NSW · Port Stephens Council
Fullerton Cove, NSW, 2318
Desirability index
#225 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Fullerton Cove is a small locality in the Port Stephens area, home to around 735 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 635 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-11%), roughly 863.9 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $660, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 735
- Median age
- 69
- Median household income / week
- $1,062
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 37 of 344
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,873
- Employment rate
- 24.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 11 / 80 / 0
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)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 63
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)
- 635
- Against the person
- 240
- Against property
- 258
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 863.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 3 residents
- State safety percentile
- 31.5th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -10.8%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud93
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment92
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
41 public transport stops in this suburb
- 145 Fullerton Cove Rd
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp 260
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp Coxs Lane
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp Stanley Park
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Fullerton Cove 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).
29 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure281 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 Sugar Glider Way, Fullerton CoveDetermined
2025· 5 proposals
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)2 RINGTAIL PLACE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
April 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure407 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure440 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support432 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility6 THE COVE DRIVE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
2024· 3 proposals
May 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Advertising and signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Retail Premise; Food and drink premise432 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Animal care premises1 ZIRCON LANE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Caravan park21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Demolition; Signage; Commercial development; 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; Business identification sign; Retail Premise; Shop; Sewage reticulation system; Waste Infrastructure; Sewerage system42 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
August 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces468 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
July 2023
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces3 GEORGE STREET FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Under Assessment
April 2023
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces488 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces488 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Rejected
2022· 3 proposals
November 2022
- Farm buildings305 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
October 2022
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
February 2022
- Other1 ZIRCON LANE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
2021· 9 proposals
November 2021
- Other1 ZIRCON LANE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
October 2021
- Home business374 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Other77 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
August 2021
- Shed27 WILLOW LANE FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
July 2021
- Other21 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
June 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development334 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
May 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development50 1 WAGTAIL WAY FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
March 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development456 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 425 Fullerton Cove RdBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd after Coxs LaneBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd after George StBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd before Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp 425Bus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp Coxs LaneBus stop
- Fullerton Cove Rd opp George StBus stop
- Nelson Bay Rd opp Fullerton Cove RdBus stop
- Nelson Bay Road after Coxs LaneBus stop
- Nelson Bay Road before Coxs LaneBus 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- 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
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)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- 51.0/100
- Cohort rank
- #225 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
- 145 Fullerton Cove Rdtransport
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp 260transport
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp Coxs Lanetransport
- Fullerton Cove Rd Opp Stanley Parktransport
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Fullerton Cove Rdtransport
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning50 1 WAGTAIL WAY FULLERTON COVE 2318Lodged 25 May 2021 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning456 FULLERTON COVE ROAD FULLERTON COVE 2318Lodged 10 Mar 2021 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning14 Sugar Glider Way, Fullerton CoveLodged 05 Mar 2026 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)planning2 RINGTAIL PLACE FULLERTON COVE 2318Lodged 06 Nov 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facilityplanning6 THE COVE DRIVE FULLERTON COVE 2318Lodged 28 Jan 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- 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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