NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Garden Suburb, NSW, 2289
Desirability index
37.2/100
How this score is calculated#463 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Garden Suburb is a small locality in the Lake Macquarie area, home to around 1,959 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,849 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-9%), roughly 943.8 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $750 (flats $580, houses $760), 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
- 1,959
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,361
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 24 of 658
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,066
- Employment rate
- 62.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 22 / 0 / 3
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)
- $580
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $760
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 151
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)
- 1,849
- Against the person
- 297
- Against property
- 1,032
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 943.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 7 residents
- State safety percentile
- 32.6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -8.8%
Most common offence types
- Fraud119
- Malicious Damage To Property119
- Steal From Motor Vehicle172
- Steal From Retail Store342
- Transport Regulatory Offences258
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
- 1,045
- Garden Suburb 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
28 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kirinari Hostel, Myall Rd
- Lance York Oval, Myall Rd
- Lance York Oval, Myall Rd
- Myall Rd Opp Kirinari Hostel
- Myall Rd Opp Kirinari Hostel
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).
91 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 PEPPERBUSH PLACE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care158 MARSHALL STREET GARDEN SUBURB 2289Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 BARRETT AVENUE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool12 WIMBLEDON GROVE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation64 ROBINIA GROVE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 WIMBLEDON GROVE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
2025· 16 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 WIMBLEDON GROVE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool28 PROSPECT ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (external)58 PROSPECT ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support6 SANDALWOOD PLACE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 IRVINE STREET GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11B PARK ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 EWING STREET GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 PROSPECT ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 CUPANIA CRESCENT GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation4 WIMBLEDON GROVE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 SANDALWOOD PLACE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure22 SUNDEW CLOSE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Recreation area31 MYALL ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 HEATHER CRESCENT GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 PARK ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport2 PROGRESS PLACE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
2024· 13 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 CUPANIA CRESCENT GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
November 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Entertainment associated with existing premises; Fences; Landscaping structures; Pathways and paving; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation3 TOSCANA CLOSE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah15A EWING STREET GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Subdivision9A, 69 & 82 Myall Road, Garden Suburb, NSW, 2285Deferred Commencement
October 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)16 WHALAN STREET GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support25 GREENHOOD WAY GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
July 2024
- Subdivision71 WIMBLEDON GROVE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space21 PARK ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
May 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 HEATHER CRESCENT GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space21 PARK ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 IRVINE STREET GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation66 PROSPECT ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool9 WIMBLEDON GROVE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
2023· 19 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)3 PROSPECT ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
November 2023
- Demolition16 WHITEGUM WAY GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool10 PARK ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
September 2023
- Demolition; Place of public worship; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 RESERVED ROAD GARDEN SUBURB 2289Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Pathways and paving49 Wimbledon Grove, Garden Suburb NSW 2289Determined
2022· 22 proposals
22 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 13 proposals
13 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 2 proposals
2 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
17 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 63 Prospect RdBus stop
- 70 Prospect RdBus stop
- Garden Suburb Public School, Prospect RdBus stop
- Garden Suburb Uniting Church, Prospect RdBus stop
- Kirinari Hostel, Myall RdBus stop
- Lance York Oval, Myall RdBus stop
- Myall Rd opp Kirinari HostelBus stop
- Prospect Rd at Irvine StBus stop
- Prospect Rd at Park RdBus stop
- Prospect Rd at Robinia GrBus 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
- Campbell ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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
- 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)
- 23
- 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
- 37.2/100
- Cohort rank
- #463 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
- Kirinari Hostel, Myall Rdtransport
- Lance York Oval, Myall Rdtransport
- Lance York Oval, Myall Rdtransport
- Myall Rd Opp Kirinari Hosteltransport
- Myall Rd Opp Kirinari Hosteltransport
- Campbell Reservegovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning15A EWING STREET GARDEN SUBURB 2289Lodged 13 Nov 2024 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportplanning25 GREENHOOD WAY GARDEN SUBURB 2289Lodged 12 Aug 2024 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carportplanning2 PROGRESS PLACE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Lodged 07 Jan 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming poolplanning12 WIMBLEDON GROVE GARDEN SUBURB 2289Lodged 24 Apr 2026 · Additional Information Requested
Data sources & freshness
- 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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