NSW · Penrith Council
Orchard Hills, 2748
Current weather
15.9°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.5 km/h wind · 21.7° / 12.7° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Top transport
- Schools
- Metro
- Established
- Residential
Suburb profile
Orchard Hills is a hillside smaller community in Penrith, with elevated streets and a greener, quieter pace. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Fresh country air and elevated outlooks are part of the appeal up here among the hills.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar metro suburbs, even with growth momentum and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,798
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $2,279
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 31 of 591
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,550
- Employment rate
- 57.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 43 / 12 / 6
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 89
- Against the person
- 24
- Against property
- 47
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 49.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 75 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +10.2%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault7
- Fraud8
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment10
- Malicious Damage To Property8
- Other Theft10
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,074
- Montgrove CollegeCombined
- Orchard Hills Public SchoolPrimary
- Penrith Anglican CollegeCombined
- Penrith Christian SchoolCombined
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
47 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kingswood Rd After Frogmore Rd
- The Northern Rd After Chain O Ponds Rd
- The Northern Rd After Frogmore Rd
- The Northern Rd After Wentworth Rd
- The Northern Rd Opp Chain O Ponds 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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Exercise caution. Changed traffic conditions, including lane closures and reduced speed limits, will be in place at various times along Mamre Rd, and other nearby roads, as part of the Mamre Rd upgrade project.Mamre Road, M4 Motorway31 Oct 2024 – 30 Jun 2028
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
139 planning-related records
2026· 37 proposals
June 2026
- Subdivision140-146 CADDENS ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Under Assessment
- Subdivision132-138 CADDENS ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Under Assessment
- Subdivision132-138 CADDENS ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation14 Orchard Hills Drive ORCHARD HILLS NSW 2747Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure12 Orchard Hills Drive Orchard Hills NSW 2747Under Assessment
- Industrial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia15 DISTRIBUTION DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Under Assessment
May 2026
- Subdivision; Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure289-317 LUDDENHAM ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Subdivision106 Caddens Road, Orchard HillsAdditional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation16 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 BORDEAUX PLACE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support221-227 LUDDENHAM ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Under Assessment
March 2026
- Demolition1-45 SAMUEL MARSDEN ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation11 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Sewage treatment plant221-227 LUDDENHAM ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation232-236 HOMESTEAD ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support22 IRONWOOD DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 TEX AVENUE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation13 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation6 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation20 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
January 2026
- Subdivision106 CADDENS ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation33 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 RIDGEWAY DRIVE ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure221-227 LUDDENHAM ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation10 ECLIPSE ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Determined
- Subdivision190-226 CADDENS ROAD ORCHARD HILLS 2748Additional Information Requested
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Mamre HousePark
- Samuel Marsden ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 5
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Dentistdentist
- Doctordoctor
- Penrith Medical and Fitness CentreBringelly Roadclinic
- Pharmacypharmacy
- Physiotherapistphysiotherapist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · 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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- MamreMamre Road, St MarysSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Old MacDonald's Child CareMandalong Closechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 203
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 50.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 26% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1753rd in Australia
- State rank
- 558th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #34 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #385 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime7
- Fraudcrime8
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime10
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime8
- Other Theftcrime10
- Kingswood Rd After Frogmore Rdtransport
- The Northern Rd After Chain O Ponds Rdtransport
- The Northern Rd After Frogmore Rdtransport
- The Northern Rd After Wentworth Rdtransport
- The Northern Rd Opp Chain O Ponds Rdtransport
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 Penrith Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.