Median house price
$800k
+1.6% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Holmesville, 2286
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,364
Growth (1 yr)
+1.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.8%
Median age
38
Median income
$1,884/wk
Employment rate
59.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$800,000
Languages at home
3.1%non-English
Most common: Thai, Sinhalese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Holmesville is a practical smaller community in Lake Macquarie Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The capital is not on the doorstep: Sydney is a proper journey, while nearby towns cover more day-to-day needs. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix.
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. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
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.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer community and employment, plus safety relative to similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Holmesville snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$690/wk
Population (ERP)
1,364
+1.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.1%
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
#190
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
29th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
83rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
24th
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
- 38.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4086th in Australia
- State rank
- 1265th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #190 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #718 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $693
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $800,000
- Median price change
- +1.6%
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
1,364(June 2025)
+1.7% annual · +5.8% over 5 years · 83th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.7%
- 5-year growth
- +5.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +23
- Change in 5 years
- +75
- Growth rank in NSW
- 83th 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 (~1,450), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,413
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $1,884
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 513
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 59.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 479 / 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)
- 67
- Against the person
- 26
- Against property
- 30
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 49.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 54 residents
- State safety percentile
- 29.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.6%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault17
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment36
- Malicious Damage To Property25
- Motor Vehicle Theft16
- Steal From Motor Vehicle20
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 950
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 24th
School list
- West Wallsend High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 940 · 21th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 632 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- West Wallsend Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 950 · 24th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 268 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- North AcademySpecial · Independent · ICSEA 966 · 32th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 35 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.6 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
35 public transport stops in this suburb
- Elizabeth St At Appletree Rd
- Elizabeth St At Charlotte St
- Elizabeth St Opp Buni St
- George St Before Charlotte St
- Mary St After Earl St
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
29 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 3 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 35 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
- 2.12
Sport & outdoors(5)
- Centennial ParkPark
- Estellville ParkPark
- Joseph Holmes Memorial ParkPark
- Playground (2)
Transport(19)
19 bus stops
Other(4)
- Bench
- Holmesville Fire StationFire station
56 Appletree Road, Holmesville
- Picnic Table (2)
- Shelter
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Centennial ParkPark
- Estellville ParkPark
- Joseph Holmes Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- Nearest hospital
- Pendlebury Clinc Private Hospital (7.0 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)
- 57
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 41.8
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
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)45 APPLETREE ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Under Assessment
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 GOVERNMENT ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)47 ST HELEN STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Additional Information Requested
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure32 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 MARGARET STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport28 GEORGE STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space3 GEORGE STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 BUNI STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Subdivision11 WILLIAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure74 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure40 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Under Assessment
October 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)45 APPLETREE ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure66 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4A SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
June 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure18 EARL STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 PRIVATE LANE HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house7A MARGARET STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development33 APPLETREE ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure49 APPLETREE ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Subdivision93 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)3 GEORGE STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Withdrawn
2024· 14 proposals
December 2024
- Subdivision103 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space13 EARL STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7A MARGARET STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 GOVERNMENT ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
August 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 GOVERNMENT ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 BUNI STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure49 APPLETREE ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space1C SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63A APPLETREE ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
March 2024
- Subdivision21 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Withdrawn
- 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; Access ramp29 ST HELEN STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
February 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport31 EARL STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space1 TANUNDA CLOSE HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space19C SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
2023· 6 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Residential Accommodation37 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure49 APPLETREE ROAD HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport4 BUNI STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 MARGARET STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Garages, carports and car parking spaces38 WILLIAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
July 2023
- Shed33 SEAHAM STREET HOLMESVILLE 2286Determined
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
- Hunter
- Member of Parliament
- Dan REPACHOLI (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,184
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.5%Labor 59.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 7.6 km away).
Coalition 34.3%Labor 65.7%
6.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- West WallsendLabor 65.7% · Coalition 34.3% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- BarnsleyLabor 63.8% · Coalition 36.2% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
- Cameron ParkLabor 63.9% · Coalition 36.1% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- Edgeworth HeightsLabor 68.1% · Coalition 31.9% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- EdgeworthLabor 69.0% · Coalition 31.0% TPP (2025)3.9 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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.