NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Nords Wharf, NSW, 2281
Desirability index
16.1/100
How this score is calculated#621 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Nords Wharf is a small locality in the Lake Macquarie area, home to around 895 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,016 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+2%), roughly 1135.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $725 (flats $550, houses $750), 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.
Population
- Population
- 895
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,679
- Dwelling vacancy
- 15.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 63 of 408
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 58.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 28 / 5 / 3
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)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $725
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 90
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)
- 1,016
- Against the person
- 260
- Against property
- 374
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 1,135.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 3 residents
- State safety percentile
- 35.2th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +2.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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
- 1,023
- Nords Wharf 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
25 public transport stops in this suburb
- Nords Wharf Rd After Government Rd
- Nords Wharf Rd Before Government Rd
- Pacific Hwy After Awabakal Dr
- Pacific Hwy After Montefiore St
- Pacific Hwy At Nords Wharf Rd
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).
172 planning-related records
2026· 9 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support10 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support4 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool77 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Under Assessment
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool9 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support29 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah93 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool1 MARINE PARADE NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 LILY CRESCENT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
2025· 47 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool105 GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support29 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure61A GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure47 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure85 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)55 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 WINNIE STREET NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 Waterview Road, Nords WharfAdditional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 CROSSWINDS CLOSE NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 HAVANA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation38 GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure71 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure76 GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support43 NORDS WHARF ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure86 GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)21 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 HUNTER ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space37 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool8 YOLANDA STREET NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure59 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure77 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 HAVANA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 BLAGA WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation12 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah93 ALLORA CIRCUIT NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 YOLANDA STREET NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences78 MARINE PARADE NORDS WHARF 2281Determined
2024· 40 proposals
40 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 35 proposals
35 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 18 proposals
18 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 18 proposals
18 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 5 proposals
5 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
17 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Government Rd after Crosswinds ClBus stop
- Government Rd opp Crosswinds ClBus stop
- Marine Pde before Hunter RdBus stop
- Marine Pde before Waterview RdBus stop
- Marine Pde opp Hunter RdBus stop
- Marine Pde opp Nords Wharf Public SchoolBus stop
- Nords Wharf Public School, Marine PdeBus stop
- Nords Wharf Rd after Government RdBus stop
- Nords Wharf Rd before Government RdBus stop
- Pacific Hwy after Awabakal DrBus 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
- Baxter ParkPark
- Gathercole ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 16.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #621 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
- Nords Wharf Rd After Government Rdtransport
- Nords Wharf Rd Before Government Rdtransport
- Pacific Hwy After Awabakal Drtransport
- Pacific Hwy After Montefiore Sttransport
- Pacific Hwy At Nords Wharf Rdtransport
- Baxter Parkgovernmentpark
- Gathercole Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming poolplanning1 MARINE PARADE NORDS WHARF 2281Lodged 04 Feb 2026 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning9 VANGAL WAY NORDS WHARF 2281Lodged 24 Mar 2026 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structureplanning61A GOVERNMENT ROAD NORDS WHARF 2281Lodged 06 Nov 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · 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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