Median house price
$978k
+3.2% change
NSW · Newcastle Council
Waratah West, 2298
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,221
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.2%
Median age
31
Median income
$1,518/wk
Employment rate
59.3%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$978,000
Languages at home
15.4%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Urdu, Vietnamese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Waratah West is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Newcastle Council with everyday amenities close at hand. The community skews younger, with family life visible on every street. School and preschool provision is plentiful within the local area.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Getting around is straightforward, with buses tying neighbouring communities together.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer safety relative to similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Waratah West snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$560/wk
Houses $680 · Units $500
Population (ERP)
3,221
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.6%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#292
among Metro Sydney · Established
Safety
93rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
50th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
35th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 38.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4055th in Australia
- State rank
- 1255th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #292 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #715 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $680
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $560
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 184
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $978,000
- Median price change
- +3.2%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
3,221(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +2.2% over 5 years · 50th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- +2.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +17
- Change in 5 years
- +68
- Growth rank in NSW
- 50th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~3,300), extrapolated at +0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,142
- Median age
- 31
- Median household income / week
- $1,518
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 85 of 1,280
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,853
- Employment rate
- 59.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,017 / 108 / 69
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 509
- Against the person
- 85
- Against property
- 105
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 158
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 37 residents
- State safety percentile
- 93.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.9%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions722
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment86
- Malicious Damage To Property69
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault74
- Transport Regulatory Offences114
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 14
- Median school ICSEA (14 schools)
- 973.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 35th
School list
- Waratah West Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 963 · 30th percentile · LBOTE 31% · 113 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Corpus Christi Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1085 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 169 students · Top SEA quarter 38% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- St Philip's Christian College - WaratahCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1138 · 93th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 1,466 students · Top SEA quarter 55% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Waratah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1019 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 351 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- St John's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1083 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 29% · 200 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- St Philip's Christian College Dynamic LearningSpecial · Independent · ICSEA 1022 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 223 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- St Philip's Christian College Young ParentsSpecial · Independent · ICSEA 776 · 2th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 52 students · Top SEA quarter 0% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Newcastle Middle SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 967 · 32th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 45 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Newcastle Senior SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 960 · 29th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 37 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Callaghan College Waratah CampusSecondary · Government · ICSEA 957 · 28th percentile · LBOTE 26% · 848 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
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 · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
48 public transport stops in this suburb
- Lorna St At Angus Av
- Lorna St Opp Angus Av
- Maud St At King St
- University Dr After Delauret Square
- University Dr After Kimian Av
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
50 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship · 3 playgrounds · 1 sports centres
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 48 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.59
Community(1)
- Waratah West Public SchoolSchool
Waratah West
Sport & outdoors(10)
- Angus Avenue ParkPark
- Braye ParkPark
- Morpeth Road ReservePark
- Thomas Percy OvalPark
- Wrightson ReservePark
- Playground (3)
- Newcastle Pistol ClubSports centre
- Sports field
Transport(23)
23 bus stops
Other(13)
- Waratah Leagues ClubClub
- Common (3)
- Drinking water
- Fitness Station
- Allowah Street ReserveNature Reserve
- Parking (2)
- Picnic Table
- International Christian ChurchPlace of worship
- Post Box
- Public toilets
- Recycling
- Shelter
- Residential Aged Care WaratahSocial Facility
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Allowah Street ReserveNature reserve
- Angus Avenue ParkPark
- Braye ParkPark
- Morpeth Road ReservePark
- Thomas Percy OvalPark
- Wrightson ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 13
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- International Christian Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Hunter New England Mental Health Service (0.8 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 134
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 41.6
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 9 proposals
July 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space38 BERNICE CRESCENT WARATAH WEST 2298Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 PARKHILL PARADE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
May 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure79 UNIVERSITY DRIVE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool16 AVOCA CLOSE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure36 BERNICE CRESCENT WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 AVOCA CLOSE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
February 2026
- Educational establishment; Advertising and signage; School20 LEONORA PARADE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation30 ACACIA AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 QUEEN STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 KIMIAN AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 TRIPET PLACE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure34 ALLOWAH STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation49 MORPETH ROAD WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 DELAURET SQUARE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure28 DELAURET SQUARE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
July 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 KING STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure28 ANGUS AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 KIMIAN AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation39 BERNICE CRESCENT WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 MARCUS STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure29 KIMIAN AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Garage, carport or carparking space11 UNIVERSITY DRIVE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 STANNETT STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Withdrawn
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 QUEEN STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation30 ACACIA AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool7 MORPETH ROAD WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Temporary building, structure or use; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support26 VILLA ROAD WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
March 2025
- Subdivision10 MORPETH ROAD WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development16 VILLA ROAD WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure16 NORMAN STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 KIMIAN AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
January 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space29 NORMAN STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 JACKNORMAN STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Withdrawn
October 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 NORMAN STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Demolition64 ACACIA AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure64 ACACIA AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport10 VERA STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
August 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure64 ACACIA AVENUE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 AVOCA CLOSE WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility35 QUEEN STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
June 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation84 Allowah St, Waratah West 2298Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 VERA STREET WARATAH WEST 2298Determined
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Newcastle
- Member of Parliament
- Sharon CLAYDON (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 126,226
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.9 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 29.2%Labor 70.8%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.0 km away).
Coalition 21.2%Labor 78.8%
8.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Waratah WestLabor 79.9% · Coalition 20.1% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- WaratahLabor 76.7% · Coalition 23.3% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- GeorgetownLabor 81.9% · Coalition 18.1% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- LambtonLabor 74.0% · Coalition 26.0% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Jesmond NorthLabor 78.3% · Coalition 21.7% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Newcastle Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.