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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Population
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater's population was around 10,266 as of May 2026, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This reflected an increase of 575 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,691 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,266 as of June 2025 and an additional 34 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population resulted in a density ratio of 1,010 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Bonnells Bay - Silverwater's growth rate of 5.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW's 4.9%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 41.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration being positive factors.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Bonnells Bay - Silverwater expected to grow by 3,765 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 36.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Bonnells Bay - Silverwater when compared nationally
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater has seen approximately 41 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 209 homes were approved, with another 17 approved so far in FY26. This results in an average of about 3.7 people moving to the area each year for every dwelling built during these years.
This high demand outpaces supply, typically exerting upward pressure on prices and intensifying competition among buyers. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $422,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In FY26, commercial approvals totalled $831,000, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to the rest of NSW, where Bonnells Bay - Silverwater has 52.0% less development activity per person. This constrained new construction tends to reinforce demand and pricing for existing properties.
Recent construction comprises predominantly detached dwellings (91.0%) with a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (9.0%), maintaining the area's traditional suburban character focused on family homes. With around 342 people per approval, Bonnells Bay - Silverwater reflects a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by approximately 3,765 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and supporting price increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Bonnells Bay - Silverwater
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects expected to influence the region. Notable initiatives include Trinity Point Mixed Use Development, Fishery Point Road and Morisset Park Road Intersection Upgrade, Alliance Avenue and Wyee Road Intersection Upgrade, and Morisset Place Strategy. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone
The Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is a critical network infrastructure project upgrading approximately 85km of existing 132kV sub-transmission lines between Kurri Kurri and Muswellbrook, and constructing two new substations at Sandy Creek (Muswellbrook) and Antiene (Singleton). The project delivers an additional 1GW of network transfer capacity, enabling connection of approximately 1.8GW of new renewable generation and storage. Ausgrid, as appointed network operator, is responsible for design, financing, construction and operation. The Project Deed with EnergyCo was signed in December 2025 following Australian Energy Regulator determination, and construction officially commenced on 27 February 2026. The REZ is the first in Australia to upgrade existing distribution poles and wires rather than build new transmission infrastructure. It will create 590 jobs during construction and 220 ongoing local positions, with full capacity expected by 2028.
Trinity Point Mixed Use Development
A $665 million transformative waterfront development on Lake Macquarie designed by Koichi Takada Architects. The project received State Significant Development approval in August 2025 and features a 153-room luxury hotel, 160 high-end waterfront apartments, and two 300-seat signature restaurants. The precinct includes an expanded 188-berth marina, a wellness and longevity sanctuary, and a floating helipad. Aiming to be the first carbon-neutral development in NSW, it incorporates green roofs, solar technology, and extensive landscaped public boardwalks.
High Speed Rail - Newcastle to Sydney (Line 1)
High Speed Rail Line 1 will connect Newcastle to Sydney on a new dedicated 194km rail line with trains capable of speeds up to 320 km/h on surface sections and 200 km/h in tunnels. Around 115km of the route will run through tunnels. The line will reduce travel time between Newcastle and Sydney to around one hour, with Central Coast trips of about 30 minutes. Six stations are proposed at central Newcastle (Broadmeadow), Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast (Gosford), Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International Airport. Following release of the business case in early 2026, the project moved into a two-year Development Phase, with the Australian Government investing a further $230 million for design refinement, environmental and planning approvals, and corridor preservation. The first two major contract packages went to tender in 2026: Area Package 1 (around 35km of twin TBM tunnels, an underground station and associated civil works) and Trains, Systems and Systems Integration (supply of trains, design of all systems, rail depot and operations control centre). The Newcastle to Sydney section is estimated to cost around $61.2 billion by 2039, with a further $32 billion to extend to Western Sydney International Airport by 2042. The project is forecast to support up to 15,000 construction jobs annually at peak and add around $250 billion to the Australian economy over a 50-year appraisal period.
Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie
A 235 million dollar tourism, entertainment and event precinct planned for the 90 hectare former Morisset Country Club site. The original 2022 approval covered a 30,000 capacity outdoor amphitheatre alongside cafes, restaurants, a splash park, tourist accommodation and an over-55s lifestyle village. In early 2025 Winarch Group announced the project would be significantly downsized to a 10,000 capacity indoor arena and a separate 5,000 capacity outdoor stage, with the partially-built shell-like stage dome no longer part of the design. Construction has been idle for around 18 months and a revised development application has yet to be lodged, with Winarch citing delays to the Transport for NSW upgrade of Mandalong Road and Dora Street. In late April 2026 Lake Macquarie City Council voted 10-1 to investigate a potential compulsory acquisition of the site, with a feasibility memo expected within three months. Winarch has publicly recommitted to delivering the precinct.
Life & Home Bulky Goods Centre, Morisset
A landmark large format retail (LFR) development spanning 9 hectares with 30,000sqm of gross lettable area. Strategically located near the M1 Motorway, it features major national tenants including Aldi, Hungry Jacks, Oporto, Starbucks, Pet Quarters, and Repco. The precinct serves as a vital service hub for the growing Lake Macquarie region, incorporating over 700 car spaces and community facilities such as a medical centre and childcare.
Morisset Place Strategy
A long-term strategic plan by Lake Macquarie City Council to guide the future development and growth of Morisset as a regionally significant growth area. It includes a vision for the types, scale, and locations of development and services, supported by various studies (e.g., biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage). A draft strategy is being prepared for public exhibition, which is expected to occur in 2026.
Bawarramalang, Morisset Community Hub
A community hub combining versatile and adaptable community facilities, a new library, and commercial offerings in 4600 square metres of activated space to energise a new town square in Morisset. The concept design will inform the project's business case.
MYHQ Morisset - Industrial Unit Development
A modern industrial strata unit complex developed by GWH, branded as MYHQ Morisset. It comprises 11 premium, high-clearance industrial units ranging from approximately 69mý to 333mý. The units include automatic roller doors, glazed shopfront entry, private amenities, and NBN connectivity. The complex is strategically located in the Morisset Business Park, offering easy access to the M1 Pacific Motorway. Construction was completed in June 2025.
Employment
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater has an unemployment rate of 5.2% as of December 2025, with 4,770 residents employed. This rate is 1.3% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Bonnells Bay - Silverwater is similar to Regional NSW at 60.5%.
According to Census responses, 24.3% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction employment is particularly strong, with a share of 1.5 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.7% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%.
The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force increased by 1.5%, while employment decreased by 0.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 2.0 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW where employment contracted by 1.2% and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bonnells Bay - Silverwater's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
The Bonnells Bay - Silverwater SA2's median income among taxpayers was $48,913 and average income stood at $61,699 in financial year 2023. These figures are lower than Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215 respectively. By March 2026, estimates based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth suggest the median income will be approximately $53,961 and average income $68,066. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Bonnells Bay - Silverwater rank modestly, between the 30th and 35th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The largest income segment comprises 33.1% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, with 3,398 residents in this category. This is consistent with broader metropolitan trends showing 29.9% in the same income bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 35th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Dwelling structure in Bonnells Bay - Silverwater, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bonnells Bay - Silverwater was at 40.6%, similar to Regional NSW's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (33.9%) or rented (25.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,783, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Bonnells Bay - Silverwater's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 75.3% of all households, including 27.5% couples with children, 32.6% couples without children, and 14.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.7%, with lone person households at 22.1% and group households at 2.7%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Bonnells Bay - Silverwater fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 17.8%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 12.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 44.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (33.0%). Educational participation is high, with 25.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including primary (9.4%), secondary (6.8%), and tertiary (3.4%) levels.
Educational participation is notably high, with 25.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater has 80 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 31 different routes that together facilitate 330 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents living an average of 202 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most inhabitants commute outwards, primarily by car (95%). On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 24.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
The service frequency across all routes averages 47 trips per day, resulting in approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Bonnells Bay - Silverwater is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Bonnells Bay-Silverwater faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~5,112 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 10.5% of residents) and mental health issues (10.2%), while 59.9% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 24.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,491 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Bonnells Bay-Silverwater has a cultural diversity below average, with 87.5% of its population born in Australia, 92.5% being citizens, and 95.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 54.5% of people in Bonnells Bay-Silverwater, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (32.5%), Australian (30.7%), and Scottish (8.3%).
Notably, Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 4.2%, Maltese at 0.5%, and Dutch at 1.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Bonnells Bay - Silverwater's median age exceeds the national pattern
Bonnells Bay-Silverwater's median age is 42 years, similar to Regional NSW's average of 43 but considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows a prominent group of 25-34 year-olds at 12.4%, while the 45-54 group is smaller at 10.2% compared to Regional NSW. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group grew from 11.1% to 12.4%, and the 35-44 cohort increased from 10.7% to 12.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.2% to 10.2%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 13.4% to 12.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 35-44 cohort projected to grow by 46%, adding 565 residents to reach 1,798.