Median house price
$1.22M
+16% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Garden Suburb, 2289
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,050
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.8%
Median age
41
Median income
$2,361/wk
Employment rate
62.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,215,000
Languages at home
9%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Italian, French
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Garden Suburb is a well-connected smaller community in Lake Macquarie Council with everyday amenities close at hand. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Garden Suburb snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$750/wk
Houses $760 · Units $580
Population (ERP)
2,050
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
3.6%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#108
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
63rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
49th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
56th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 48.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 34% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2428th in Australia
- State rank
- 727th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #108 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #514 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
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 house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,215,000
- Median price change
- +15.7%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
2,050(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +3.8% over 5 years · 49th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- +3.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +10
- Change in 5 years
- +75
- Growth rank in NSW
- 49th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~2,100), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- 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)
- 632 / 0 / 3
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 178
- Against the person
- 29
- Against property
- 99
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 86.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 68 residents
- State safety percentile
- 62.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.5%
Most common offence types
- Fraud119
- Malicious Damage To Property119
- Steal From Motor Vehicle172
- Steal From Retail Store342
- Transport Regulatory Offences258
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 11
- Median school ICSEA (11 schools)
- 1,020
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 56th
School list
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1045 · 66th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 227 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Cardiff High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 986 · 40th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 778 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- St Kevin's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 130 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Newcastle Junior SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 940 · 21th percentile · LBOTE 25% · 63 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1020 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 164 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Kotara South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1069 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 309 students · Top SEA quarter 31% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- New Lambton Heights Infants SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 55 students · Top SEA quarter 44% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Cardiff South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1017 · 54th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 298 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Cardiff North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1014 · 53th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 149 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Cardiff Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1000 · 47th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 283 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual 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
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
24 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship · 1 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 28 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.51
Community(3)
- Garden Suburb Community HallCommunity centre
- Yamuloong CentreCommunity centre
71 Prospect Road
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolSchool
Garden Suburb
Sport & outdoors(5)
- Campbell ReservePark
- Playground
- Lance Yorke FieldSports field
- Margaret West Playing FieldsSports field
- Sports field
Transport(13)
13 bus stops
Other(3)
- Parking
- Garden Suburb Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
- Post Box
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Campbell ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 23
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Garden Suburb Uniting Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Pendlebury Clinc Private Hospital (2.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 92
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 44.9
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 7 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 BRAY CRESCENT GARDEN SUBURB 2289Additional Information Requested
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 2289Determined
- 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 2289Determined
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· 5 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
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Shortland
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONROY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,971
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.5 km away).
Coalition 33.3%Labor 66.7%
5.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Garden SuburbLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- Cardiff Heights (Shortland)Labor 67.5% · Coalition 32.5% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- Cardiff SouthLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- HillsboroughLabor 66.9% · Coalition 33.1% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Cardiff NorthLabor 71.7% · Coalition 28.4% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
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.