NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Cardiff South, NSW, 2285
Desirability index
18.2/100
How this score is calculated#605 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Cardiff South is a smaller suburban community in the Lake Macquarie area, home to around 2,931 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,376 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-8%), roughly 810.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $700 (flats $500, houses $720), 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
- 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)
- 77 / 88 / 27
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
- 810.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 5 residents
- State safety percentile
- 30.7th (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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,017
- Cardiff South 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
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
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).
115 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 FIFTH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure13 ELIZABETH STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Under Assessment
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· 22 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
2023· 18 proposals
18 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 31 proposals
31 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 19 proposals
19 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 1 proposal
1 proposal 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
30 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Cardiff South Public School, Lake AvBus stop
- Crockett St after Hillsborough RdBus stop
- Crockett St after Knight StBus stop
- Fifth opp Elm AvBus stop
- Fifth St at Lewis StBus stop
- Fifth St before Elm StBus stop
- Fifth St opp Lewis StBus stop
- First St at John StBus stop
- First St at Lake AvBus stop
- First St at Pine AvBus 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
- Ulinga ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- childcarechildcare
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)
- 2
- 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
- 18.2/100
- Cohort rank
- #605 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
- First St At Lake Avtransport
- Gertrude St At Helen Sttransport
- Hillsborough Rd After Crocket Sttransport
- John St At Francis Sttransport
- Maud St At Ethel Sttransport
- childcarechildcarechildcare
- Ulinga Parkgovernmentpark
- Advertising and signage; Schoolplanning9 LAKE AVENUE CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Lodged 20 May 2024 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning24 CROCKETT STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Lodged 23 Jan 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning1 ARTHUR STREET CARDIFF SOUTH 2285Lodged 14 Nov 2024 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- 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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