NSW · Dungog Council
Vacy, NSW, 2421
Desirability index
#509 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Vacy is a small locality in the Dungog area, home to around 719 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 87 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+55%), roughly 121.0 offences per 1,000 residents, 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 719
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,803
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 18 of 270
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 63.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 10 / 0 / 0
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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 87
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 37
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 121
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 51 residents
- State safety percentile
- 10.9th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +55.4%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Non-Dwelling7
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment5
- Liquor Offences29
- Malicious Damage To Property8
- Other Theft8
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
- 946
- Vacy 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
94 public transport stops in this suburb
- Vacy General Store, Gresford Rd
- Vacy General Store, Gresford Rd
- Vacy Public School, Gresford Rd
- Vacy Public School, Gresford Rd
- View St Before Horns Crossing 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).
168 planning-related records
2026· 23 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure44 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Subdivision50 FLYING FOX LANE VACY 2421Under Assessment
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 NIRVANA CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool39 MACKELLAR DRIVE VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool59 VIEW STREET VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport30 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Under Assessment
- Subdivision598 GRESFORD ROAD VACY 2421Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure62 LAWSON STREET VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure73 LENNOXTON ROAD VACY 2421Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development44 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure51 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure51 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Farm building41 CLARKES CROSSING CLOSE VACY 2421Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Rainwater tanks47 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Moveable dwelling10 GILMORE STREET VACY 2421Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cemetery783 GRESFORD ROAD VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool47 GUNDAROO ROAD VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool281 LENNOXTON ROAD VACY 2421Determined
2025· 47 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure48 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure44 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool66 GUNDAROO ROAD VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation36 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure36 BOTTLEBRUSH CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure48 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming poolBOWER BIRD CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure54 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 MACKELLAR DRIVE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure49 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 SPOTTED GUM CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
- Subdivision776 Gresford Road, Vacy, 2421Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation62 LAWSON STREET VACY 2421Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 BOTTLEBRUSH CLOSE VACY 2421Determined
2024· 20 proposals
20 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 26 proposals
26 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 31 proposals
31 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 21 proposals
21 proposals lodged in 2021. 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: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
3 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Vacy General Store, Gresford RdBus stop
- Vacy general storeConvenience store
- Vacy Post OfficePost office
803 Gresford Road
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
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.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Vacy Bridge over Paterson RiverMain Road 128, VacySHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 45.7/100
- Cohort rank
- #509 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Vacy General Store, Gresford Rdtransport
- Vacy General Store, Gresford Rdtransport
- Vacy Public School, Gresford Rdtransport
- Vacy Public School, Gresford Rdtransport
- View St Before Horns Crossing Rdtransport
- Vacy Bridge over Paterson RiverheritageMain Road 128, VacySHR
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cemeteryplanning783 GRESFORD ROAD VACY 2421Lodged 23 Jan 2026 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureplanning35 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Lodged 08 Apr 2026 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureplanning62 LAWSON STREET VACY 2421Lodged 07 Apr 2026 · Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureplanning51 LOUISE CLOSE VACY 2421Lodged 09 Mar 2026 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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