NSW · Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Wauchope, 2446
Current weather
16.8°CClear sky
90% humidity · 6.2 km/h wind · 23.1° / 11.8° today · 1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Wauchope is a regional centre in Port Macquarie-Hastings that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by parks and green space and growth momentum, while local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 6,589
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,114
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 167 of 2,719
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,517
- Employment rate
- 46.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 251 / 315 / 38
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)
- $410
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $610
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $595
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 57
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)
- 399
- Against the person
- 136
- Against property
- 153
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 60.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 48 residents
- State safety percentile
- 38.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -5.6%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order67
- Domestic Violence Related Assault107
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment102
- Malicious Damage To Property110
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault50
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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 900
- Beechwood Public SchoolPrimary
- Huntingdon Public SchoolPrimary
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary
- Wauchope High SchoolSecondary
- Wauchope 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
81 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bago Rd At Industry St
- Bago Rd Opp Industry St
- Campbell St At Bain St
- Ellenborough Pl At Fairmont Dr
- Wauchope Station
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksOxley Highway, Cameron Street06 Jul 2026 – 12 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
341 planning-related records
2026· 25 proposals
June 2026
- Industrial development; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; General industry21 BALL CRESCENT WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home48 RANDALL STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home2410 OXLEY HIGHWAY WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Subdivision2410 OXLEY HIGHWAY WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
May 2026
- Place of public worship; Advertising and signage230A HIGH STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)133 HIGH STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision; Driveways and hard stand spaces2410 OXLEY HIGHWAY WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Educational establishment; Erection of a new structure4 AVONDALE STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah2 18 JOSHUA CLOSE WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)55 ALLAN ROAD WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 SUTHERLAND STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure11 WAUGH STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use5 COWARRAL CIRCUIT WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation35 BAIN STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 SHORT STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)10 MAROWIN PLACE WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
February 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (attached)40 DROVER STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Erection of a new structure; General industry45 TRADE CIRCUIT WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Automotive/truck premises; Service station4 HIGH STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use6 YARRAT PLACE WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Minor building alterations (internal)187 HIGH STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 BUSHMAN DRIVE WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Residential Accommodation63 RESERVOIR PLACE WAUCHOPE 2446Under Assessment
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure175 HIGH STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation197 HIGH STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Additional Information Requested
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 CARPENTER STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Supporting Development10 OXLEY LANE WAUCHOPE 2446Additional Information Requested
November 2025
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use48 MAHOGANY WAY WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure196 CAMERON STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club3 YOUNG STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Subdivision49 GOWRIE ROAD WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Industrial development; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; General industry26 OAKLEY WAY WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Erection of a new structure19 BALL CRESCENT WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Subdivision31 BAIN STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 COWARRAL CIRCUIT WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 AVONDALE STREET, WAUCHOPE NSW 2446Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 CORYMBIA LOOP WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 KUMBATINE CLOSE WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club24 KING STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space48 CAMERON STREET WAUCHOPE 2446Withdrawn
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
25 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- Andrews Park, Cameron StBus stop
- Blackbutt Dr At Peppermint CrBus stop
- Blackbutt Dr Before High StBus stop
- Cameron St Before Ellenborough ClBus stop
- Cameron St Opp Blackbutt DrBus stop
- Cameron St Opp Tallowood AvBus stop
- Fairmont Dr Ellenborough ClBus stop
- Fairmont Gardens Sports Fields, Fairmont DrBus stop
- Hastings Fire Control Centre, Cameron StBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
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
10 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Allan Road ReservePark
- Andrews ParkPark
- Bain ParkPark
- Cameron Street ParkPark
- James Street ReservePark
- Landrigan ParkPark
- Lasiandra ParkPark
- Montrose ParkPark
- Rocks Ferry ReservePark
- Sister City ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 8
- Emergency department
- On site
- George & Mathidaoptometrist
- Laverty Pathologysample_collection
- Laverty Pathologysample_collection
- OPSM WauchopeHigh Streetoptometrist
- TerryWhite ChemmartHigh Streetpharmacy
- The Good Shepherd Medical Centredoctor
- Wauchope District Memorial Hospitalhospital
- Wauchope PharmacyHigh Streetpharmacy
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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Tallowood Preschoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
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.
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)
- 25
- Parks (OSM)
- 11
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
- 55.4/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 18% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1167th in Australia
- State rank
- 380th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #34 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #68 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime67
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime107
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime102
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime110
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime50
- Bago Rd At Industry Sttransport
- Bago Rd Opp Industry Sttransport
- Campbell St At Bain Sttransport
- Ellenborough Pl At Fairmont Drtransport
- Wauchope Stationtransport
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 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.