Child Care Charlestown

Needs Analysis

Charlestown 2289 is served by 23 child care centres for an estimated 943 children under 5 — around 1.5 children per long day care place. See how local fees, occupancy and supply gaps compare with Rest of NSW.

Updated October 7, 2026 23 Centres Pop: 14,221
Centres map & directory

Child care centres

Explore centres on the map, filter by type, then review the directory below.

Id Name Type Places Approval Distance (Km) Day Rate Availability

* Click centres on the map for more detail and custom analysis options.

Local supply snapshot

Key metrics

Charlestown (NSW) compared with Rest of NSW

LDC Providers
LDC Providers
9
1,086
LDC Places
Total LDC Places
632
70,209
Population
Total Population
14,221
2,987,047
Per Place
Persons Per Place
22.5
-
Avg Age
Avg Centre Age
9.4 yrs
14 yrs
0-4 Pop
Population 0-4
943
167,275
Kids Per Place
0-4 Per LDC Place
1.49
2.4
Workforce
Workforce Impact
Significant
Standard
School Att
School Attendance
1,397
-
School Per LDC
School Per LDC Place
2.21
6
Avg Fee
Avg LDC Fee ($/day)
$165
$156
Other
Other Places (PSK/OOSH)
534
-

SOURCE: ACECQA, StartingBlocks, ABS data analysed by AreaSearch
Last updated:

Approvals Pipeline Childcare development approvals near Charlestown (NSW)

Childcare development applications on record across the catchment around Charlestown (NSW), from lodgement through to determination. Project-by-project detail — addresses, proposed places and status, drawn from council DA / planning registers — is in the full approvals register on this page.

Development approvals is a new addition to AreaSearch. We’re actively expanding council coverage and refining the dataset — details and statuses for some councils may be partial. Check back regularly for the latest pipeline.
Childcare approvals
36
In the local catchment
Proposed places
16
Where disclosed
Under assessment
4
Awaiting determination
Determined
30
Approved or decided

Most recent projects

  • Under assessment
    Lodged Apr 2026
  • Approved

    A development application has been lodged with Lake Macquarie City Council for the erection of a new centre-b…

    Lodged Jan 2026

Free accounts see the two most recent projects above. Sign in or go Pro to unlock the full approvals register on this page — search by address or DA number, filter by status, council and project scale. Data is drawn from council DA / planning registers.

SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.

Charlestown (NSW) Child Care FAQ
What is the Child Care supply composition of Charlestown (NSW)?
As of our last update on October 7, 2026, there are 23 child care centres in Charlestown (NSW). Of these, 9 centres provide Long Day Care offering 632 places, 6 centres provide Out of Hours School Care with 495 places, Preschool/Kindergarten is serviced by a facility with 39 places, and 7 centres provide other child care services. The area is also serviced by 7 schools, collectively accommodating 1,397 enrolments.
What population do these centres in Charlestown (NSW) service?
AreaSearch's latest population estimate for Charlestown (NSW) as at August 2026 stands at a total of 14,221 people, of this 943 are estimated to be children under five years of age.
Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for Charlestown (NSW)?
Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census Charlestown (NSW) was assessed as having 13,601 people with 866 of these (6.4%) being children under 5yo. Charlestown (NSW) has seen 278 new addresses added since this time, which, combined with broader ABS population estimates for resident population, leads us to estimate that Charlestown (NSW) has experienced population growth of approximately 620 people from the 2021 Census.
How does the ratio of children per LDC place in Charlestown (NSW) compare to those in Rest of NSW?
In Charlestown (NSW), our latest analysis shows there are 1.5 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is considerably lower than the 2.4 children per place across Rest of NSW.
How do childcare fees in Charlestown (NSW) relate to those in Rest of NSW?
Childcare fees in Charlestown (NSW) average $165, which is slightly higher than the regional average of $156 in Rest of NSW.
How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in Charlestown (NSW) and Rest of NSW?
In Charlestown (NSW), there are 2.2 students per LDC place. This figure is significantly lower than the 6 students per LDC place in Rest of NSW.
What is the average age of Long Daycare Centres in Charlestown (NSW)?
The average LDC in Charlestown (NSW) was approved 9.4 years ago, while across Rest of NSW the typical centre approval is 14 years old.
Is the local workforce a significant driver of additional child care demand for Charlestown (NSW)?
Yes, workforce activity is significant in this area and is likely a key driver of child care demand.
Who would typically use analysis such as this?
Childcare operators, developers, investors and financiers would typically conduct a thorough child care supply and demand analysis (SDA) on Charlestown (NSW) before allocating the significant amount of capital required. Boundary-based analysis such as this is often used as an initial guide however, and analysis would be undertaken on the specific site adopting a radial, travel time, or custom catchment to take into account nearby competition and demand drivers that would influence a centre's performance.

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