Median house price
$1.11M
+17% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Gateshead, 2290
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,119
Growth (1 yr)
+0.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.5%
Median age
35
Median income
$1,232/wk
Employment rate
49.8%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,115,000
Languages at home
4.6%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, German, Samoan
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Café precinct
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie Council, Gateshead is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix. Families have many nearby school and early-learning options to choose from.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. Getting around is straightforward, with buses tying neighbouring communities together.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer community and employment compared with similar metro suburbs, though growth momentum remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Gateshead snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$670/wk
Houses $720 · Units $575
Population (ERP)
3,119
+0.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.4%
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
#148
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
48th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
42nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
27th
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
- 43.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 46% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3196th in Australia
- State rank
- 973rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #148 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #627 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $575
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $670
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 207
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,115,000
- Median price change
- +17.4%
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
3,119(June 2025)
+0.2% annual · +1.5% over 5 years · 42th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.2%
- 5-year growth
- +1.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +7
- Change in 5 years
- +45
- Growth rank in NSW
- 42th 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 (~3,150), extrapolated at +0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,121
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,232
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 81 of 1,264
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,705
- Employment rate
- 49.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,079 / 61 / 51
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 206
- Against the person
- 50
- Against property
- 114
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 62 residents
- State safety percentile
- 48.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.8%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault162
- Fraud206
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment188
- Malicious Damage To Property201
- Steal From Retail Store455
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
- 7
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 955
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 27th
School list
- Hunter Sports High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 955 · 27th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 941 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Wiripaang Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 853 · 5th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 182 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- St Pius X Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 847 · 5th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 54 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- St Mary's Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1062 · 73th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 989 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- St Paul's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 294 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Windale Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 793 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 252 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Dudley Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1095 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 245 students · Top SEA quarter 44% · 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
70 public transport stops in this suburb
- Pacfic Hwy Opp Hughes St
- Pacific Hwy Opp Hunter Sports High
- Pacific Hwy Opp Lake St
- Pacific Hwy Opp Mick Middleton Fields
- St Mary's High School, Pacific Hwy
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
46 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 pubs · 2 fast food · 1 sports centres · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 70 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 38/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.32
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.28
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.32
Food & drink(4)
- Josie's CoffeeCafe
- Magic Mile Take AwayFast food
8 Pacific Highway, Gateshead
- OportoFast food
- Gateshead TavernPub
Community(4)
- Hunter Sports High SchoolSchool
Gateshead
- St Mary's Catholic High SchoolSchool
- St Paul's Catholic Primary SchoolSchool
- Wiripaang Public SchoolSchool
Gateshead
Health & services(1)
- Lake Macquarie Private HospitalHospital
Sport & outdoors(6)
- Gym
- Sports centre
- Fred Wright OvalSports field
- Harold Knight OvalSports field
- Mick Middleton FieldSports field
- Sports field
Transport(10)
10 bus stops
Other(17)
- Animal Boarding
- Hunter Dog CentreAnimal Boarding
- Bench (3)
- Hunter Prestige CarsCar
- Land Rover NewcastleCar
- Mercedes NewcastleCar
- MG NewcastleCar
- Toyota CharlestownCar
- Car wash
- Poppy'sGarden Centre
- SRD KitchensKitchen
- Golden EagleMotel
- Parking (3)
- 7-ElevenPetrol station
- Macquarie PhysiotherapyPhysiotherapist
- Physiotherapist
- Gateshead Post OfficePost office
8 Hughes Street
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
- Sylvia Grozdanovski Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 8
- 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
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 3
- Nearest hospital
- Lake Macquarie Private Hospital (1.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Lake Macquarie Private HospitalHospital
- Macquarie PhysiotherapyPhysiotherapist
- PhysiotherapistPhysiotherapist
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)
- 110
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.3
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· 14 proposals
August 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 FLAME STREET GATESHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 BEAN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)31 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool48 GOUNDRY STREET GATESHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Entertainment associated with existing premises51 MAHOGANY CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Home business; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Home occupation; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Hours of operation and trading48 GOUNDRY STREET GATESHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development11 HESHBON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision27 THE CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- 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; Recreation facility (indoor)49 OAKDALE ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 CADAGA ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation56 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 JAMIESON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development11 HESHBON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
February 2026
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure87 OAKDALE ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Under Assessment
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure27 JAMIESON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision5 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 OXFORD STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation53 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
September 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation63 GOUNDRY STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure24 JAMIESON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)34 MAHOGANY CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation50 BEAN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Subdivision5 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space58 MAHOGANY CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation15 REDWOOD CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation15 REDWOOD CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 JAMIESON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers5 TEAK STREET GATESHEAD 2290Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Centre-based child care74 FELTON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure70 CADAGA ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Medical centre; Health Infrastructure49 O'BRIEN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)5 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4A CADAGA ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14 BEAN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
2024· 12 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space29 HICKORY ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Educational establishment; Erection of a new structure45-47 Pacific Highway, GatesheadDetermined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure25 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation21 ALDER CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
July 2024
- Demolition; Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; Light industry51 OAKDALE ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
June 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure19 O'BRIEN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Residential Accommodation50 BEAN STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 HESHBON STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Carport3 JENNINGS STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure32 REDWOOD CRESCENT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
January 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Animal care premises; Animal boarding or training establishment52 OAKDALE ROAD GATESHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Health services facility; Hospital; Health Infrastructure3 SYDNEY STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Vehicle body repair workshop4 NEVIN CLOSE GATESHEAD 2290Withdrawn
- Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading17 METRO COURT GATESHEAD 2290Determined
November 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 GOUNDRY STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure57 CHURCH STREET GATESHEAD 2290Determined
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
- 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 · 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 2.9 km away).
Coalition 31.3%Labor 68.7%
7.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- GatesheadLabor 68.8% · Coalition 31.2% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- WindaleLabor 76.1% · Coalition 23.9% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- DudleyLabor 67.3% · Coalition 32.7% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- Charlestown EastLabor 67.0% · Coalition 33.0% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- WhitebridgeLabor 63.5% · Coalition 36.5% TPP (2025)2.4 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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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.