Median house price
$1.17M
+8.8% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Cams Wharf, 2281
Est. population · Jun 2025
195
Growth (1 yr)
+1.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.6%
Median age
56
Median income
$1,385/wk
Employment rate
44.4%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,170,000
Languages at home
4%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie Council, Cams Wharf keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Food and coffee punch above the usual for comparable suburbs, giving the suburb a lived-in social scene.
With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
At a glance
Cams Wharf snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$725/wk
Houses $750 · Units $550
Population (ERP)
195
+1.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
56.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
37th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
80th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
57th
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
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 house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,170,000
- Median price change
- +8.8%
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
195(June 2025)
+1.6% annual · +6.6% over 5 years · 80th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.6%
- 5-year growth
- +6.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +12
- Growth rank in NSW
- 80th 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 (~200), extrapolated at +1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 182
- Median age
- 56
- Median household income / week
- $1,385
- Dwelling vacancy
- 56%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 107 of 191
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,400
- Employment rate
- 44.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 29 / 53 / 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 · 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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 11
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 4
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 56.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 61 residents
- State safety percentile
- 37.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,023
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 57th
School list
- Nords Wharf Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 180 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 1.6 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
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Cams Wharf Rd After Raffertys Rd
- Cams Wharf Rd After Raffertys Rd
- Cams Wharf Rd Opp Crangan Bay Dr
- Cams Wharf Rd Opp Crangan Bay Dr
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
20 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 pubs · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 8/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 5.49
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Food & drink(1)
- Cams Wharf TavernPub
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Transport(3)
3 bus stops
Other(4)
- Parking (2)
- Picnic Table (10)
- Shelter
- Slipway
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Belmont Hospital (11.6 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
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)
- 6
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.8
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· 1 proposal
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2025· 4 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 POINT STREET CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 POINT STREET CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision170 CURRAWONG CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Withdrawn
March 2025
- Pub; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Function centre; Hours of operation and trading1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2024· 5 proposals
October 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Recreation area1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Withdrawn
August 2024
- Pub; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Function centre; Hours of operation and trading1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
May 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool1A CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
April 2024
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 KINGFISHER CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2023· 2 proposals
December 2023
- Temporary building, structure or use; Recreation area1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed11 CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2022· 5 proposals
September 2022
- Dwelling1A CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
July 2022
- Demolition; Pub1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing7 RAFFERTYS ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
- Recreational Uses1 WILD DUCK DRIVE CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
March 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing404 CURRAWONG CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
2021· 5 proposals
November 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces83 KINGFISHER CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling614 CURRAWONG CIRCUIT CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
June 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development4 CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
May 2021
- Other8 CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
April 2021
- Dwelling1A CAMS WHARF ROAD CAMS WHARF 2281Determined
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
- Overlay applies
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
- Shortland
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONROY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,971
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 7.9 km away).
Coalition 42.9%Labor 57.1%
4.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Nords WharfLabor 55.3% · Coalition 44.7% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Caves BeachLabor 58.7% · Coalition 41.3% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
- GwandalanLabor 57.1% · Coalition 42.9% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
- Swansea CentralLabor 60.3% · Coalition 39.7% TPP (2025)4.1 km away
- SwanseaLabor 61.8% · Coalition 38.2% TPP (2025)4.9 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)
- 3/10
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
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.