Median house price
$1.17M
+8.8% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Pelican, 2281
Est. population · Jun 2025
907
Growth (1 yr)
-0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.0%
Median age
48
Median income
$1,448/wk
Employment rate
51%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,170,000
Languages at home
2.3%non-English
Most common: Indonesian, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Pelican is a practical smaller community in Lake Macquarie Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Distance from the metro area around Sydney is part of the appeal, with regional hubs closer to hand than the city. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Desirability sits below average overall, with parks and green space, plus growth momentum the main drag compared with similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Pelican snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$725/wk
Houses $750 · Units $550
Population (ERP)
907
-0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.1%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#134
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
37th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
6th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
29th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 26.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6119th in Australia
- State rank
- 1975th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #134 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #855 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
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 house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,170,000
- Median price change
- +8.8%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
907(June 2025)
-0.3% annual · +1.0% over 5 years · 6th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.3%
- 5-year growth
- +1.0%
- Change in 1 year
- -3
- Change in 5 years
- +9
- Growth rank in NSW
- 6th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~900), extrapolated at -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 874
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,448
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 30 of 372
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,785
- Employment rate
- 51%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 326 / 15 / 3
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 51
- Against the person
- 13
- Against property
- 19
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 56.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 67 residents
- State safety percentile
- 36.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +2.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order78
- Domestic Violence Related Assault78
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment96
- Malicious Damage To Property83
- Other Offences210
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 958
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 29th
School list
- Pelican Flat Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 981 · 38th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 94 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
- Blacksmiths Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1004 · 48th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 103 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Marks Point Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 935 · 19th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 141 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Swansea Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 923 · 16th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 199 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
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 · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
25 public transport stops in this suburb
- Lake Macquarie Airport, Pacific Hwy
- Pacific Hwy At Soldiers Rd
- Pacific Hwy Opp Maneela St
- Pacific Hwy Opp Pelican Flat Park
- Pacific Hwy Opp Pelican Flat Park
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
26 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 playgrounds · 3 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 25 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.14
Sport & outdoors(7)
- Memorial ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (3)
Transport(13)
13 bus stops
Other(5)
- Skydive Sydney - NewcastleAttraction
864 Pacific Highway, Marks Point
- Parking
- Westpac Helicopter Rescue ServiceParking
- Shelter (2)
- Slipway
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- 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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Belmont Hospital (5.1 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 31
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.2
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 3 proposals
July 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool24 CABBAGE TREE PALM CRESCENT PELICAN 2281Determined
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces48 LAKEVIEW PARADE PELICAN 2281Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure26 TUREA STREET PELICAN 2281Determined
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Shortland
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONROY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,971
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 5.1 km away).
Coalition 38.4%Labor 61.6%
0.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- BlacksmithsLabor 62.2% · Coalition 37.8% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Marks PointLabor 59.5% · Coalition 40.5% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- SwanseaLabor 61.8% · Coalition 38.2% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- Swansea CentralLabor 60.3% · Coalition 39.7% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
- Caves BeachLabor 58.7% · Coalition 41.3% TPP (2025)3.7 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.