NSW · Mid-Coast Council
Tea Gardens, 2324
Current weather
16.6°CClear sky
67% humidity · 0.4 km/h wind · 23.5° / 11.6° today · 1.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Tea Gardens is a coastal mid-sized suburb where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. The coast is the anchor, with regional towns nearby for markets, dining and weekend exploring. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots. 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 community and employment against similar coastal suburbs, even with parks and green space and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 3,288
- Median age
- 69
- Median household income / week
- $991
- Dwelling vacancy
- 15.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 286 of 1,829
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,420
- Employment rate
- 24.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 66 / 104 / 21
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)
- $498
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $610
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $578
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 194
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)
- 368
- Against the person
- 114
- Against property
- 125
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 111.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 29 residents
- State safety percentile
- 79.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -11.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions384
- Domestic Violence Related Assault228
- Fraud159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment331
- Malicious Damage To Property237
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 934
- Tea Gardens Public SchoolPrimary
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 · 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
37 public transport stops in this suburb
- Banksia Park, Yalinbah St
- Myall St At Maxwell St
- Pindimar Rd Before Myall Way
- Tea Gardens Public School, Witt St
- Toonang Dr At Myall Way
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
194 planning-related records
2026· 21 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Animal care premises; Veterinary hospital1 197 MYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 BILLABONG AVENUE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah7 31-33 MARINE DRIVE TEA GARDENS 2324Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 31-33 MARINE DRIVE TEA GARDENS 2324Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool45 MARTIN CIRCUIT TEA GARDENS 2324Under Assessment
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 GANNET PLACE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 BAYVIEW ROAD TEA GARDENS 2324Additional Information Requested
- Shed; Erection of a new structure64 WITT STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 BILLABONG AVENUE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure84 PORT STEPHENS STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport37 ADMIRALTY AVENUE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure59 MYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 HIGGINS CLOSE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home1A WANYA ROAD TEA GARDENS 2324Under Assessment
March 2026
- Subdivision3-5 HOUGH STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation111 MARINE DRIVE TEA GARDENS 2324Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool25 MARTIN CIRCUIT TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureMYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool27 COUPLAND AVENUE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure72 COUPLAND AVENUE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 JACOB STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
2025· 19 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure14 WOMBOURNE ROAD TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure199 MYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Under Assessment
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Charter and tourism boating facilityMARINE DRIVE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation19 SINCLAIR DRIVE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah61 WINDWARD CIRCUIT TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure84 PORT STEPHENS STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises1 YANDALA STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure9 BUDGEREE STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 MYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation29 MYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation23 WINDWARD CIRCUIT TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool15 ADMIRALTY AVENUE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool185 MYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure57 MARINE DRIVE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)231 MYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)571 VINEY CREEK ROAD TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)581 VINEY CREEK ROAD TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure3 COMPASS CLOSE TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure29 MYALL STREET TEA GARDENS 2324Determined
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
Parks & reserves
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- ANZAC ParkPark
- Dunshea Avenue ReservePark
- Memorial ParkPark
- Tea Gardens Rest AreaPark
- The Admirals Green Public ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Myall Pharmacypharmacy
- Ochre Medical Centre Tea Gardensclinic
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
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)
- 5/10
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 19
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 36.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4197th in Australia
- State rank
- 1328th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #67 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #135 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime384
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime228
- Fraudcrime159
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime331
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime237
- Banksia Park, Yalinbah Sttransport
- Myall St At Maxwell Sttransport
- Pindimar Rd Before Myall Waytransport
- Tea Gardens Public School, Witt Sttransport
- Toonang Dr At Myall Waytransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Mid-Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.