Median house price
$876k
+3.1% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Rathmines, 2283
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,152
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.2%
Median age
47
Median income
$1,517/wk
Employment rate
52%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$876,000
Languages at home
4.5%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, German, Bengali
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Café precinct
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Rathmines is a practical smaller community in Lake Macquarie Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The capital is not on the doorstep: Sydney is a proper journey, while nearby towns cover more day-to-day needs. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses linking the suburb to surrounding areas.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
Desirability sits around average overall, with safety, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drag compared with similar metro suburbs.
At a glance
Rathmines snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$650/wk
Population (ERP)
2,152
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.7%
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
#54
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
59th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
56th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
57th
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
- 45.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 40% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2793rd in Australia
- State rank
- 849th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #54 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #571 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 89
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $876,000
- Median price change
- +3.1%
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
2,152(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +3.2% over 5 years · 56th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +3.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +15
- Change in 5 years
- +67
- Growth rank in NSW
- 56th 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 (~2,200), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,076
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,517
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 38 of 805
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 52%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 710 / 54 / 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 · 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 174
- Against the person
- 49
- Against property
- 45
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 80.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 59.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1.4%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions387
- Domestic Violence Related Assault156
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment194
- Malicious Damage To Property138
- Transport Regulatory Offences278
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,023
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 57th
School list
- Rathmines Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 996 · 45th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 311 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 194 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Toronto Adventist SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1173 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 43 students · Top SEA quarter 63% · 1.7 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
39 public transport stops in this suburb
- Clydebank Rd At Kooringal Cl
- Clydebank Rd At Sutton St
- Dorrington Rd Opp Karoonda Pl
- Rosemary Row At Josephine St
- Secret Corner Rd Opp Rathmines Public School
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
34 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 supermarkets · 2 fast food · 1 bakeries · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Well connected by public transport — 39 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 63/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.48
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.93
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.48
Food & drink(4)
- Rathmines Cake & Bread ShopBakery
- Cafe
- Rathmines FusionFast food
- Rathmines Take-AwayFast food
Shopping(1)
- IGASupermarket
Community(1)
- Rathmines Public SchoolSchool
Rathmines
Sport & outdoors(4)
- Toronto Country ClubGolf course
Wangi Road
- Rathmines ParkPark
- Picnic area
- Sports field
Transport(13)
13 bus stops
Other(8)
- Hairdresser
- Parking
- Picnic Table
- Post Box
- Rathmines Post OfficePost office
- Public toilets
- Slipway (2)
- Waste Basket (3)
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
- Rathmines ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 11
- 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
- Toronto Private Hospital (2.9 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)
- 68
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 31.6
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· 11 proposals
August 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool43 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Under Assessment
July 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space1 DORRINGTON ROAD RATHMINES 2283Under Assessment
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
May 2026
- Signage; Industrial development; Subdivision; Advertising and signage; 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; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Building identification sign; Business identification sign; Self storage units; Light industry; Hours of operation and trading13 DARRAMBAL CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool56 ROSEMARY ROW RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool68 ROSEMARY ROW RATHMINES 2283Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7 BURNAGE PLACE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 OVERHILL ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space44 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Residential flat building; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure18 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support55 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
2025· 14 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool3 BAYSWATER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool3 BAYSWATER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Withdrawn
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport18 STARBOARD CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
October 2025
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure12 DARRAMBAL CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support55 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
April 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support63 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure69 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure58 ROSEMARY ROW RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport15 LINCOLN CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool3 BAYSWATER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; 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 Australia; Dual occupancy (detached); Carport39 SECRET CORNER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; General industry7 DARRAMBAL CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support63 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
2024· 14 proposals
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences81 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure61 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
September 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 HILLCREST AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation79 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Under Assessment
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure69 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)21 KAROONDA CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Residential flat building; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure18 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure69 HARBORNE AVENUE RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport38 SECRET CORNER ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space87 ROSEMARY ROW RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space8 NORTHVIEW STREET RATHMINES 2283Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure47 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
February 2024
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)61 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 ROTHLEY GARDENS RATHMINES 2283Determined
2023· 3 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)1 STILLING STREET RATHMINES 2283Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support63 FISHING POINT ROAD RATHMINES 2283Determined
November 2023
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure12A KAROONDA CLOSE RATHMINES 2283Determined
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)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Rathmines Park, former RAAF Seaplane BaseDorrington Road, RathminesSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Hunter
- Member of Parliament
- Dan REPACHOLI (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,184
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.5%Labor 59.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.5 km away).
Coalition 40.1%Labor 59.9%
0.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- RathminesLabor 59.0% · Coalition 41.0% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- Kilaben BayLabor 57.3% · Coalition 42.7% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- Arcadia ValeLabor 60.2% · Coalition 39.8% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
- Coal PointLabor 54.2% · Coalition 45.8% TPP (2025)3.0 km away
- BirabanLabor 72.3% · Coalition 27.7% TPP (2025)3.5 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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.