NSW · Dungog Council
Paterson (NSW), NSW, 2421
Desirability index
#282 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Paterson (NSW) is a small locality in the Dungog area, home to around 960 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 87 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+55%), roughly 90.6 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 960
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $1,907
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 18 of 354
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 65.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 25 / 0 / 0
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)
- 87
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 37
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 90.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 69 residents
- State safety percentile
- 8.2th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +55.4%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Non-Dwelling7
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment5
- Liquor Offences29
- Malicious Damage To Property8
- Other Theft8
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
- 1,027
- Paterson 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
69 public transport stops in this suburb
- Duke St Opp Paterson Post Office
- Gresford Rd After Dungog Rd
- Gresford Rd Opp Dungog Rd
- Paterson Rd Opp Martins Creek Rd
- Paterson Station
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).
152 planning-related records
2026· 8 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support22 MARQUIS STREET PATERSON 2421Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia191 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Under Assessment
May 2026
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure45 WEBBERS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 MAIN STREET PATERSON 2421Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure234 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure323 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure191 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Subdivision21 PRINCE STREET PATERSON 2421Under Assessment
2025· 28 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure234 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure245 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure250 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure36 PRINCE STREET PATERSON 2421Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision95 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use187 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation36 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Subdivision; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development405 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Tourist and visitor accommodation36-40 KING STREET PATERSON 2421Withdrawn
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure67 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation323 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure187 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah285 WEBBERS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Demolition; Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 PRINCE STREET PATERSON 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation150 GRESFORD ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure67 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Demolition68 DUNGOG ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
April 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 GLENBURN ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure185 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure67 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure274 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool274 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure53 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure118 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Subdivision54 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; SchoolWEBBERS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure68 DUNGOG ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
2024· 28 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)80 LOMANDRA CIRCUIT PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure73 BOULTON DRIVE PATERSON 2421Determined
November 2024
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure108 GRESFORD ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure323 MARTINS CREEK ROAD PATERSON 2421Determined
2023· 27 proposals
27 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 36 proposals
36 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 25 proposals
25 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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Saint AnnesPlace of worship
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
- Allan Fairhall ReservePark
- John Tucker ParkPark
- Kings Wharf ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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
- Rail Motor CollectionPatersonSHR
- Royal Oak Arms Hotel (former)18 King Street PatersonSHR
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)
- 20
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- 69.5/100
- Cohort rank
- #282 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Duke St Opp Paterson Post Officetransport
- Gresford Rd After Dungog Rdtransport
- Gresford Rd Opp Dungog Rdtransport
- Paterson Rd Opp Martins Creek Rdtransport
- Paterson Stationtransport
- Rail Motor CollectionheritagePatersonSHR
- Royal Oak Arms Hotel (former)heritage18 King Street PatersonSHR
- Allan Fairhall Reservegovernmentpark
- John Tucker Parkgovernmentpark
- Kings Wharf 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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