NSW · Newcastle Council

Sandgate (NSW), NSW, 2304

Desirability index

20.1/100

#591 among Metro Sydney suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Sandgate (NSW) is a small locality in the Newcastle area, home to around 276 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 1,812 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, roughly 6565.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $550 (flats $423, houses $680), strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.

Population

Population
276
Median age
69
Median household income / week
$687
Dwelling vacancy
7.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
6 of 76
Median monthly mortgage
$1,684
Employment rate
19.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
8 / 16 / 0

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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)
$423
Houses (January to March 2026)
$680
All types (January to March 2026)
$550
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
247

Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
1,812
Against the person
433
Against property
942
Rate per 1,000 residents
6,565.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 1 residents
State safety percentile
65.1th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+0.3%

Most common offence types

  • Fraud127
  • Malicious Damage To Property136
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault128
  • Steal From Motor Vehicle154
  • Steal From Retail Store159

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW 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

Public transport

26 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Maitland Rd After Old Maitland Rd
  • Maitland Rd After Old Maitland Rd
  • Maitland Rd Opp Old Maitland Rd
  • Maitland Rd Opp St Joseph's Retirement Community
  • Maitland Rd Opp St Joseph's Retirement Community

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

47 planning-related records

2026· 4 proposals
  • May 2026

  • Industrial development; Erection of a new structure
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Under Assessment
  • March 2026

  • Advertising and signage; Hardware and building supply
    9 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • January 2026

  • Signage; Advertising and signage
    240 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Transport depot
    16 FERRY ROAD SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
2025· 6 proposals
  • September 2025

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle body repair workshop
    8 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • May 2025

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Depot
    16 FERRY ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • March 2025

  • Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Light industry
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Classified road; Highway
    Maitland road, opposite shamrock streetUnder Assessment
  • February 2025

  • Subdivision
    3 AYRSHIRE CRESCENT SANDGATE 2304Under Assessment
  • January 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Light industry
    21 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
2024· 13 proposals
  • October 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    10 MANGROVE ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cemetery
    108 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; General industry
    17 AYRSHIRE CRESCENT SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Storage premises; Self storage units
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • September 2024

  • Demolition
    240 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • July 2024

  • Demolition
    162 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • June 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    4 MANGROVE ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Hazardous storage establishment; Liquid fuel depot
    10 OLD MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • April 2024

  • Subdivision
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • March 2024

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Light industry
    45 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cemetery
    108 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • February 2024

  • Demolition
    21 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • January 2024

  • Demolition; Commercial development
    162 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
2023· 10 proposals
  • December 2023

  • Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure
    215-223 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • November 2023

  • Erection of a new structure; Light industry
    53 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • August 2023

  • Change of use
    32 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • Signage; Stratum / community title subdivision; Industrial development
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Signage; Stratum / community title subdivision; Industrial development
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Stratum / community title subdivision
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • July 2023

  • Other
    Maitland road, opposite shamrock streetDetermined
  • May 2023

  • Other
    4 2 JERSEY AVENUE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • March 2023

  • Alterations and additions to industrial development
    27 AYRSHIRE CRESCENT SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • February 2023

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    85 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
2022· 7 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Alterations and additions to industrial development
    12 GUERNSEY STREET SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • September 2022

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    85 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Demolition
    162 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • July 2022

  • Change of use
    83 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Retaining walls, protection of trees; Change of use
    45 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • June 2022

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    119 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • May 2022

  • Alterations and additions to commercial development
    53 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
2021· 7 proposals

7 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

19 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Brothel
  • Maitland Rd after Old Maitland RdBus stop
  • Maitland Rd at Mangrove RdBus stop
  • Maitland Rd opp Old Maitland RdBus stop
  • Maitland Rd opp Sandgate CemeteryBus stop
  • Maitland Rd opp St Joseph's Retirement CommunityBus stop
  • Maitland Rd opp Wallsend RdBus stop
  • Pacific Hwy opp Ferry RdBus stop
  • Sandgate Cemetery, Maitland RdBus stop
  • Sandgate Cemetery, Wallsend RdBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
1/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Desirability index

Desirability score
20.1/100
Cohort rank
#591 among Metro Sydney suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Maitland Rd After Old Maitland Rdtransport
  • Maitland Rd After Old Maitland Rdtransport
  • Maitland Rd Opp Old Maitland Rdtransport
  • Maitland Rd Opp St Joseph's Retirement Communitytransport
  • Maitland Rd Opp St Joseph's Retirement Communitytransport
  • Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Light industryplanning4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Lodged 18 Mar 2025 · Withdrawn
  • Advertising and signage; Hardware and building supplyplanning9 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Lodged 13 Mar 2026 · Determined
  • Alterations and additions to commercial developmentplanning53 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Lodged 25 May 2022 · Determined
  • Alterations and additions to industrial developmentplanning27 AYRSHIRE CRESCENT SANDGATE 2304Lodged 16 Mar 2023 · Determined
  • Alterations and additions to industrial developmentplanning12 GUERNSEY STREET SANDGATE 2304Lodged 14 Dec 2022 · Determined

Data sources & freshness

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