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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Population
Boolaroo 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 analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Boolaroo's population is estimated at around 1,734 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 98 people (6.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,636 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,649, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 189 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 639 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Boolaroo's 6.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (4.1%), along with the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth 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. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of locations outside of capital cities is expected, with the suburb of Boolaroo expected to expand by 243 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 11.7% in total over the 17 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Boolaroo when compared nationally
Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Boolaroo has recorded approximately 19 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 96 homes. So far in FY-26, 13 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.3 new residents per year arrived with each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. However, this has moderated to 0.5 people per dwelling over the past two financial years. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $608,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment with higher-end properties.
This year, there have been $5.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting the area's residential character. Compared to Rest of NSW, Boolaroo has 180.0% more new home approvals per person. Recent construction comprises 80.0% detached houses and 20.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 41 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Boolaroo is forecasted to gain 202 residents by 2041.
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
Infrastructure
Boolaroo has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified seven projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include McCloy Group's Brush Creek Estate, Speers Point Transport Improvements, Weemala at the Lake, and Munibung Road Boolaroo Residential Precinct (Cockle Creek TOD). The following list provides details on those projects likely to be most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
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.
Glendale City Centre Expansion
The expansion of the Glendale City Centre involves adding approximately 7,700 sqm of new retail floor space by enclosing the existing colonnade mall and developing a 1,900 sqm dining precinct. IP Generation acquired the 18.6-hectare site in 2024 for $315 million, highlighting the asset's significant expansion potential due to its low site coverage ratio of 28.2%. The project aims to modernize the 'super centre' concept and leverage the site's status as one of the largest retail land holdings in NSW.
Mount Hutton Precinct Area Plan
A comprehensive planning framework integrated into the Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan (DCP) 2014 to manage the growth of the Mount Hutton town centre. The plan facilitates medium-density housing, enhances pedestrian and transport connectivity, and prioritizes ecological rehabilitation. Recent 2024-2025 updates include the rezoning of strategic sites like 1 Progress Road to E1 Local Centre and city-wide Housing Diversity reforms that permit small-lot housing and a broader range of residential types within the precinct to meet growing migration needs.
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.
Cardiff Strategic Planning Framework
The Cardiff Strategic Planning Framework guides public and private investment in buildings and infrastructure in Cardiff, supporting its development as a vibrant economic and civic centre within a highly liveable neighbourhood. It integrates the Movement and Place Framework and the Lake Macquarie Local Strategic Planning Strategy to identify opportunities for growth, investment, and improved urban amenity.
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.
Cameron Grove Estate
Master-planned residential community spanning 300 hectares accommodating approximately 2,000 dwellings in medium density and standard residential blocks. Features full turn-key homes and vacant land with easy access to Cameron Park Plaza, parks, playgrounds, and M1 motorway. Includes Cameron Grove South development with 381-lot subdivision on George Booth Drive. Developed by Roche Group with RIBA Homes as building partner.
Hunter Sports Centre Kaiyu Nungkiliko Expansion
The $52 million Hunter Sports Centre, Kaiyu Nungkiliko expansion has delivered a world-class athletics centre and an Australian-first Trampoline Centre of Excellence. The expansion includes a three-level, 4500m2 sport and community centre with community and function rooms, a 24-hour health and fitness centre, offices, caf' with commercial kitchen, and conference spaces. The NSW Trampoline Centre of Excellence features a 1300m2 hall with ten trampolines, two tumbling strips, a foam pit, warm-up areas, and grandstand seating for 400. The facility also houses the Trevor Height Athlete Testing Facility in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, offering cutting-edge sports performance analysis with VO2 max testing equipment for athletes of all levels. The centre serves as the Hunter region's premier sporting venue with Olympic-standard facilities including nine-lane Olympic running tracks and gymnastics centre.
Employment
AreaSearch assessment positions Boolaroo ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance
Boolaroo has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in the area is 2.8%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.5% over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025906 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.0% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.
Workforce participation in Boolaroo is higher at 68.5%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 21.7% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Boolaroo shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level.
Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.0% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population to local population count. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 2.5% while labour force increased by 3.1%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Boolaroo. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Boolaroo's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
The suburb of Boolaroo has a median taxpayer income of $52,133 and an average income of $69,121, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is slightly above the national average, contrasting with the Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since the financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $56,752 (median) and $75,245 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Boolaroo rank modestly, between the 36th and 42nd percentiles. The earnings profile shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.9% of residents (570 people), mirroring the metropolitan region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Boolaroo, with only 80.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 32nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Boolaroo is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Boolaroo's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.6% houses and 10.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Boolaroo was at 31.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.8% and rented ones at 30.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,907, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Boolaroo was recorded at $400, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Boolaroo's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Boolaroo features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size
Family households constitute 67.9% of all households, including 24.9% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 13.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.1%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households making up 4.2%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Boolaroo fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 16.8%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (32.3%).
Educational participation is high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 8.2% in primary, 6.8% in secondary, and 4.3% in tertiary education.
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
Boolaroo has 19 operational public transport stops offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 27 distinct routes, together facilitating 1,192 weekly passenger journeys. Transport accessibility is deemed good with residents, on average, situated 248 metres from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Boolaroo residents travel outward for work, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 21.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
Across all routes, service frequency averages 170 trips daily, equating to roughly 62 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Boolaroo is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
Boolaroo faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mental health issues affect 12.1% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9.8%.
Approximately 640 people, or 54%, have private health cover, compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. About 370 residents, or 32.9%, report having at least one medical condition, slightly lower than the 36.7% in Rest of NSW. The area has a lower proportion of seniors, with 19.9% aged 65 and over (345 people), compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are generally in line with national rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Boolaroo is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Boolaroo's population showed low cultural diversity, with 91.1% being citizens, 90.1% born in Australia, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 51.9%, compared to 55.9% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.9%), Australian (31.5%), and Scottish (9.0%).
Notably, Welsh representation was higher than average at 1.3% versus 0.5%, Samoan at 0.5% versus 0.1%, and South African at 0.6% versus 0.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Boolaroo's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms
Boolaroo has a median age of 38, which is lower than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 but equivalent to Australia's national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 16.0% of Boolaroo's population, higher than Rest of NSW, while the 65-74 cohort represents 9.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 15.1% to 16.0%, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 12.9% to 11.6%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 11.3% to 10.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Boolaroo's age profile. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 27% (73 people), reaching 351 from 277. Meanwhile, population declines are forecast for the 55-64 and 15-24 cohorts.