Median house price
$1.22M
+16% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Kotara South, 2289
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,333
Growth (1 yr)
+1.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.0%
Median age
37
Median income
$2,230/wk
Employment rate
64.9%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,215,000
Languages at home
6.3%non-English
Most common: German, Italian, Cantonese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie Council, Kotara South keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The capital is not on the doorstep: Sydney is a proper journey, while nearby towns cover more day-to-day needs. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Education outcomes and school provision stand out relative to comparable suburbs. Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer parks and green space compared with similar metro suburbs, though community and employment, plus growth momentum remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Kotara South snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$750/wk
Houses $760 · Units $580
Population (ERP)
1,333
+1.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.2%
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
#141
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
63rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
75th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
66th
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
- 43.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 45% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3139th in Australia
- State rank
- 952nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #141 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #615 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
1,333(June 2025)
+1.3% annual · +6.0% over 5 years · 75th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.3%
- 5-year growth
- +6.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +17
- Change in 5 years
- +75
- Growth rank in NSW
- 75th 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 (~1,400), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,267
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $2,230
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 24 of 465
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 64.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 426 / 16 / 0
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)
- 116
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 65
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 87
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 67 residents
- State safety percentile
- 63.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.4%
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)
- 1,045
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 66th
School list
- Kotara South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1069 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 309 students · Top SEA quarter 31% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1045 · 66th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 227 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- St James' Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1104 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 334 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Newcastle Junior SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 940 · 21th percentile · LBOTE 25% · 63 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Kotara SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 816 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 25 students · Top SEA quarter 0% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1020 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 164 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Kotara High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1066 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 1,130 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Charlestown Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1037 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 234 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Charlestown South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1075 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 235 students · Top SEA quarter 32% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- New Lambton Heights Infants SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 55 students · Top SEA quarter 44% · 1.8 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
30 public transport stops in this suburb
- Charlestown Rd At Blackbutt Pde
- Charlestown Rd At Stuart St
- Charlestown Rd At Stuart St
- Charlestown Rd Opp 177
- Myall Rd At Charlestown Rd
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
16 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
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 — 30 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
- 0.79
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Carramar ParkPark
Deborah Street
- Carramar Park PlaygroundPlayground
Transport(11)
11 bus stops
Other(3)
- Common
- Drinking water
- Picnic Table
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
- Carramar ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- 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
- Nearest hospital
- Rankin Park Centre (3.1 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)
- 41
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.8
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· 5 proposals
August 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)151 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure161 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Under Assessment
- Business premises; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia9 CATHRINE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Withdrawn
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 STUART STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 ROSCOE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Under Assessment
2025· 8 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 DEBORAH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 Deborah St, Kotara SouthUnder Assessment
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure4 KENNETH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55 KURANDA CRESCENT KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 INGLIS STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 KIRKDALE DRIVE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55 KURANDA CRESCENT KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
January 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure141 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees12 Elvidge Crescent, KOTARA SOUTH NSW 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 INGLIS STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 NEERIM AVENUE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 ELVIDGE CRESCENT KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 CATHRINE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 STUART STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 DEBORAH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 BLACKBUTT PARADE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
2023· 10 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 STUART STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition110 LAURIE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Withdrawn
September 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure22 LUGAR STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 ELVIDGE CRESCENT KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure4 KENNETH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development7 STUART STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development21 DEBORAH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees22 ROSCOE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling17 DEBORAH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
January 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development23 INGLIS STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
2022· 12 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development21 LUGAR STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Retaining walls, protection of trees2 KIRKDALE DRIVE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development39 DALPURA LANE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees141 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Withdrawn
October 2022
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land17 INGLIS STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development165 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees18 KENNETH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
August 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing3 ROSCOE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Withdrawn
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees159 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
June 2022
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces47 CATHRINE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees8 BEULAH PLACE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
May 2022
- Retaining walls, protection of trees69 BLACKBUTT PARADE KOTARA SOUTH 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 32.0%Labor 68.0%
6.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Kotara South (Shortland)Labor 69.4% · Coalition 30.6% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
- Garden SuburbLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- HillsboroughLabor 66.9% · Coalition 33.1% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Adamstown Heights (Shortland)Labor 68.2% · Coalition 31.9% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Cardiff Heights (Shortland)Labor 67.5% · Coalition 32.5% TPP (2025)1.7 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)
- 8/10
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.