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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
An assessment of population growth drivers in Wangi Wangi - Rathmines reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines' population is around 9,722 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 255 people (2.7%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 9,467 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,710 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 55 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 738 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wangi Wangi - Rathmines' 2.7% growth since census positions it within 2.2 percentage points of the Rest of NSW (4.9%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 53.7% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.
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. Moving forward with demographic trends, lower quartile growth of regional areas across the nation is anticipated, with the area expected to expand by 47 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 0.4% in total over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Wangi Wangi - Rathmines according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines has seen approximately 24 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 123 homes were approved, with an additional 30 approved in FY-26 so far. Each dwelling built over these years has resulted in an average of 2.4 new residents per year, indicating strong demand which should support property values.
The average construction cost value for new homes is $414,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments. This financial year has seen $11.9 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development compared to the rest of NSW, where Wangi Wangi - Rathmines has significantly less development activity, at 71.0% below the regional average per person. The scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, this area is also below average in terms of development activity, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints. The majority of new building activity consists of standalone homes (95.0%), with a smaller proportion being medium and high-density housing (5.0%), maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes.
With an estimated 467 people per dwelling approval, this reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Wangi Wangi - Rathmines will gain 35 residents by 2041, and at current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wangi Wangi - Rathmines
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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
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally
Seven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. These include Wangi Shores Retirement Village Stage 3B Block K, Wangi Power Station Redevelopment, 1 Kent Place, a three-storey apartment building at Wangi Wangi with thirteen residences, and Rathmines Park Transformation. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.
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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.
Swansea Channel Permanent Dredging Solution
A permanent dredging solution for Swansea Channel, the entrance to Lake Macquarie, involving a Beaver 30 dredge vessel and sand transfer system to maintain safe navigation for vessels, with sand pumped to Blacksmiths Beach. The project includes upgrades to the Blacksmiths boat ramp and aims to address ongoing sand accumulation issues.
Rathmines Park Transformation
Comprehensive redevelopment of Rathmines Park into a regional recreation destination. Features a $2+ million transformation including Lake Macquarie's biggest skate park, new pump track, youth activity areas, upgraded playground equipment, new playground, learn-to-ride area, youth hub, sports facilities, walking trails, and waterfront amenities. Enhanced connection to Lake Macquarie foreshore with improved accessibility and parking.
Newcastle 2040
City of Newcastle's Community Strategic Plan (CSP) setting the shared vision and priorities for the next 10+ years. Originally adopted in 2022 and revised in 2024/25, the updated CSP was endorsed by Council on 15 April 2025. It guides policies, strategies and actions across the LGA and is implemented through the Delivery Program and Operational Plan known as Delivering Newcastle 2040.
114-120 Cary Street Mixed Use Development
Five-storey twin towers mixed-use development featuring 108 residential units, commercial premises, and basement parking.
Newcastle Offshore Wind Project
The Newcastle Offshore Wind project proposes a floating wind farm off Newcastle, NSW, with an expected capacity of up to 10 gigawatts, pending a Scoping Study's results.
Wangi Shores Retirement Village - Stage 3B Block K
Stage 3B (Block K) at Wangi Shores Retirement Village is a new waterfront stage on Lake Macquarie, delivering eight over 55s villas (four upper and four lower) with two bedrooms, study, balconies and undercover parking, with residents enjoying access to the village pool, spa, community centre, gardens and other shared facilities; construction has commenced with completion expected in late 2026.
1 Kent Place, Wangi Wangi - 3 storey apartment building (13 residences)
A three storey residential building proposed at 1 Kent Place, Wangi Wangi in the Lake Macquarie City Council area. The project is planned to deliver 13 apartments above ground level parking, with 24 car spaces on a 933 square metre B1 Neighbourhood Centre corner site close to shops, services and the Wangi Wangi foreshore.
Employment
The employment landscape in Wangi Wangi - Rathmines presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.9%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 3.9%, in line with Regional NSW's rate. The workforce participation rate is somewhat lower at 58.2%.
According to Census responses, 23.2% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.4%. Over a 12-month period ending December 2025, labour force increased by 1.4% but employment declined by 0.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.7 percentage points.
This contrasts with Regional NSW where employment fell by 1.2%, labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Wangi Wangi - Rathmines' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 indicates that Wangi Wangi - Rathmines SA2 had a median income of $50,143 and an average income of $65,591. This is lower than the national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) for Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ending June 2023, estimated median income as of March 2026 would be approximately $55,318, with average income at around $72,360. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Wangi Wangi - Rathmines rank modestly, between the 34th and 38th percentiles. Income distribution data reveals that the largest segment comprises 30.4% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (2,955 residents), similar to the regional pattern where 29.9% fall into this range. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
As of the latest Census, dwelling structures in Wangi Wangi - Rathmines consisted of 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wangi Wangi - Rathmines stood at 45.3%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (37.9%) or rented (16.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,888, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Wangi Wangi - Rathmines was recorded at $370, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Wangi Wangi - Rathmines' mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households account for 76.9% of all households, including 27.4% couples with children, 37.6% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 23.1%, with lone person households at 21.7% and group households comprising 1.7%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist
The area's university qualification rate was 20.2% as of 20xx, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees were most common at 13.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials were held by 44.6% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 32.4%. In total, 24.7% of the population was actively pursuing formal education as of 20xx, including 8.8% in primary, 6.7% in secondary, and 3.5% in tertiary education.
A substantial 24.7% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 3.5% 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
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines has 116 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 35 different routes that together provide 280 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living 182 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, higher than the regional average.
According to the 2021 Census, 23.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 40 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 2 weekly trips per stop. The map provided shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
The level of general health in Wangi Wangi - Rathmines is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.
The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but exceeds the national average among older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 52% (~5045 people) have private health cover, slightly below the average SA2 area. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 11.7 and 9.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 60.6% claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents face significant health challenges with higher chronic condition rates. The area has a larger elderly population, with 28.8% (2797 people) aged 65 and over, compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW, but ranks lower nationally than the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Wangi Wangi-Rathmines, surveyed in June 2016, showed low cultural diversity: 88.6% were born in Australia, 92.7% were citizens, and 96.3% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion (53.0%), slightly lower than Regional NSW's 55.9%. Ancestry-wise, top groups were English (33.4%), Australian (30.1%), and Scottish (9.2%).
Notable deviations included Welsh (0.9%, compared to regional 0.5%), Australian Aboriginal (3.5% vs 4.6%), and Dutch (1.4% vs 1.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide
Wangi Wangi - Rathmines has a median age of 48 years, which is older than Regional NSW's median age of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-old group makes up 16.2% of the population, while the 25-34 year-old group comprises 8.8%. This is in contrast to Regional NSW where the 25-34 age group is larger. Nationally, the 65-74 age group constitutes 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 75-84 age group has grown from 7.9% to 9.7%, while the 55-64 age group has declined from 15.7% to 13.5%. Demographic modeling suggests that Wangi Wangi - Rathmines' age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to grow steadily, increasing by 172 people (20%) from 859 to 1,032. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 age groups.