Chart Color Schemes
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.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Population
Morisset - Cooranbong lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Morisset - Cooranbong's population is around 21,977 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 3,848 people (21.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,129 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,319 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 1,552 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 66 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Morisset - Cooranbong's 21.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW (5.9%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 90.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is forecast, with the area expected to expand by 9,992 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 37.9% in total over the 17 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Morisset - Cooranbong was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country
Morisset - Cooranbong has recorded around 342 residential properties granted approval annually, with 1,713 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 232 so far in FY-26. With an average of 1.9 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand seem well-matched, fostering stable market dynamics, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $296,000. There have also been $52.7 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating strong commercial development momentum.
Compared to the rest of NSW, Morisset - Cooranbong has 110.0% more construction activity (per person), which should provide buyers with ample choice. This is substantially higher than the national average, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 76.0% detached dwellings and 24.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. At around 59 people per approval, Morisset - Cooranbong reflects a developing area.
Population forecasts indicate Morisset - Cooranbong will gain 8,334 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Morisset - Cooranbong has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally
Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 38 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Trinity Point Marina & Resort Development, Life & Home Bulky Goods Centre, Morisset, Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie, and Mandalong Road Upgrade, Morisset, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Cedar Mill Lake Macquarie
A $235 million tourism and event precinct being revitalised on the 90-hectare former Morisset Country Club site. Initially approved with a 30,000-capacity amphitheatre, the project was significantly downsized in 2025 to feature a 10,000-capacity indoor arena and a 5,000-capacity outdoor stage. The precinct plans include dining, retail, a splash park, and tourist accommodation. While early site works and intersection upgrades are progressing, revised development applications are pending submission as of early 2026.
Trinity Point Marina & Resort Development
A $665 million luxury carbon-neutral waterfront destination on Lake Macquarie. The State Significant Development (SSD) includes a Koichi Takada-designed 5-star hotel with 153 rooms, 160 luxury residential apartments across six buildings, and a 188-berth world-class marina. Key features include two 300-seat signature restaurants, a holistic wellness sanctuary/medispa, a floating helipad, and a public foreshore boardwalk. The project aims for a 4-Star Green Star certification and serves as a major tourism catalyst for the region.
Eraring Battery Energy Storage System
The Eraring Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a grid-scale project located at the site of the Eraring Power Station. The project is being delivered in four stages across two phases to provide critical firming capacity for the NSW grid. Phase One (Stages 1 and 3) is now operational as of late 2025, providing 460 MW / 1770 MWh. Phase Two (Stages 2 and 4) is currently under construction, which will add 240 MW / 1390 MWh. Upon full completion in early 2027, the combined system will reach 700 MW / 3160 MWh with an average dispatch duration of 4.5 hours, making it the largest battery in the Southern Hemisphere.
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.
Watagan Park Central
Watagan Park Central is a vibrant retail and community hub serving the Cooranbong area. Stage 1 officially opened on December 10, 2025, anchored by a 3,660 sqm full-line Woolworths supermarket. The centre features approximately 23 specialty stores including Bakers Delight and Star Nails, a medical centre, and a 147 sqm civic town square. Future stages are planned to include a 6-story apartment building and additional commercial spaces, integrating with nearby sports facilities and schools.
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.
Mandalong Road Upgrade, Morisset
The upgrade will replace the existing roundabout at the Mandalong Road/Freemans Drive/Dora Street/Wyee Road intersection with new traffic lights, add through and turning lanes, medians, a shared user path, and two new bus stops on Dora Street. The project aims to improve congestion, safety, and support planned retail, industrial, and commercial growth in Morisset. The project is a joint initiative of the Australian and NSW Governments.
Employment
Employment performance in Morisset - Cooranbong has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally
Morisset - Cooranbong features a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 4.7%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 8,894 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.7% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly (55.8% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 23.8% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.
Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.7% of Morisset - Cooranbong's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. While local employment opportunities exist, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.
Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw the labour force increase by 1.6% alongside a 0.1% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.6 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Morisset - Cooranbong. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Morisset - Cooranbong's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Morisset - Cooranbong SA2 is below the national average, with the median assessed at $52,764 while the average income stands at $63,567. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $57,439 (median) and $69,199 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Morisset - Cooranbong all fall between the 20th and 26th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 28.7% of the community (6,307 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 23rd percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Morisset - Cooranbong is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Dwelling structure within Morisset - Cooranbong, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 84.4% houses and 15.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Morisset - Cooranbong was in line with that of Regional NSW, at 40.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (35.8%) or rented (23.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional NSW average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $380, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Morisset - Cooranbong's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Morisset - Cooranbong has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households dominate at 69.8% of all households, comprising 27.9% couples with children, 29.7% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.2%, with lone person households at 27.0% and group households comprising 3.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Morisset - Cooranbong fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (18.2%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 12.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (31.7%).
Educational participation is notably high, with 25.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 6.3% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Public transport analysis reveals 174 active transport stops operating within Morisset - Cooranbong, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 88 individual routes, collectively providing 2,250 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 340 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling. Some 23.8% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).
Service frequency averages 321 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Morisset - Cooranbong is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts
Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Morisset - Cooranbong, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions has marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~11,098 people). The national average is 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.1% and 10.3% of residents, respectively, while 58.4% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 24.5% of residents aged 65 and over (5,377 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Morisset - Cooranbong is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Morisset - Cooranbong was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 85.9% of its population born in Australia, 92.2% being citizens, and 95.0% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Morisset - Cooranbong is Christianity, which makes up 59.9% of the population. This compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.
In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Morisset - Cooranbong are English, comprising 32.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 30.4% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 7.9% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Samoan is notably overrepresented at 0.4% of Morisset - Cooranbong (vs 0.1% regionally), Maltese at 0.7% (vs 0.4%) and Australian Aboriginal at 3.8% (vs 4.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Morisset - Cooranbong hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide
Morisset - Cooranbong's median age of 45 years modestly exceeds Regional NSW's 43 and is considerably older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 85+ cohort is notably over-represented (4.1% locally), while 45 - 54 year-olds are under-represented (10.0%). Since 2021, younger residents have shifted the median age down by 1.1 years to 45. In particular, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 10.2% to 12.1% of the population, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.4%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has declined from 5.2% to 4.1% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 11.1% to 10.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Morisset - Cooranbong. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 51%, adding 1,396 residents to reach 4,122.