NSW · Newcastle Council
Islington, NSW, 2296
Desirability index
41.8/100
How this score is calculated#429 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Islington is a smaller suburban community in the Newcastle area, home to around 2,026 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 300 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+5%), roughly 148.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $720 (flats $615, houses $725), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 2,026
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,828
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 97 of 1,008
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 70.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 63 / 276 / 107
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)
- $615
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $725
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $720
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 44
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)
- 300
- Against the person
- 70
- Against property
- 179
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 148.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 29 residents
- State safety percentile
- 12.8th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +5.3%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling22
- Fraud43
- Malicious Damage To Property26
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault21
- Steal From Motor Vehicle35
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
- 1,090
- Islington 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
35 public transport stops in this suburb
- ENT Beaumont St N
- Hamilton Station, Beaumont St, Stand A
- Maitland Rd Before Beaumont St
- Maitland Rd Opp Beaumont St
- Maitland Rd Opp Islington St
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).
159 planning-related records
2026· 16 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 WALLACE STREET ISLINGTON 2296Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 SHEDDON STREET ISLINGTON 2296Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Business premises; 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 Australia38 MAITLAND ROAD ISLINGTON 2296Under Assessment
- Business premises; Commercial development; 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 Australia138 FERN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation25 LEWIS STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 REDMAN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure51 FERN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 SHEDDON STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 ANDERTON STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 CHINCHEN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Business premises; Advertising and signage28 MAITLAND ROAD ISLINGTON 2296Withdrawn
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 MAY STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 PHOEBE STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (indoor)144 FERN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Shipping containers10 REDMAN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure138 FERN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Withdrawn
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 MORGAN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Hotel or motel accommodation; Erection of a new structure5 FERN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 DANIEL STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation13 ANDERTON STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 PHOEBE STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 10 DENT STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Advertising and signage; Hardware and building supply58-66 MAITLAND ROAD ISLINGTON 2296Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 SHEDDON STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool103 FLEMING STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 MORGAN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool103 FLEMING STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation6 DANIEL STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Service station240 MAITLAND ROAD ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences6 FERN STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 ISLINGTON STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure152 MAITLAND ROAD ISLINGTON 2296Determined
February 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure2 MILFORD STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure78 FLEMING STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation13 LEWIS STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
January 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Artisan food and drink industry11 GIRLING STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
2024· 24 proposals
November 2024
- 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; Food and drink premise19 BEAUMONT STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
October 2024
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Light industry; Creative industry; High technology industry1 24 JOHN HOOKER STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 NORFOLK AVENUE ISLINGTON 2296Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 LEWIS STREET ISLINGTON 2296Determined
2023· 27 proposals
27 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 26 proposals
26 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 37 proposals
37 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 9 proposals
9 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
46 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- Newcastle Electric BikesBicycle
22A Maitland Road, Islington
- Newcastle Push Bike LibraryBicycle
106 Robert Street, Islington
- Bicycle Parking (2)
- City of NewcastleBicycle Repair Station
- Albert St opp Hawkins OvalBus stop
- Hamilton Station, Beaumont St, Stand ABus stop
- Islington Park, Maitland RdBus stop
- Maitland Rd at Hubbard StBus stop
- Maitland Rd at May StBus 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Islington ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Islington Dentaldentist
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 41.8/100
- Cohort rank
- #429 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
- ENT Beaumont St Ntransport
- Hamilton Station, Beaumont St, Stand Atransport
- Maitland Rd Before Beaumont Sttransport
- Maitland Rd Opp Beaumont Sttransport
- Maitland Rd Opp Islington Sttransport
- Islington Dentalhealthdentist
- Islington Parkgovernmentpark
- Islington Parkgovernmentpark
- Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Service stationplanning240 MAITLAND ROAD ISLINGTON 2296Lodged 09 Apr 2025 · Determined
- Advertising and signage; Hardware and building supplyplanning58-66 MAITLAND ROAD ISLINGTON 2296Lodged 01 Sep 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · 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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