NSW · Cessnock Council
Nulkaba, 2325
Current weather
16.3°CClear sky
66% humidity · 11.5 km/h wind · 21.5° / 13.2° today · 3.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Top transport
- Rural
- Schools
- Established
- Residential
Suburb profile
Nulkaba is a quieter smaller community in Cessnock, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with community and employment and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 715
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $2,217
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 30 of 262
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,975
- Employment rate
- 65.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 17 / 0 / 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 · 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)
- $463
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $570
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 271
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 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)
- 77
- Against the person
- 24
- Against property
- 30
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 107.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +2.9%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order198
- Breach Bail Conditions379
- Domestic Violence Related Assault299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment371
- Malicious Damage To Property332
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 · 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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 981.5
- Nulkaba Public SchoolPrimary
- St Philip's Christian College - CessnockCombined
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 · 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
- 27 Fletcher St
- Allandale Rd Before O'Connors Rd
- Branxton St Opp Nulkaba Public School
- Nulkaba Public School, Branxton St
- O'Connors Rd At Branxton St
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
170 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure66 O'CONNORS ROAD NULKABA 2325Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure18 MCKENSEY STREET NULKABA 2325Under Assessment
May 2026
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia2 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home6A PINCHEN STREET NULKABA 2325Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure103 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)37D OCCIDENT STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development33A OCCIDENT STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Subdivision19 MCKENSEY STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure147 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool35 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 VALLEY VIEW PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
August 2025
- Advertising and signage; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink127 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision9 PERRIS STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation72 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Subdivision23 AUSTRAL STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool27A OCCIDENT STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool41 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure42 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
April 2025
- Subdivision23 AUSTRAL STREET NULKABA 2325Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure9 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure103 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure9 O'CONNORS ROAD NULKABA 2325Determined
2024· 13 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure46 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure103 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation18 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
October 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool78 FLEMING STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space27A OCCIDENT STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space38 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
September 2024
- Advertising and signage; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink127 WINE COUNTRY DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure41 COOLALTA DRIVE NULKABA 2325Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences36 TREESBANK PLACE NULKABA 2325Determined
July 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure27 AUSTRAL STREET NULKABA 2325Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation96 LOMAS LANE NULKABA 2325Determined
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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Allandale Rd before O'Connors RdBus stop
- Branxton St opp Nulkaba Public SchoolBus stop
- O'Connors Rd at Branxton StBus stop
- BPPetrol station
- Foghorn BreweryPub
- The Mighty Hunter ValleyResort
- Shelter (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Nulkaba 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.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
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.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 20
- 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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 35.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4121st in Australia
- State rank
- 1307th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #204 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #494 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime198
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime379
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime299
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime371
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime332
- 27 Fletcher Sttransport
- Allandale Rd Before O'Connors Rdtransport
- Branxton St Opp Nulkaba Public Schooltransport
- Nulkaba Public School, Branxton Sttransport
- O'Connors Rd At Branxton Sttransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Cessnock Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.