NSW · Newcastle Council
Newcastle East, NSW, 2300
Desirability index
48/100
How this score is calculated#382 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Newcastle East is a small locality in the Newcastle area, home to around 1,061 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,998 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-4%), roughly 2825.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $690 (flats $680, houses $750), 6 public transport stops within the suburb, 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.
Population
- Population
- 1,061
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,891
- Dwelling vacancy
- 23.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 140 of 596
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,238
- Employment rate
- 55.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 35 / 173 / 238
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)
- $680
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $690
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 335
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)
- 2,998
- Against the person
- 551
- Against property
- 1,199
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 2,825.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 2 residents
- State safety percentile
- 50.6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -4.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions756
- Malicious Damage To Property206
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault197
- Other Theft189
- Steal From Motor Vehicle173
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
Public transport
6 public transport stops in this suburb
- Nobbys Rd Before Wharf Rd
- Nobbys Rd Before Wharf Rd
- Parnell Pl Opp Alfred St
- Scott St After Zara St
- Scott St After Zara 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).
65 planning-related records
2026· 10 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 26 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure101 1 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport12 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 SHORTLAND ESPLANADE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Under Assessment
April 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure103 1 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation46 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2025· 9 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Under Assessment
November 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development1 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
July 2025
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 NOBBYS ROAD NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
April 2025
- Dual occupancy; Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Tourist and visitor accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Air-conditioning units14 SCOTT STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure46 NOBBYS ROAD NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation25 ALFRED STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Withdrawn
September 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation11 38 ZAARA STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)11 38 ZAARA STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
August 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia7 BOND STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Public Reserve1 NOBBYS ROAD NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
April 2024
- Dual occupancy; Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Tourist and visitor accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2023· 11 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 ZAARA STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
November 2023
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Tourist and visitor accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Dual occupancy; Hotel or motel accommodation; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Tourist and visitor accommodation101 21 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
September 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development25 ALFRED STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development1 ALFRED STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development8 PARNELL PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development33 ALFRED STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development37 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 OCEAN TERRACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
February 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development33 STEVENSON PLACE NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Withdrawn
- Demolition7 BOND STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2022· 15 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Other30 NOBBYS ROAD NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
November 2022
- Office premises2 16 TELFORD STREET NEWCASTLE EAST 2300Determined
2021· 12 proposals
12 proposals lodged in 2021. 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: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
112 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- ATM
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (34)
- Bicycle Parking (5)
- Bicycle rental
- Nobbys Rd before Wharf RdBus stop
- Parnell Pl opp Alfred StBus stop
- Scott St after Zara StBus stop
- Drinking water (4)
- Fast food
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Foreshore ParkPark
- Parnell ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- Earp Gillam Bond Store Precinct16 Telford Street Newcastle EastSHR
- Newcastle Ocean Baths Complex30 Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle EastSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 12
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- 48.0/100
- Cohort rank
- #382 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
- Nobbys Rd Before Wharf Rdtransport
- Nobbys Rd Before Wharf Rdtransport
- Parnell Pl Opp Alfred Sttransport
- Scott St After Zara Sttransport
- Scott St After Zara Sttransport
- Earp Gillam Bond Store Precinctheritage16 Telford Street Newcastle EastSHR
- Newcastle Ocean Baths Complexheritage30 Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle EastSHR
- Foreshore Parkgovernmentpark
- Foreshore Parkgovernmentpark
- Parnell Parkgovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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