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
Newcastle - Cooks Hill lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Newcastle - Cooks Hill's population is around 15,105 as of May 2026. This reflects a growth of 2,300 people (18.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,805. The increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 14,632 in June 2025 and an additional 687 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,795 persons per square kilometer, placing Newcastle - Cooks Hill in the upper quartile nationally. The area's growth exceeded that of Rest of NSW (4.9%) and its SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 59.4% of overall population gains recently, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.
AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, placing Newcastle - Cooks Hill in the top 10 percent of non-metropolitan areas nationally. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by 6,338 persons, reflecting a total increase of 38.8% over the 16 years based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Newcastle - Cooks Hill was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country
Newcastle - Cooks Hill has seen approximately 236 dwelling approvals annually. From Financial Year 2021 to 2025, around 1,180 homes received approval, with another 51 approved in the current Financial Year 2026. On average, each new dwelling constructed over these five years accommodated about 1.7 new residents per year. However, this figure has decreased to 1 resident per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting improved supply availability.
The average construction cost of new homes is $496,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In Financial Year 2026, commercial approvals totalled $207.4 million, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Newcastle - Cooks Hill has seen new home approvals that are 214% higher per capita, offering greater choice for buyers and attracting significant developer interest. Recent construction comprises approximately 2% standalone homes and 98% townhouses or apartments, favouring compact living options which attract downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 29 people per dwelling approval, Newcastle - Cooks Hill exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to gain approximately 5,865 residents by 2041.
Current development levels appear aligned with future population requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Newcastle - Cooks Hill
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Newcastle - Cooks Hill has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 53 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include East End Newcastle, Dairy Farmers Towers, The Store Newcastle, and Pottery Lane Residential Development - Newcastle. The following list details those most relevant.
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
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.
East End Newcastle
Iris Capital is delivering a $1 billion urban renewal project transforming four city blocks in Newcastle's historic East End. The final phase, comprising Stages 3 and 4, includes five distinct buildings: Lyrique, Kingston, Portline, Gibbs and Moore, and Bluebell. This release adds luxury apartments and a new Italian-inspired public Market Square with approximately 1,731 square metres of retail space. The project integrates heritage preservation of the former David Jones and Municipal buildings with modern resident amenities including a rooftop pool, gym, and hydrotherapy spa. The precinct is designed to reconnect the city with the harbor and is supported by significant public domain upgrades by the City of Newcastle.
Dairy Farmers Towers
Newcastle's tallest residential towers comprising 191 luxury apartments across two towers (99m and 89m) at the historic Dairy Farmers Corner. Features 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments with 5 floors of commercial space, pool with harbour views, gym, wine bar, shared work hub, and 360-degree Newcastle vistas. Plans include reimagining heritage structures for a public art installation.
The Store Newcastle
A major redevelopment of the historic former Newcastle Co-Operative Store site into two luxury residential towers (28 and 30 storeys) comprising 352 apartments (1-4 bedrooms), ground-floor retail and commercial spaces, and one acre of resort-style amenities including swimming pool, tennis court, rooftop observation deck, private event spaces, and landscaped areas. Developed by Doma Group, the project sets a new benchmark for apartment living in Newcastle with premium finishes and unparalleled city, harbour, and beach views.
Harbour Foreshore Precinct - Foreshore Park Inclusive Playspace
City of Newcastle is delivering the centrepiece of the Harbour Foreshore Masterplan: an inclusive regional playspace and waterplay area known as Livvi's Place at the western end of Foreshore Park. The project includes bespoke play equipment (e.g., whale-themed swing set), nature and water play, accessible paths, amenities and kiosk, and significant landscaping to enhance shade and accessibility. Partners include Touched by Olivia and Variety NSW/ACT. Design and construction contract awarded to Regal Innovations in March 2025; works commenced July 2025 with completion targeted for late 2026.
Newcastle Art Gallery Expansion
Major expansion of Newcastle Art Gallery to create a contemporary arts and cultural hub, including new contemporary galleries, education facilities, conservation laboratories, public amenities, exhibition spaces, and community areas. Part of Newcastle's cultural precinct development strategy with enhanced accessibility and visitor experience to enhance cultural offerings in the city.
Newcastle Future Transit Corridor
Confirmed corridor to preserve a future public transport link between Newcastle Interchange and the Broadmeadow precinct via Tudor Street. The corridor is being protected to enable options such as rapid bus or light rail, with an initial section near the Interchange identified for protection by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Pottery Lane Residential Development - Newcastle
525 high-quality residential units development by Olympian Homes in the Forth Goods Yard area of Newcastle city centre. Build-to-rent scheme funded by Hines, featuring net-zero enabled design with geothermal heat pumps and solar PV. Two phases with completion by 2027.
Employment
Employment performance in Newcastle - Cooks Hill has been broadly consistent with national averages
Newcastle - Cooks Hill has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, consistent with the past year's stability. As of December 2025, 9,408 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate matching Regional NSW's 3.9%.
Workforce participation stands at 73.1%, higher than Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census data shows 35.1% of residents work from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area specialises in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 2.4 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.5%.
There are 1.7 workers per resident, indicating it serves as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 0.2%, labour force by 1.7%, leading to a 1.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. In comparison, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2% and labour force by 0.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Newcastle - Cooks Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Newcastle - Cooks Hill SA2 has one of the highest incomes nationally. The median income is $63,510 and the average income stands at $98,452. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures where the median income is $52,390 and the average income is $65,215. Based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $70,064 (median) and $108,612 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows individual earnings rank at the 88th percentile nationally ($1,149 weekly), while household income ranks at the 61st percentile. The distribution data shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.4% of residents (4,894 people). High housing costs consume 17.6% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 59th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Newcastle - Cooks Hill features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
The dwelling structure in Newcastle - Cooks Hill, as per the latest Census, consisted of 11.7% houses and 88.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Newcastle - Cooks Hill stood at 26.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (19.7%) or rented (54.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,169, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $445, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Newcastle - Cooks Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,169 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Newcastle - Cooks Hill features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 49.2% of all households, including 12.9% couples with children, 29.1% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 50.8%, with lone person households at 40.8% and group households comprising 10.1%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of Newcastle - Cooks Hill exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
Newcastle - Cooks Hill has an educational attainment that exceeds broader standards. Among residents aged 15 and above, 48.0% possess university qualifications, which is higher than the Rest of NSW's 21.3% and the SA4 region's 26.1%. This area's educational advantage is evident in its high proportion of Bachelor degree holders at 30.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.3%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 27.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (16.7%).
Educational participation in the area is notably high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.8% pursuing tertiary education, 4.9% in primary education, and 4.5% engaged in secondary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
The analysis of public transport in Newcastle - Cooks Hill shows that there are 89 active transport stops operating. These include a mix of ferry, lightrail, and bus services. The area is served by 43 individual routes which collectively provide 6,650 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent with residents typically located 116 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 75%, while walking accounts for 15% and cycling for 3%.
The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.9, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high percentage of residents, 35.1%, work from home. This may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 950 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 74 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Newcastle - Cooks Hill's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups
Newcastle-Cooks Hill shows excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 70% of the total population (10,633 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 10.7% and 7.9% of residents respectively, while 68.1% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW.
Health outcomes among working-age adults are generally typical. The area has 19.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,895 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Senior health outcomes are particularly strong, ranking broadly in line with the general population nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Newcastle - Cooks Hill ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Newcastle-Cooks Hill, surveyed in June-August 2016, had low cultural diversity: 87.4% were citizens, 82.0% born in Australia, and 89.7% spoke English only at home. Christianity dominated, with 39.2%. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.1%.
Top ancestral groups were English (30.9%), Australian (22.6%), and Irish (11.2%). Notable differences included Scottish (9.9% vs regional 8.0%), Welsh (0.8% vs 0.5%), and Polish (0.9% vs 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Newcastle - Cooks Hill's population is slightly younger than the national pattern
Newcastle-Cooks Hill has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm of 38. The age group of 25-34 makes up 22.4% of Newcastle-Cooks Hill's population, higher than Regional NSW's percentage and significantly above the national average of 14.6%. Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 5.1% to 6.3%, while the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 6.2% to 4.9%. Additionally, the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 12.3% to 11.1%. By 2041, Newcastle-Cooks Hill's age profile is projected to change significantly based on demographic modeling. Notably, the 25 to 34 age group is expected to grow by 50%, reaching a population of 5,075 from its current level of 3,385.