NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Cardiff (NSW), NSW, 2285
Desirability index
#355 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Cardiff (NSW) is a smaller suburban community in the Lake Macquarie area, home to around 6,318 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,376 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-8%), roughly 376.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $700 (flats $500, houses $720), 4 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 6,318
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $1,512
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 143 of 2,683
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 57.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 203 / 279 / 158
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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 226
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)
- 2,376
- Against the person
- 581
- Against property
- 1,116
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 376.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 11 residents
- State safety percentile
- 21.6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -8.3%
Most common offence types
- Fraud222
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment170
- Malicious Damage To Property232
- Steal From Motor Vehicle186
- Transport Regulatory Offences264
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,007
- Cardiff High SchoolSecondary
- Cardiff North Public SchoolPrimary
- Cardiff Public SchoolPrimary
- St Kevin's Primary 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
129 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Mary St N
- CCP Mary St S
- Cardiff Station
- FTB Mary St
- STR/LFT To P1/2
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).
332 planning-related records
2026· 33 proposals
June 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure29 JOHNSTONE STREET CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 HENDRICK STREET CARDIFF 2285Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 FLORENCE STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development4 PENDLEBURY ROAD CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 LOVELL STREET CARDIFF 2285Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 CORONATION AVENUE CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Light industry16 PENDLEBURY ROAD CARDIFF 2285Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Group home; Group home (permanent)1 KELTON STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure167 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Community facility40 ADA STREET CARDIFF 2285Additional Information Requested
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry39B MUNIBUNG ROAD CARDIFF 2285Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)121 MACQUARIE ROAD CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
March 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Automotive/truck premises; Truck depot99 MUNIBUNG ROAD CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 JOHNSTONE STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport30 WANSBECK VALLEY ROAD CARDIFF 2285Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 ALICE STREET CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 MAPLE STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support21 FERN VALLEY ROAD CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Light industry29 PENDLEBURY ROAD CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure29 RUSSELL STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation55 LACHLAN ROAD CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development52 JOHN STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Electricity generating facility (non-solar or wind)49 HARRISON STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Veterinary hospital26 HARRISON STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool100 MACQUARIE ROAD CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure12 HILL STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Subdivision25 FERN VALLEY ROAD CARDIFF 2285Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Light industry16 TORRENS AVENUE CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Light industry; Hours of operation and trading10 TORRENS AVENUE CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Attached dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 BOSTON CLOSE CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 QUEENS AVENUE CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading280 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)3 CARRICK CLOSE CARDIFF 2285Determined
2025· 50 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7 MAPLE STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision33 JOHN STREET CARDIFF 2285Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Carport30 WANSBECK VALLEY ROAD CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Subdivision6 NELSON ROAD CARDIFF 2285Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Electricity generating facility (non-solar or wind)92 MITCHELL ROAD CARDIFF 2285Determined
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure29 RUSSELL STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent)1 CEDAR STREET CARDIFF 2285Determined
2024· 53 proposals
53 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 51 proposals
51 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 77 proposals
77 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 60 proposals
60 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 8 proposals
8 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
100 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- ATM
- Newcastle PermanentBank
- Bbq
- Bench
- Revolver BikesBicycle
Unit 4 300 Main Road, Cardiff
- Bus Station (2)
- Main Rd after Taylor StBus Station
- Cardiff Bowling Club, Myall RdBus stop
- Cardiff Station, Main RdBus stop
- Coronation Av after Park 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Wilkinson ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 13
- Emergency department
- On site
- ATUNE Health Centres - Cardiffyes
- Awabakal Medical Centre - Cardiff (Women and Children's Clinic)Kelton Streetclinic
- CatholicCare CardiffKelton Streetcounselling
- Chemmartpharmacy
- Dentistdentist
- Doctordoctor
- Doctordoctor
- Doctordoctor
- Laboratorylaboratory
- Main Road Medical Centredoctor
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- 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
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Bluebird Early Education Cardiffchildcare
- Cardiff Community Pre-Schoolkindergarten
- St Nicholas Early Education CardiffKelton Streetchildcare
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 30
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
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
- 51.6/100
- Cohort rank
- #355 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
- CCP Mary St Ntransport
- CCP Mary St Stransport
- Cardiff Stationtransport
- FTB Mary Sttransport
- STR/LFT To P1/2transport
- Bluebird Early Education Cardiffchildcarechildcare
- Cardiff Community Pre-Schoolchildcarekindergarten
- St Nicholas Early Education CardiffchildcareKelton Streetchildcare
- ATUNE Health Centres - Cardiffhealthyes
- Awabakal Medical Centre - Cardiff (Women and Children's Clinic)healthKelton Streetclinic
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.