NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Catherine Hill Bay, 2281
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.2° / 14.1° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Premium
- Top transport
- Growing
- Coastal
- Green space
Suburb profile
Life in Catherine Hill Bay revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Set on the coast at a distance from the capital, it trades city proximity for a slower, beach-led rhythm. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 943
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $2,628
- Dwelling vacancy
- 19.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 75 of 379
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,741
- Employment rate
- 67.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 18 / 0 / 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 · 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)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
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 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)
- 63
- Against the person
- 16
- Against property
- 23
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 59 residents
- State safety percentile
- 45.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +3.6%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
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 · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Public transport
34 public transport stops in this suburb
- 24 Clarke St
- 37 Flowers Dr
- Clarke St Before Montefiore St
- Lindsley St After Flowers Dr
- Rural Fire Station, Flowers 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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
391 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Swimming pool7 GILLESPIE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah30 WOODBURY CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 GILLESPIE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 WOODBURY CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure27 WOODBURY CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 RAYWOOD CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure52 SILKSTONE CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)11 SANDHILL CLOSE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation41 SILKSTONE CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure81 SURFSIDE DRIVE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 GILLESPIE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool51 WOODBURY CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool11 SUNNYSPOT BOULEVARD CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 WOODBURY CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Under Assessment
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure25 SURFSIDE DRIVE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support49 HALE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 CLARKE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Additional Information Requested
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Non-standard Housing15 LINDSLEY STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport70 STOLLARD STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 STOLLARD STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)104 SURFSIDE DRIVE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Clothes hoists and clothes lines; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences; Garage, carport or carparking space; Hot water systems; Pathways and paving; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators1 ANOUSKA STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 GILLESPIE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 WARDLE AVENUE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 GILLESPIE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Withdrawn
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool50 SILKSTONE CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure95 SURFSIDE DRIVE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure37 SILKSTONE CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool12 HOPWOOD CLOSE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah119 SURFSIDE DRIVE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure54 SILKSTONE CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation47 HALE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure98 SURFSIDE DRIVE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 SUNNYSPOT BOULEVARD CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 GILLESPIE STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 RAYWOOD CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool43 HOPWOOD CLOSE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 HOPWOOD CLOSE CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 STOLLARD STREET CATHERINE HILL BAY 2281Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support34 RAYWOOD CIRCUIT CATHERINE HILL BAY 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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
15 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 24 Clarke StBus stop
- 26A Flowers DrBus stop
- 37 Flowers DrBus stop
- Catherine Hill Bay Bowling and Community Club, Flowers DrBus stop
- Clarke St before Montefiore StBus stop
- Flowers Dr at Colliery RdBus stop
- Flowers Dr opp Catherine Hill Bay Bowling and Community ClubBus stop
- Lindsley St after Flowers DrBus stop
- Lindsley St before Flowers DrBus stop
- Rural Fire Station, Flowers DrBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Patslaven ReservePark
- Roy McDougall ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- Catherine Hill Bay Cultural PrecinctFlowers Drive, Catherine Hill BaySHR
- WWII RAAF Radar Station 208 (former)Catherine Hill BaySHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 32.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4730th in Australia
- State rank
- 1512th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #13 among Coastal & beach · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #145 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime78
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime96
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime83
- Other Offencescrime210
- 24 Clarke Sttransport
- 37 Flowers Drtransport
- Clarke St Before Montefiore Sttransport
- Lindsley St After Flowers Drtransport
- Rural Fire Station, Flowers Drtransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
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.