Median house price
$880k
+2.3% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Bonnells Bay, 2264
Est. population · Jun 2025
4,353
Growth (1 yr)
+1.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.7%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,460/wk
Employment rate
51.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$880,000
Languages at home
5%non-English
Most common: French, Nepali, Thai
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Bonnells Bay is a practical mid-sized suburb in Lake Macquarie Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips.
Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Everyday errands are walkable, and buses keep the wider city within easy reach. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because parks and green space, plus community and employment lag behind, despite relative strength in schools and education.
At a glance
Bonnells Bay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$610/wk
Population (ERP)
4,353
+1.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.5%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#66
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
57th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
69th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
47th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 51.8/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 27% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1922nd in Australia
- State rank
- 564th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #66 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #412 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $628
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 99
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $880,000
- Median price change
- +2.3%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
4,353(June 2025)
+1.1% annual · +7.7% over 5 years · 69th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.1%
- 5-year growth
- +7.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +47
- Change in 5 years
- +312
- Growth rank in NSW
- 69th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~4,700), extrapolated at +1.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 4,066
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,460
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 144 of 1,691
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,820
- Employment rate
- 51.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,463 / 78 / 13
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 333
- Against the person
- 85
- Against property
- 125
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 76.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 48 residents
- State safety percentile
- 56.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.8%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault97
- Fraud105
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment115
- Malicious Damage To Property97
- Transport Regulatory Offences251
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,001
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 47th
School list
- Bonnells Bay Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 925 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 376 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Brightwaters Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1001 · 47th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 106 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Heritage College Lake MacquarieCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1002 · 47th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 511 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
62 public transport stops in this suburb
- Baldwin Bvd At Fishery Point Rd
- Mather Dr At Regent St
- Mather Dr Opp Waikiki Rd
- Station St Opp Harbord St
- Victoria St At Station St
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
49 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 1 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Highly walkable for everyday errands
- Decent local green space — 2 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 62 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 76/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.25
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.74
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.49
Food & drink(3)
- Cafe
- Fast food
- The Bay Hotel MotelPub
Shopping(2)
- ColesSupermarket
330 Fishery Point Road, Bonnells Bay
Community(2)
- Bonnells Bay Community & Youth CentreCommunity centre
- Bonnells Bay Public SchoolSchool
Morisset Park Road, Bonnells Bay
Health & services(2)
- Medical clinic
- Pharmacy
Sport & outdoors(7)
- Gym
- Bonnells Bay ParkPark
- Pendlebury ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Transport(15)
15 bus stops
Other(9)
- Hairdresser
- Bonnells Bay Shopping CentreMall
330 Fishery Point Road, Bonnells Bay
- Newsagent
- Parking (10)
- Lakeside Adventist ChurchPlace of worship
341 Fishery Point Road
- Australia PostPost office
330 Fishery Point Road
- Public toilets
- Seafood
- Slipway (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bonnells Bay ParkPark
- Pendlebury ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Lakeside Adventist Church
341 Fishery Point Road
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Moriseset Comunity Health Centre (4.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- DoctorDoctor
- PharmacyPharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 155
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.6
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 20 proposals
August 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 ST CLAIR STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Demolition137 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool101 STATION STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure9 CREER STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure38 REGENT STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool48 RIESLING ROAD BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure13 WILLIAM STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 MARINA ROAD BONNELLS BAY 2264Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport3 CROWN CLOSE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
April 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure69 STATION STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 KONA CRESCENT BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure513 FISHERY POINT ROAD BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 ST CLAIR STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure60-62 WOOD STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure47 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Under Assessment
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure130 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
January 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure365 FISHERY POINT ROAD BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces35 MACQUARIE STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure58 AMOS STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 ALOHA CLOSE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
November 2025
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation9 AMOS STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 REGENT STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)82 STATION STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Under Assessment
September 2025
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)21 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34A DALLEY STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool147 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure119 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 MARINA ROAD BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 ARGYLE STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure57 DALLEY STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house38 WOOD STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport22 WAIKIKI ROAD BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool17 VICTORIA STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
April 2025
- Demolition25 HARBORD STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure92 REGENT STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space4 WOOD STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool29 STAN CRESCENT BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure87 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Residential Accommodation13 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers47 AMOS STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure130 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah36 DALLEY STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
2024· 3 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah112 HARBORD STREET BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation147 GRAND PARADE BONNELLS BAY 2264Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)39 dalley street bonnells bayDetermined
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Hunter
- Member of Parliament
- Dan REPACHOLI (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,184
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.5%Labor 59.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 8.2 km away).
Coalition 43.8%Labor 56.3%
3.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Bonnells BayLabor 56.1% · Coalition 43.9% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- MorissetLabor 61.2% · Coalition 38.8% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- Dora CreekLabor 51.3% · Coalition 48.7% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
- Morisset PeninsulaLabor 59.7% · Coalition 40.3% TPP (2025)4.0 km away
- Wyee PointLabor 55.3% · Coalition 44.7% TPP (2025)4.0 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.