NSW · Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Riverside, 2444
Current weather
16.8°CClear sky
90% humidity · 6.2 km/h wind · 23.1° / 11.8° today · 1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- River access
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Riverside is a quieter smaller community in Port Macquarie-Hastings, 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. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 298
- Median age
- 53
- Median household income / week
- $1,461
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 6 of 118
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,647
- Employment rate
- 46.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 12 / 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)
- $490
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $660
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 551
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)
- 27
- Against the person
- 7
- Against property
- 11
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 90.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 43 residents
- State safety percentile
- 63.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Reported offences are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions379
- Fraud335
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment422
- Malicious Damage To Property387
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault342
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
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
47 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah138 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Fences; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool75 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool45 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool157 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
2025· 8 proposals
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool126 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty7 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation59 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah135 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool139 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty17 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool2 27 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
2024· 6 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure45 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
September 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool2 27 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Withdrawn
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses69 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty17 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool91 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure96 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Withdrawn
2023· 8 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool92 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Withdrawn
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure73 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling428 SHORELINE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
August 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development39 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
July 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development149 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
May 2023
- OtherSandfly Alley, Riverside, Port MacquarieDetermined
January 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development149 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
2022· 8 proposals
November 2022
- Dwelling102 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
October 2022
- Dwelling45 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing37 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
September 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development67 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
July 2022
- Other21 MARIA RIVER ROAD RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
- Dwelling; Shed71 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Shed165 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
January 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs143 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
2021· 6 proposals
December 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Port, wharf, boating facilities2 27 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
November 2021
- Dwelling428 SHORELINE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
October 2021
- Dwelling139 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces17 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
September 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces103 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
August 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development148 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Determined
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 34.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4408th in Australia
- State rank
- 1402nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #249 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #539 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 52%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime379
- Fraudcrime335
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime422
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime387
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime342
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning149 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Lodged 22 Jul 2023 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning149 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Lodged 17 Jan 2023 · Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Shedplanning165 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Lodged 17 May 2022 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning138 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Lodged 10 Jun 2026 · Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandahplanning135 RIVERSIDE DRIVE RIVERSIDE 2444Lodged 10 Mar 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
More in Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.