NSW · Port Stephens Council
Fern Bay, NSW, 2295
Desirability index
#268 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Fern Bay is a smaller suburban community in the Port Stephens area, home to around 4,046 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 490 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+19%), roughly 121.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $750, 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 and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 4,046
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,435
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 79 of 1,725
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,299
- Employment rate
- 48.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 110 / 26 / 4
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $780
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 44
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)
- 490
- Against the person
- 147
- Against property
- 221
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 121.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 28 residents
- State safety percentile
- 10.9th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +18.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order37
- Domestic Violence Related Assault38
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment43
- Malicious Damage To Property44
- Steal From Motor Vehicle46
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
- 1,002
- Fern Bay 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
33 public transport stops in this suburb
- 1073 Nelson Bay Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd At Taylor Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd Before Vardon Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp 1073
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Taylor Rd
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).
169 planning-related records
2026· 16 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies7 FULLERTON STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah27 IRONBARK DRIVE FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Sewage reticulation system1146 NELSON BAY ROAD FERN BAY 2295Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 BRAID ROAD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Subdivision18 TUCKEROO CIRCUIT FERN BAY 2295Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Caravan park1126 NELSON BAY ROAD FERN BAY 2295Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 VARDON ROAD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Subdivision93 NORFOLK STREET FERN BAY 2295Under Assessment
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 PLOVER STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Subdivision25 NORFOLK STREET FERN BAY 2295Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool26 URALLA STREET FERN BAY 2295Withdrawn
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 RANKIN ROAD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 OIMARA STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport14 TOOROONG ROAD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 OIMARA STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers15 BOTANICA AVENUE FERN BAY 2295Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1033 NELSON BAY ROAD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool31 FOXTAIL STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
November 2025
- Demolition10 RANKIN ROAD FERN BAY 2295Under Assessment
October 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport20 PLOVER STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space4 ROSEMARY STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)3A DUNE DRIVE FERN BAY 2295Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)51 DUNE DRIVE FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 ROSEMARY STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool38 POPPLEWELL ROAD FERN BAY 2295Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool20 FOXTAIL STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 WATER STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool24 PIPER STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool43 PAPERBARK COURT FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure19 BRAID ROAD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Residential Accommodation3 FOXTAIL STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
2024· 23 proposals
December 2024
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (attached)7 SANDCASTLE STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
November 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure39 SEASIDE BOULEVARD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 OIMARA STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
October 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure15 VARDON ROAD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah18 DIURIS STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 WINDSURF CIRCUIT FERN BAY 2295Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool137 NORFOLK STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7A SEASIDE BOULEVARD FERN BAY 2295Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool85 NORFOLK STREET FERN BAY 2295Determined
2023· 21 proposals
21 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 41 proposals
41 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 45 proposals
45 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
15 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Banksia Park, Seaside BvdBus stop
- Nelson Bay Rd before Seaside BvdBus stop
- Nelson Bay Rd opp Fullerton Cove RdBus stop
- Seaside Bvd before Ironbark DrBus stop
- Seaside Bvd opp Windsurf CctBus stop
- Parking
- Picnic Table (4)
- Shelter (5)
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Banksia ParkPark
- Waratah ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Seaside Medical CentreDune Drivedoctor
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- 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
- Overlay applies
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)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- 41.8/100
- Cohort rank
- #268 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 1073 Nelson Bay Rdtransport
- Nelson Bay Rd At Taylor Rdtransport
- Nelson Bay Rd Before Vardon Rdtransport
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp 1073transport
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Taylor Rdtransport
- childcarechildcarechildcare
- Seaside Medical CentrehealthDune Drivedoctor
- Banksia Parkgovernmentpark
- Waratah Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopiesplanning7 FULLERTON STREET FERN BAY 2295Lodged 03 Jun 2026 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · 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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