Median house price
$930k
+12% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Cardiff South, 2285
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,062
Growth (1 yr)
+0.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.6%
Median age
38
Median income
$1,688/wk
Employment rate
64.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$930,000
Languages at home
6.1%non-English
Most common: Samoan, Macedonian, Japanese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie Council, Cardiff South is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because parks and green space lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum and safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Cardiff South snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$700/wk
Houses $720 · Units $500
Population (ERP)
3,062
+0.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
3.6%
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
#110
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
47th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
60th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
55th
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
- 47.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 35% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2481st in Australia
- State rank
- 743rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #110 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #523 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
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 house price (October to December 2025)
- $930,000
- Median price change
- +12.1%
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
3,062(June 2025)
+0.8% annual · +4.6% over 5 years · 60th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.8%
- 5-year growth
- +4.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +24
- Change in 5 years
- +134
- Growth rank in NSW
- 60th 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 (~3,150), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,931
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $1,688
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 41 of 1,151
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,777
- Employment rate
- 64.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 995 / 88 / 27
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)
- 198
- Against the person
- 48
- Against property
- 93
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 64.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 61 residents
- State safety percentile
- 46.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.1%
Most common offence types
- Fraud222
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment170
- Malicious Damage To Property232
- Steal From Motor Vehicle186
- Transport Regulatory Offences264
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
- 8
- Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
- 1,018.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 55th
School list
- Cardiff South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1017 · 54th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 298 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
- Cardiff High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 986 · 40th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 778 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Cardiff Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1000 · 47th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 283 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- St Kevin's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 130 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1020 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 164 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Newcastle Junior SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 940 · 21th percentile · LBOTE 25% · 63 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Warners Bay High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1056 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 1,161 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1045 · 66th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 227 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.9 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- childcarechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
51 public transport stops in this suburb
- First St At Lake Av
- Gertrude St At Helen St
- Hillsborough Rd After Crocket St
- John St At Francis St
- Maud St At Ethel 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
34 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 fast food · 2 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 51 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.34
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.34
Food & drink(1)
- Fast food
Shopping(2)
- Butcher
- Cardiff South Convenience StoreConvenience store
Community(3)
- Childcare
- Cardiff South Public SchoolSchool
9 Lake Avenue, Cardiff South
- Vedic Education CentreSchool
Sport & outdoors(4)
- Ulinga ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
Transport(20)
20 bus stops
Other(4)
- Cubby House
- Post Box
- Public toilets
- Telephone
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Ulinga ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Pendlebury Clinc Private Hospital (1.8 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)
- 131
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 42.8
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· 8 proposals
August 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure60 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Under Assessment
July 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure15 EVELEEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Residential Accommodation4 ELIZABETH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space27 THIRD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Under Assessment
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure13 ELIZABETH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
May 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)7 LEWIS STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia36 GERTRUDE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 ORCHARD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support14 WATERVIEW ROAD CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support14 WATERVIEW ROAD CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28B BEESON STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space7 MAUD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation5 CROCKETT STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Group home (permanent)10 FLORENCE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 EVELEEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure56 SECOND STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 BEESON STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure37 SECOND STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces33 HELEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia36 GERTRUDE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure11 HADDINGTON DRIVE CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure10 BEESON STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 HELEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 ELIZABETH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure26B ELIZABETH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 HELEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah24 CROCKETT STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Group home (permanent)22 GERTRUDE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 HELEN STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah1 ARTHUR STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 FLORENCE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
October 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support53 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation27 Elizabeth Street, Cardiff South NSW 2285Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 MAUD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 15 MAUD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 FLORENCE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
June 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 FLORINA CLOSE CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support53 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 LEWIS STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
May 2024
- Advertising and signage; School9 LAKE AVENUE CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Fences; Privacy screens; Rainwater tanks3 PRINCE STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space42 MAUD STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Determined
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
- 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 2.5 km away).
Coalition 34.1%Labor 65.9%
4.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Cardiff SouthLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)0.0 km away
- CardiffLabor 65.5% · Coalition 34.5% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- HillsboroughLabor 66.9% · Coalition 33.1% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Garden SuburbLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- Cardiff NorthLabor 71.7% · Coalition 28.4% TPP (2025)1.9 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)
- 5/10
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.