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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
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Population
Population growth drivers in Tenambit - East Maitland are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Tenambit - East Maitland's population is around 10,538 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 447 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,091. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,532 in June 2025 and an additional 200 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 609 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Tenambit - East Maitland has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%, outpacing the Rest of NSW. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 58.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, an above median population growth of non-metropolitan areas nationally is projected. The area is expected to grow by 2,302 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 21.8% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Tenambit - East Maitland when compared nationally
Tenambit - East Maitland averaged approximately 38 new dwelling approvals annually from FY-21 to FY-25, with a total of 193 homes approved during this period and an additional 23 approved in FY-26. Each year, around 3 new residents arrived per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. This significant demand outpaces new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition.
The average construction cost of new properties was $232,000, below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $496,000, suggesting a predominantly residential focus in development activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Tenambit - East Maitland has considerably less development activity, 69.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes often strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.
The composition of new building activity shows 68.0% detached dwellings and 32.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets. The area's estimated population per dwelling approval is 418 people, reflecting its quiet development environment. According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, Tenambit - East Maitland is projected to gain approximately 2,296 residents by 2041. If current development rates persist, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Tenambit - East Maitland
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Tenambit - East Maitland has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally
Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include the Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project, East Maitland Catalyst Area Structure Plan, Chisholm Plaza, and Stockland Green Hills Expansion. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Raymond Terrace Place Plan
Port Stephens Council is developing a Raymond Terrace Place Plan to replace the 2015 Raymond Terrace and Heatherbrae Strategy. The new plan responds to major infrastructure investment, housing reforms and shifting community priorities. It targets approximately 2,500 new dwellings with a focus on diverse housing types including townhouses, smaller units and affordable living options. The plan covers town centre revitalisation, public space improvements, safety and connectivity upgrades, and includes a Public Domain Plan for William Street and surrounding areas. Heatherbrae is being considered separately given its relationship to the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension by Transport for NSW.
Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041
The Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041 is a comprehensive framework adopted by Council in June 2023 and endorsed by the NSW Government in September 2024. It manages residential growth to accommodate a projected population increase of 54,800 residents by 2041, requiring approximately 25,200 additional dwellings. The strategy prioritises housing diversity, infill development, and the 15-minute neighbourhood concept, seeking to shift from a 90:10 greenfield-to-infill ratio toward the Hunter Regional Plan target of 20:80 by 2041. Implementation milestones include the Residential Density Guide placed on public exhibition in March 2025, and the East Maitland Catalyst Area Structure Plan endorsed for public exhibition in October 2025, estimating 4,000 new homes for that precinct alone.
Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project
A purpose-built 64-bed mental health facility on the Maitland Hospital campus. It features a transitional model of care with three inpatient units: low-secure and medium-secure forensic units, and a rehabilitation and recovery unit. Designed by Bates Smart, the facility includes single bedrooms with ensuites, shared therapy spaces, and nature-integrated outdoor areas. The project serves to relocate and expand forensic services from the Morisset Hospital campus to a contemporary setting. Construction officially commenced with a sod-turning ceremony on March 12, 2026, led by Richard Crookes Constructions.
East Maitland Catalyst Area Structure Plan
The East Maitland Catalyst Area (EMCA) Structure Plan is a 20-year strategic land use framework guiding population growth and infill development across East Maitland. The precinct extends from Victoria Street Station in the north, south to Metford Station, and south-west to Ashtonfield and Green Hills, anchored by the new Maitland Hospital, Maitland Private Hospital and Stockland Green Hills regional shopping centre. The draft plan proposes rezoning land from R1 General Residential to a mix of low, medium and high-density zones to accommodate around 4,000 new dwellings and 6,000 additional residents by 2045. It also outlines shop-top housing and secondary dwellings, upgrades to Metford Road, a new northern access at Metford Station, and a new or significantly upgraded primary school. A supporting infrastructure needs analysis identifies utilities and social infrastructure required to support growth. The draft was placed on public exhibition from 27 October to 24 November 2025 following endorsement at the 21 October 2025 council meeting; council is reviewing community feedback to inform the final plan. The work is funded through a grant from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure under the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund.
Stony Pinch Urban Development
A long-term conceptual urban transformation initiative covering the post-mining repurposing of the Bloomfield Colliery and adjoining landholdings southeast of Maitland in the Lower Hunter. The Stony Pinch Group is a consortium formed under a legal agreement between major landowners in the area - The Bloomfield Group, Ashtonfields and Yancoal (which acquired the adjoining Donaldson site) - to coordinate future land use and development outcomes across their combined holdings. Earlier conceptual structure planning referenced in Bloomfield's Modification 4 environmental assessment envisaged a substantial mixed-use precinct extending from John Renshaw Drive towards East Maitland, including residential, town centre, employment lands, and recreation, with significant bushland retention. The site sits within the Hunter Regional Plan 2041 'Four Mile Creek Precinct', which is identified for employment uses leveraging access to the M1 Pacific Motorway and rail, the repurposing of existing infrastructure to support transition to new uses, and the conservation of high environmental value lands. Bloomfield Colliery currently operates under Project Approval 07_0087 with mining permitted until 31 December 2030. A Modification 5 (Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project) is under assessment by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act, seeking to extend mining to 31 December 2035, reduce the production rate to 0.9 Mtpa, and amend the approved final landform. The Environmental Impact Statement was on public exhibition from 22 April to 20 May 2025, and a Response to Submissions report was lodged in September 2025. The currently approved final land use is grazing pasture; any future urban development would require separate planning approvals through Maitland and Cessnock Councils and the NSW Government.
Chisholm Plaza
Chisholm Plaza is a $180 million neighbourhood shopping centre currently under construction in the Waterford Estate. The 15,000 sqm development is triple-anchored by Woolworths, Aldi, and Dan Murphys, and will include over 50 specialty stores. The precinct features a 112-place childcare centre, swim school, gym, medical centre, and a dining precinct with a tavern. The project targets a 4-star Green Star rating and will provide over 600 car spaces to support the growing Maitland region.
Stockland Green Hills Expansion
A $414 million expansion that doubled the size of the shopping centre to 74,000 square metres, adding a second level with over 220 specialty stores including David Jones, H&M, Target, JB Hi-Fi, and The Courtyard outdoor dining precinct with LED light trees. The development features 3,125 car parking spaces and represents the largest retail redevelopment completed in Australia in 2018.
Sophia Waters Estate
Sophia Waters Estate is a major master-planned residential development in Chisholm near Maitland, featuring over 1500 planned dwellings across multiple stages. The estate emphasizes open spaces, extensive landscaping, and community amenities including a new $10 million Maitland Council sportsground scheduled for completion in late 2026. Located in the picturesque Hunter Valley with easy access to Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens.
Employment
The employment landscape in Tenambit - East Maitland presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 4.0%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing
Tenambit - East Maitland has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of December 2025, its unemployment rate is 4.0%. Over the past year, relative employment stability was observed.
By December 2025, 4,752 residents are in work. The unemployment rate aligns with Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, but workforce participation is lower at 57.2% compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 22.8% of residents work from home. Employment concentrations lie in health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.
The area has a notable employment specialization in mining, with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.1%. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.7% and employment declined by 0.4%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Tenambit - East Maitland's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Tenambit - East Maitland SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $58,168 and an average of $73,407. This was above the national average. Regional NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest approximately $64,171 (median) and $80,983 (average) as of March 2026 for Tenambit - East Maitland SA2. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes all rank modestly in this area, between the 30th and 37th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 30.1% of residents (3,171 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Tenambit - East Maitland SA2, with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Tenambit - East Maitland is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
In Tenambit - East Maitland, as per the latest Census data, 80.2% of dwellings were houses while 19.8% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Regional NSW's dwelling structure of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tenambit - East Maitland stood at 35.6%, with mortgaged properties at 34.5% and rented ones at 29.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Regional NSW's average. Weekly rent median was $360 compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Tenambit - East Maitland's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Tenambit - East Maitland has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size
Family households account for 68.7% of all households, including 25.8% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.3%, with lone person households at 29.4% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Tenambit - East Maitland fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 19.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 29.7%. Educational participation is high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.
This includes 9.7% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary 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
Transport analysis indicates 118 active public transport stops in Tenambit - East Maitland area, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 99 individual routes, facilitating 4726 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 138 meters from the nearest stop. The area, predominantly residential, sees most residents commuting outward, with car being the primary mode at 94%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.4. According to the 2021 Census, 22.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.
Service frequency averages 675 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 40 weekly trips per stop. An accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health outcomes in Tenambit - East Maitland are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts
Tenambit - East Maitland shows below-average health indicators based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are higher than the national average among older cohorts, but typical for the general population.
Private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~5,838 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW. Mental health issues impact 11.6% of residents and arthritis impacts 11.2%. 58.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 23.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,438 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The latest Census data sees Tenambit - East Maitland placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics
Tenambit-East Maitland, surveyed in 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 92.2% of its population born in Australia, 93.8% being citizens, and 97.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 58.0%, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.7%), Australian (31.2%), and Irish (9.2%).
Notable differences included an overrepresentation of Australian Aboriginal (4.9% vs regional 4.6%), Scottish (8.5% vs 8.0%), and Polish (0.8% vs 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Tenambit - East Maitland's population is slightly older than the national pattern
Tenambit-East Maitland's median age is 41 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but higher than Australia's national average of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 12.5%, compared to Regional NSW's figure, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 11.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 12.0% to 13.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 11.9% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Tenambit-East Maitland's age profile. The 25-34 cohort is expected to grow by 38%, adding 501 residents to reach a total of 1,822. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 7% (79 people).