080.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 1 residents
- State safety percentile
- 52.1th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -5.4%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions609
- Domestic Violence Related Assault329
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment381
- Malicious Damage To Property307
- Steal From Motor Vehicle237
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
- 1,032
- Bolwarra 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
32 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bolwarra Lookout, Paterson Rd
- Bolwarra Rd Opp Bolwarra Public School
- Bolwarra Uniting Church, Paterson Rd
- Kensington Rd After Bayswater Rd
- Kensington Rd At Denison 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).
179 planning-related records
2026· 13 proposals
May 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure22 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure120 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah39 PANDANUS CIRCUIT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 ADDISON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation35 HUNTERGLEN DRIVE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers7 COTTONWOOD CLOSE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure63 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development40 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Demolition86 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Withdrawn
- Subdivision31 HUNTERGLEN DRIVE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure70 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation17 ADDISON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support23 ADDISON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
2025· 26 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)108 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 VANTAGE COURT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport5 VICTORIA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure22 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)5A LAGOON AVENUE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Subdivision23 HUNTERGLEN DRIVE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures; Pathways and paving; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers; Swimming pool10 RIVERSIDE STREET BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)5 LAGOON AVENUE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 BAYSWATER ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Operational consent issued
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support34 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development108 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure61 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Withdrawn
- Subdivision29 BAYSWATER ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Horticulture18 BAYSWATER ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Subdivision5 HUNTERGLEN DRIVE BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool42 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure69A BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development7 RIVERSIDE STREET BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure123 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure37 PANDANUS CIRCUIT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Landscaping structures16 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Fences140 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 VANTAGE COURT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development27 FLAT ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 VANTAGE COURT BOLWARRA 2320Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
2024· 26 proposals
December 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space27 ADDISON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Determined
2023· 28 proposals
28 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 28 proposals
28 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 51 proposals
51 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 7 proposals
7 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
20 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Addison Rd after Bayswater RdBus stop
- Addison Rd after Westbourne RdBus stop
- Addison Rd at Bayswater RdBus stop
- Addison Rd before Westbourne RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Heights Public School, Bolwarra RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Lookout, Paterson RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Rd at Maitland RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Rd opp Bolwarra Public SchoolBus stop
- Bolwarra Rd opp Maitland RdBus stop
- Bolwarra Uniting Church, Paterson RdBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bolwarra Heights LookoutPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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
- Overlay applies
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)
- 1
- 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
- 77.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #210 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bolwarra Lookout, Paterson Rdtransport
- Bolwarra Rd Opp Bolwarra Public Schooltransport
- Bolwarra Uniting Church, Paterson Rdtransport
- Kensington Rd After Bayswater Rdtransport
- Kensington Rd At Denison Rdtransport
- Bolwarra Heights Lookoutgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportplanning34 KENSINGTON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Lodged 19 Sep 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Developmentplanning40 BOLWARRA ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Lodged 16 Mar 2026 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Developmentplanning7 RIVERSIDE STREET BOLWARRA 2320Lodged 07 Apr 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)planning108 PATERSON ROAD BOLWARRA 2320Lodged 18 Dec 2025 · 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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