NSW · Newcastle Council
Shortland, NSW, 2307
Desirability index
#479 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Shortland is a smaller suburban community in the Newcastle area, home to around 4,537 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 369 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+37%), roughly 81.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $600, 4 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 4,537
- Median age
- 33
- Median household income / week
- $1,344
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 115 of 1,978
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,679
- Employment rate
- 54.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 120 / 527 / 33
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 64
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
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)
- 369
- Against the person
- 116
- Against property
- 166
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 81.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 39 residents
- State safety percentile
- 7.3th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +37.2%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault41
- Fraud38
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment39
- Malicious Damage To Property41
- Steal From Motor Vehicle26
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 926
- Awabakal Environmental Education CentreCombined
- Margaret Jurd CollegeSpecial
- Our Lady of Victories Primary SchoolPrimary
- Shortland 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
84 public transport stops in this suburb
- 448 Sandgate Rd
- 449 Sandgate Rd
- King St Before Marton St
- King St Opp Cora Pl
- Marton St At Sandgate Rd
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).
120 planning-related records
2026· 11 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure390 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space21 BARDIA ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures33 SHEARWATER DRIVE SHORTLAND 2307Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 MILNE STREET SHORTLAND 2307Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)20A MARTON STREET SHORTLAND 2307Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)7 SPOONBILL AVENUE SHORTLAND 2307Determined
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling104 KING STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Subdivision269 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Under Assessment
March 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure54 CONMURRA CIRCUIT SHORTLAND 2307Under Assessment
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development130 KING STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
February 2026
- Secondary dwelling; 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 Australia29 RABAUL STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
2025· 18 proposals
November 2025
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Residential care facility; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure33 SHEARWATER DRIVE SHORTLAND 2307Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure42 MARSDEN STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facility1 WETLANDS PLACE SHORTLAND 2307Determined
September 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure26 MORT STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation204 MARSDEN STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure355 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Determined
August 2025
- Demolition46 LOVELL PARADE SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 ALISTER STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 MARSDEN STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure46 LOVELL PARADE SHORTLAND 2307Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation150A MARSDEN STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision35 MARSDEN STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)25 TOBRUK CRESCENT SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage360 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure15 LIBYA STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation378 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation378 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport48 CONMURRA CIRCUIT SHORTLAND 2307Determined
2024· 15 proposals
December 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)25 RUFOUS CRESCENT SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces7 CORAL SEA AVENUE SHORTLAND 2307Determined
October 2024
- Subdivision255 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)25 RUFOUS CRESCENT SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Subdivision255 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Withdrawn
September 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School360 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space3 MARSDEN STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
July 2024
- Subdivision255 SANDGATE ROAD SHORTLAND 2307Determined
June 2024
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure138 MARSDEN STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
April 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)22 MORT STREET SHORTLAND 2307Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)25 Tobruk Cres, Shortland NSW 2307Determined
2023· 19 proposals
19 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 25 proposals
25 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 27 proposals
27 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 5 proposals
5 proposals lodged in 2020. 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; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
108 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Alcohol
- Bbq (3)
- Bench (13)
- Outdoor Classroom & Wedding ChapelBench
- Bicycle Parking
- 448 Sandgate RdBus stop
- 449 Sandgate RdBus stop
- 54 Marsden StBus stop
- 67 Marsden StBus stop
- 72 Blanch StBus stop
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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Cook ParkPark
- Lyall ParkPark
- Milne ParkPark
- Tuxford ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- On site
- Hunter Valley Private Hospitalhospital
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Shortland Pre-Schoolkindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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)
- 18
- 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
- 35.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #479 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 448 Sandgate Rdtransport
- 449 Sandgate Rdtransport
- King St Before Marton Sttransport
- King St Opp Cora Pltransport
- Marton St At Sandgate Rdtransport
- Shortland Pre-Schoolchildcarekindergarten
- Hunter Valley Private Hospitalhealthhospital
- Cook Parkgovernmentpark
- Lyall Parkgovernmentpark
- Milne Parkgovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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