NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
West Wallsend, NSW, 2286
Desirability index
8.6/100
How this score is calculated#677 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
West Wallsend is a smaller suburban community in the Lake Macquarie area, home to around 2,981 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 221 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-3%), roughly 74.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $690, 3 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, 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
- 2,981
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $1,627
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 39 of 1,147
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,863
- Employment rate
- 60.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 80 / 35 / 10
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)
- $693
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)
- 221
- Against the person
- 87
- Against property
- 101
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 74.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 34 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6.4th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -3.1%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault17
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment36
- Malicious Damage To Property25
- Motor Vehicle Theft16
- Steal From Motor Vehicle20
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 950
- North AcademySpecial
- West Wallsend High SchoolSecondary
- West Wallsend 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
52 public transport stops in this suburb
- Carrington St At Hyndes St
- Carrington St At Robertson St
- Carrington St At Withers St
- West Wallsend Public School, Brown St
- Withers St Before Brown St
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).
181 planning-related records
2026· 10 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 TRAMWAY DRIVE WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure56 WILSON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah30 TERALBA ROAD WEST WALLSEND 2286Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)96 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care11 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 RAILWAY STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah29 EXPLORATION STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure4 SOUTH STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Additional Information Requested
January 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure62 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care11 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
2025· 31 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool41 WALLACE STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure15 RAILWAY STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 WATKINS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Group home; Group home (permanent)7 REYNOLDS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 TRAMWAY DRIVE WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development12 BRIDGE STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space12 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Group home14 WALLACE STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool23 EXPLORATION STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport23 STEAM CLOSE WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
July 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support82 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool20 PILLAR STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure37A BROWN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 ROYALTY STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure17 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 EDDEN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space3 BROOKS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure4 SOUTH STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space12 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School57-59 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure51 BROWN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation16 CARRINGTON STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Withdrawn
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure32 WITHERS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space15 RENWICK STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support28 PILLAR STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool48 TRAMWAY DRIVE WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure40 WALLACE STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure51 BROWN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure26 FEGAN STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Determined
2024· 22 proposals
22 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 23 proposals
23 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 44 proposals
44 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 38 proposals
38 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 13 proposals
13 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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Gregory ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Simply Pharmacy West WallsendCnr Carington and Withers Streetpharmacy
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)
- 4/10
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
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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)
- 11
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 8.6/100
- Cohort rank
- #677 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
- Carrington St At Hyndes Sttransport
- Carrington St At Robertson Sttransport
- Carrington St At Withers Sttransport
- West Wallsend Public School, Brown Sttransport
- Withers St Before Brown Sttransport
- Simply Pharmacy West WallsendhealthCnr Carington and Withers Streetpharmacy
- Gregory Parkgovernmentpark
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportplanning28 PILLAR STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Lodged 03 Mar 2025 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming poolplanning20 PILLAR STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Lodged 25 Jul 2025 · Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Group home; Group home (permanent)planning7 REYNOLDS STREET WEST WALLSEND 2286Lodged 15 Oct 2025 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · 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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