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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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Sales Detail
Population
Population growth drivers in Warners Bay - Boolaroo are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
According to investigations by AreaSearch, the resident count for Warners Bay - Boolaroo stands at approximately 15,708 in May 2026. This represents a expansion of 1,014 individuals (6.9%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 14,694 people. This adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 15,675 alongside 364 validated new addresses registered after the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 1,252 persons per square kilometer, a level that surpasses the typical figure for nationwide spots analyzed by AreaSearch. The 6.9% rate of growth since the 2021 census outpaced both the broader SA3 region (3.2%) and the Rest of NSW, positioning the locality as a primary driver of growth nearby. This upward trajectory was chiefly fueled by relocations from other states, which accounted for roughly 58.2% of the total population increase during recent times, even though all other components including overseas arrivals and natural increase registered positive outcomes.
Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 using 2022 as the starting point, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 sector. For any SA2 localities omitted from this dataset, figures from the NSW State Government projections released in 2022 using 2021 as the starting point are substituted. The age-specific growth trajectories from these sources are likewise applied to all districts for the span from 2032 to 2041. Factoring in these expected shifts in demographics, population gains are anticipated to track slightly under the midpoint of regional spots nationwide, with the locality projected to add 1,888 individuals by 2041 when assessed against the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a 11.8% rise over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Warners Bay - Boolaroo among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide
Typically, Warners Bay - Boolaroo registers roughly 116 residential building approvals annually, accumulating to 584 dwellings over the preceding 5 financial years. During the current FY-26 period, 94 approvals have been documented. An average influx of 2.2 new occupants per year was recorded for every finished home over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demonstrating a robust level of demand that is likely to sustain local real estate values, with construction costs for these new residences averaging $339,000. Furthermore, commercial project approvals worth $93.9 million have been signed off during this financial year, showing robust local business investment.
Relative to the Rest of NSW, the rate of new residential approvals (per person) in Warners Bay - Boolaroo is 90.0% higher, offering prospective buyers a broader selection. Recent building activity is composed of 73.0% standalone houses and 27.0% semi-detached properties or units, preserving the suburban feel of the neighborhood by emphasizing single-family homes that draw buyers looking for extra space. With a ratio of approximately 129 people for each approved home, Warners Bay - Boolaroo exhibits the hallmarks of a developing district.
Demographic predictions suggest that Warners Bay - Boolaroo will add 1,855 citizens by 2041 (derived from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly calculations). Given the pace of ongoing building projects, the volume of housing should comfortably satisfy demand, providing advantageous purchasing opportunities for buyers and potentially paving the way for expansion that outpaces current predictions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Warners Bay - Boolaroo
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Warners Bay - Boolaroo has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally
Local performance is heavily shaped by developments in regional infrastructure, major works, and strategic planning. A total of 30 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a likely effect on the area. Notable initiatives include Speers Point Transport Improvements, McCloy Group Brush Creek Estate, Munibung Road Boolaroo Residential Precinct (Cockle Creek TOD), and Weemala at the Lake, with details of the most significant projects presented in the list below.
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
Glendale City Centre Expansion
Expansion of Glendale City Centre, a sub-regional shopping centre on an 18.6-hectare landmark site in Lake Macquarie. The centre, owned by IP Generation (managed by MA Financial Group) since June 2024 following a $315 million acquisition from Stockland, has an existing development approval from 2018 to enclose the existing colonnade mall and add roughly 7,700 square metres of new retail floor space, plus a 1,900 square metre dining and restaurant precinct linking the shops and Event Cinemas. The centre is anchored by Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, Target and Event Cinemas, with more than 75 specialty retailers. The low site coverage ratio of around 28 per cent provides ongoing scope for further expansion under IP Generation's ownership. The expansion is closely linked to the staged Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange (Pennant Street Bridge) project being delivered by Lake Macquarie City Council.
Costco Lake Macquarie Warehouse
The Costco Lake Macquarie Warehouse is a 14,000 sqm retail facility and fuel station located on the former Pasminco smelter site in Boolaroo, NSW. It opened on September 21, 2021, providing bulk retail services, contributing to local employment with over 225 jobs, and supporting the area's redevelopment.
Winten Cameron Park Stage 5 Development
A massive 858-lot residential subdivision valued at $116 million, approved by the Regional Planning Panel in December 2023. Part of Winten Property Group's larger 3,300-home masterplan across 520 hectares spanning Newcastle and Lake Macquarie LGAs. The development includes two new commercial centres, a primary school, and is supported by a $22.6 million Voluntary Planning Agreement providing new parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and shared pathways. Total concept covers 2000 hectares on former coal mining land. The site was purchased from Coal and Allied in 2015 for $65 million.
Bunnings Warehouse Glendale
Replacement and expansion of the Glendale Bunnings store with a larger warehouse format including main warehouse, outdoor nursery, drive-through timber trade area and upgraded customer parking. The store currently trades at the Boolaroo site serving the wider Glendale/Lake Macquarie catchment.
Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program
Comprehensive program to replace and upgrade aging bridge infrastructure across Lake Macquarie to ensure safe and efficient transport connectivity.
Lake Macquarie High School HPGE Upgrades
Facility upgrades at Lake Macquarie High School under the NSW High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Partner School program. Scope includes a school entrance refresh; upgrades to food technology into a VET hospitality classroom; upgrades to two woodwork rooms and one design technology room; upgrades to an art room and a music recording space; new shade structure over the sports court with sports upgrades; and provision of a marine studies laboratory and workshop. Stage 1 works were contracted and commenced in mid-2025, with Stage 2 planned for the 2025-26 summer period continuing into 2026.
Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing
Deployment of modular housing solutions to address social housing needs in the Lake Macquarie region, providing affordable accommodation options.
Ryhope Street Subdivision
A land subdivision master planned for 60 architecturally designed homes, creating a lifestyle community close to amenities as part of Lake Macquarie Council's Infill Housing Strategy. The majority of the new houses have been built through Cerretti's construction arm, WR Building & Property. The date of construction is listed as TBA (To Be Advised) on the developer's site, but the project is listed as a past project and sales data is available for units.
Employment
Employment performance in Warners Bay - Boolaroo has been broadly consistent with national averages
A high proportion of qualified workers reside in Warners Bay - Boolaroo, with a strong presence in key service fields and a jobless rate of just 3.0%. In March 2026, there are 7,976 employed locals, with the unemployment rate tracking 1.1% below the 4.1% recorded across Regional NSW, while the proportion of the population active in the labor force is typical (62.7% relative to 60.6% in Regional NSW). Self-reported Census data indicates that a notable 26.8% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related stay-at-home orders.
The primary sectors employing local residents are healthcare & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The district exhibits a distinct concentration in healthcare & social assistance, where the employment concentration is 1.2 times the regional average. Conversely, agricultural, forestry & fishing endeavors are scarce, employing only 0.2% of the local workforce compared to 5.3% across Regional NSW. Even though local positions are available within the community, a substantial portion of the workforce travels to other areas for employment, as indicated by comparing the Census commuting count against the resident population.
An examination of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch indicates that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor pool shrank by 0.4% while total employment dropped by 1.5%, causing the jobless rate to rise by 1.1 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% contraction in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. National occupational projections from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context regarding upcoming labor demand trends in Warners Bay - Boolaroo. These forecasts, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been aligned with the local workforce composition to project potential adjustments. Nationwide employment is anticipated to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these growth dynamics fluctuate widely across different sectors. Applying these industry-specific trends to the employment distribution of Warners Bay - Boolaroo indicates that local jobs could grow by 6.8% over five years and 14.2% over ten years (note that this calculation is a basic weighted projection for visualization and does not integrate local population growth estimates).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment
The most recent postcode-level taxation records from the ATO for financial year 2023 show that personal earnings in the Warners Bay - Boolaroo SA2 sit significantly above the national midpoint, with a median of $57,488 and an average of $74,668. These figures contrast with Regional NSW, where the median is $52,390 and the average is $65,215. Adjusting for a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, current projections estimate these values at roughly $63,421 for the median and $82,374 for the average in March 2026. According to Census data, collective household, family, and individual earnings fall in a moderate range locally, placing between the 44th and 49th percentiles. The statistics show that 29.3% of the community (4,602 residents) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 band, aligning with the broader metropolitan area where 29.9% of the population are situated in this same bracket. Affordability pressures regarding housing are high, leaving residents with only 84.1% of their income, which ranks in the 45th percentile, while the SEIFA score for income places the area in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Warners Bay - Boolaroo is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Residential dwelling types in Warners Bay - Boolaroo at the time of the latest Census consisted of 76.0% freestanding houses and 24.0% alternative housing styles (such as duplexes, apartments, or other structures), compared to Regional NSW where freestanding houses accounted for 82.6% and alternative designs made up 17.4%. Outright home ownership in Warners Bay - Boolaroo was higher than the regional average at 42.2%, with remaining properties held under a mortgage (34.1%) or occupied by tenants (23.7%). The median monthly home loan payment stood at $2,090, which is considerably higher than the Regional NSW median of $1,733, while weekly rent sat at $410 compared to the Regional NSW average of $330. On a national level, home loan payments in Warners Bay - Boolaroo are much higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents also outstrip the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Warners Bay - Boolaroo has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size
Household structures are heavily centered on families at 70.5% of all occupied homes, consisting of 28.1% couples raising children, 29.3% couples without dependents, and 12.1% single parents with children. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 29.5%, consisting of single-occupant households at 27.3% and shared households at 2.3% of the total. The median household occupancy is 2.4 residents, matching the average across Regional NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Warners Bay - Boolaroo performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes
The proportion of residents with tertiary credentials in Warners Bay - Boolaroo is lower than the state average, with 24.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 32.2% across NSW. This variance indicates opportunities for academic development and professional instruction. Bachelor degrees represent the most common credential at 17.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.8% and graduate diplomas at 2.5%. Vocational and technical qualifications are highly prevalent, with 39.4% of citizens aged 15+ possessing a trade qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (12.3%) and certificates (27.1%).
Enrollment rates in study programs are high, with 26.5% of the local population actively participating in academic programs. This group includes 8.9% attending primary schools, 7.6% enrolled in high schools, and 4.3% undertaking university or higher vocational studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Public transit records show 208 active transit stops situated within Warners Bay - Boolaroo, consisting of both rail and bus facilities. These locations are served by 69 separate routes, which combine to facilitate 1,941 passenger trips each week. Access to transport is categorized as excellent, with typical resident dwellings located 173 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential character of the neighborhood, most workers commute out of the area, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice for 96% of commuters. Car ownership stands at an average of 1.5 vehicles per household. A notable 26.8% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.
Transit service frequency averages 277 runs each day across the network, which translates to roughly 9 weekly trips for each individual stop. The map provided displays the 100 closest transit stops relative to the center of the area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Warners Bay - Boolaroo's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts
Medical indicators reveal favorable circumstances for the residents of Warners Bay - Boolaroo, with an analysis of death rates and chronic illnesses by AreaSearch tracking close to national averages. The incidence of common medical conditions is low in the broader community, though it trends above the national average for older, higher-risk groups, and the proportion of people holding private medical insurance is exceptionally high at roughly 56% of the population (~8,812 individuals). This is higher than the 51.9% average seen across Regional NSW.
Arthritis and mental health challenges represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, affecting 10.4 and 10.0% of the population respectively, while 62.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Locals of working age experience higher-than-average rates of chronic illnesses. The community has 24.5% of its population aged 65 and older (3,853 individuals), exceeding the Regional NSW benchmark of 23.4%. Health parameters among older residents present difficulties, though they rank lower nationally than the statistics for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Warners Bay - Boolaroo is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Warners Bay - Boolaroo registers below-average levels of multicultural representation, with 87.7% of residents born within Australia, 92.9% holding citizenship, and 93.9% speaking only English at home. The predominant religious affiliation is Christianity, which is practiced by 55.0% of the population in Warners Bay - Boolaroo. This is similar to the 55.9% average observed throughout Regional NSW.
Regarding family backgrounds (specifically parents' birthplaces), the primary ancestral lines in Warners Bay - Boolaroo are English at 31.9% of the population, Australian at 29.7%, and Scottish at 9.0%. Some specific ethnic heritages show notable differences compared to regional averages: Welsh ancestry is more common at 0.8% in Warners Bay - Boolaroo (relative to 0.5% regionally), Macedonian stands at 0.4% (relative to 0.4%), and Polish is represented at 0.9% (relative to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Warners Bay - Boolaroo hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average
The median age of 45 years in Warners Bay - Boolaroo is slightly higher than the Regional NSW median of 43 and significantly older than the national median of 38. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 45 - 54 age bracket is noticeably larger (12.6% of the local population), whereas the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller (9.8%). Since 2021, the cohort aged 75 to 84 has expanded from 7.8% to 9.1% of the population, while the group aged 45 to 54 has contracted from 13.7% to 12.6%. Demographic projections suggest the age distribution of Warners Bay - Boolaroo will experience significant changes by 2041, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 413 individuals (27%), moving from 1,537 to 1,951, while the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 brackets are expected to decrease.