NSW · Port Stephens Council
Nelson Bay (NSW), NSW, 2315
Desirability index
46.3/100
How this score is calculated#247 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Nelson Bay (NSW) is a smaller suburban community in the Port Stephens area, home to around 6,141 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,083 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+4%), roughly 176.4 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $650 (flats $560, houses $740), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, 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
- 6,141
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,305
- Dwelling vacancy
- 37.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 1,532 of 4,109
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,842
- Employment rate
- 47.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 204 / 536 / 497
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)
- $560
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $740
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 126
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)
- 1,083
- Against the person
- 276
- Against property
- 335
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 176.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 14.5th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +3.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions95
- Domestic Violence Related Assault88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment86
- Malicious Damage To Property99
- Other Offences185
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
- 1,040
- St Michael's Primary 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
122 public transport stops in this suburb
- Gan Gan Army Camp, Nelson Bay Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Lily Hill Rd
- St Michael's Primary School, Wahgunyah Rd
- St Michael's Primary School, Wahgunyah Rd
- Tomaree Community Hospital, Trevally 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).
608 planning-related records
2026· 59 proposals
June 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 MOOROOBA CRESCENT NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 CATALINA CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)45 WOLLOMI AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 AJAX AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support54 GALOOLA DRIVE NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space34 BAY STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure54 GALOOLA DRIVE NELSON BAY 2315Rejected
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure4/-/DP1255684Determined
May 2026
- Subdivision13 CHRISTMAS BUSH AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences122 GOVERNMENT ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 CHRISTMAS BUSH AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure1 YACAABA STREET NELSON BAY 2315Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 MOOROOBA CRESCENT NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition61 PARKES STREET NELSON BAY 2315Withdrawn
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support6 PIRRALEA PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation5 BURBONG STREET NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure115 TALLEAN ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)23 ACHILLES STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)3 KURRAWA CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)2 BEENONG CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 SHIMMER STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support8A TINGARA ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure77 WALLAWA ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport11 MOOROOBA CRESCENT NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 MONTEVIDEO PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport11 MONTEVIDEO PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support6 PIRRALEA PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Supporting Development46 THURLOW AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 CATALINA CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation90 MAGNUS STREET NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of AustraliaSHOP 16 6 STOCKTON STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah68 GALOOLA DRIVE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Subdivision36 TALLEAN ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation35 VICTORIA PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)6 COLUMBIA CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 TAREEBIN ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure56 TALLEAN ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support25 NORBURN AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation37 CHRISTMAS BUSH AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation area4/-/DP1195455Determined
2025· 110 proposals
110 proposals lodged in 2025. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2024· 99 proposals
99 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 101 proposals
101 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 124 proposals
124 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 109 proposals
109 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 6 proposals
6 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
27 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 103 Stockton StBus stop
- All Saints Anglican Church, Church StBus stop
- Church St opp All Saints Anglican ChurchBus stop
- Galoola Dr at Bullawai AvBus stop
- Galoola Dr at Yoolarai CresBus stop
- Galoola Dr before Ullora ClBus stop
- Galoola Dr opp Bullawai AvBus stop
- Galoola Dr opp Ullora ClBus stop
- Galoola Dr opp Yoolarai CresBus stop
- Nelson Bay Road before Lily Hill RoadBus 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
- Tom Odwyer Memorial OvalPark
- Tomaree Sports ComplexPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- On site
- Hospitalhospital
- Tomaree Community Hospitalhospital
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
- Overlay applies
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)
- 36
- Parks (OSM)
- 20
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
- 46.3/100
- Cohort rank
- #247 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Gan Gan Army Camp, Nelson Bay Rdtransport
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Lily Hill Rdtransport
- St Michael's Primary School, Wahgunyah Rdtransport
- St Michael's Primary School, Wahgunyah Rdtransport
- Tomaree Community Hospital, Trevally Sttransport
- Hospitalhealthhospital
- Tomaree Community Hospitalhealthhospital
- Tom Odwyer Memorial Ovalgovernmentpark
- Tomaree Sports Complexgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning68 GALOOLA DRIVE NELSON BAY 2315Lodged 11 Mar 2026 · 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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