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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
The median house price in Redhead is $1.85m, with units at $1.31m. House values have moved 5.3% a year compounded over five years.
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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Redhead has an estimated 3,947 residents, up from 3,785 at the 2021 Census — a change of 162 people, or 4.3%. Growth has averaged 1.0% a year over five years. 291 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 1,073 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Redhead has an estimated population of 3,947, determined through AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS demographic releases alongside 291 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. When compared against the 2021 Census count of 3,785 people, this reflects an expansion of 162 people (4.3%). This updated population of 3,947 was established following the ABS June 2025 ERP data release and local address additions. With 1,072 persons per square kilometer, the suburb of Redhead records a population density consistent with wider benchmarks evaluated by AreaSearch.
Furthermore, the suburb of Redhead outpaced the broader SA3 area (3.3%) with its 4.3% gain since the 2021 census, establishing itself as a regional growth leader where interstate migration served as the primary catalyst by generating approximately 52.0% of recent population gains. For demographic modeling, AreaSearch applies ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections published in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, turning to NSW State Government SA2 figures released in 2022 with a 2021 base year where gaps exist. Age-specific growth distributions derived from these sources are likewise integrated for all locations across 2032 to 2041. Looking forward, the suburb of Redhead is projected to experience population growth tracking above the national regional median, with aggregated SA2-level figures indicating an addition of 560 persons leading up to 2041, representing a cumulative increase of 14.2% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
101 new dwellings have been approved in Redhead over the past five years, an average of 20 a year. That is 5.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 10, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential development in Redhead has tracked at an annual average of around 20 new dwelling approvals based on AreaSearch's allocation of ABS building data, amounting to approximately 101 homes over the past 5 financial years. In FY-25 to date, 10 approvals have been lodged. Between FY-21 and FY-25 over the past 5 financial years, the locality registered an influx of roughly 2 new residents per dwelling completed, demonstrating sustained underlying demand; meanwhile, expected construction costs for new dwellings average $940,000, illustrating an emphasis by builders on upmarket residential stock. In addition, commercial planning activity has remained subdued, with $1.9 million in commercial approvals logged during this financial year.
Building volumes in Redhead exceed the regional benchmark, tracking 32.0% above the per-capita average for Rest of NSW across the 5 year period, which maintains market supply while safeguarding values despite a recent softening in building pace. Detached houses account for 95.0% of recent residential construction alongside 5.0% attached dwellings, reinforcing the local suburban character with spacious options targeted at family households. Overall, a ratio of approximately 320 people per dwelling approval characterizes a mature, established residential market. Long-term projections indicate that Redhead is set to gain 560 residents by 2041 according to the most recent AreaSearch quarterly release. Current rates of residential construction appear well aligned with anticipated population growth, supporting stable market conditions without generating significant pricing pressures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Redhead
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Redhead, worth an estimated $6 million. A further 42 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $1.55 billion. 10 are already under construction and 9 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and retail. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Infrastructure investments, key development initiatives, and local planning works play a vital role in shaping community outcomes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 4 projects expected to influence the local area, headlined by Oasis Redhead, Redhead Business Park, First Creek Realignment Project, and Redhead Pump Track, which are detailed below in order of significance.
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
First Creek Realignment Project
Realignment of First Creek further south at Redhead Beach to reduce scouring of dunes and infrastructure, create a safer flow path, improve emergency and public beach access, and prevent erosion of coastal dunes. The works were undertaken by Lake Macquarie City Council in July 2023 and were expected to take one week to complete.
Oasis Redhead
A master-planned, over 50s lifestyle community with 252 architecturally designed, single-level freestanding homes. The community features resort-style amenities including a clubhouse, swimming pool, spa, gym, and tennis court, and is located a short distance from Redhead Beach.
Redhead Business Park
A complex of twelve new industrial strata units ranging from 98mý to 159mý, each fitted with full bathrooms, kitchenettes, and additional mezzanine space available. The project is located in the tightly held Redhead industrial estate, close to Redhead Beach and the Pacific Highway. The units have designated on-site parking and offer flexible zoning for various uses. The units have been sold and/or leased.
Redhead Pump Track
Lake Macquarie's first asphalt pump track, located at Redhead Beach, features a circuit of rollers, banked turns (berms), and jumps designed for riders to generate momentum by 'pumping'. The track has multiple lines (shortest 134m, longest 158m) and is suitable for bikes, skateboards, and scooters. The facility includes shaded seating, a bubbler, and a bike repair station with a pump and tools. The project also included a $400,000 upgrade to the Redhead Beach car park and adjoining Beach Road.
Lake Macquarie Private Hospital Expansion
A significant $131 million redevelopment of Lake Macquarie Private Hospital by Ramsay Health Care. Approved in May 2025, the project features a nine-storey expansion (SSD-38025700) adding 114 inpatient beds, five new operating theatres, and an expanded emergency department. The development also includes a new main entrance on Casey Street, ten consulting suites, and enhanced radiology and oncology services. As of April 2026, the project is integrated into the broader Gateshead Medical Precinct Planning Proposal, which seeks to rezone surrounding land to support a regionally significant health hub.Construction is phased to maintain hospital operations, with final completion targeted for 2027.
87 Oakdale Road, Gateshead Redevelopment
Rezoning of 87 Oakdale Road, Gateshead from C3 Environmental Management to E4 General Industrial and increase minimum lot sizes and building height standards to address the need for light industrial land in the city.
Woolworths Belmont North Supermarket Development
Repurposing of the 4.04-hectare former Bunnings site into a modern retail hub. The project features a 3,800sqm full-line Woolworths supermarket and specialty tenancies for food, health, and services. It includes adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse structure, 341 at-grade parking spaces, and Direct to Boot facilities.
Lorikeet Ridge Estate
A new residential estate in Belmont North offering house and land packages along the coastline of Lake Macquarie, with access to local amenities, schools, shopping, and recreational facilities. It is 20 minutes from Newcastle and combines coastal lifestyle with suburban convenience.
1,896 residents of Redhead are employed, from a labour force of 1,933. Unemployment sits at 1.9%, with participation at 58.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local workforce data aggregated by AreaSearch highlights a highly qualified labour pool and strong representation in essential service sectors, accompanied by an unemployment rate of only 1.9%. As of March 2026, 1,896 residents are actively employed, with local unemployment sitting 2.2% lower than the 4.1% recorded across Regional NSW, while labour force participation stands at 58.1% compared to 60.6% for Regional NSW. Census findings also indicate that 29.0% of workers operated from home, a figure potentially influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. Resident employment is concentrated within health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training.
Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for no local employment, trailing the 5.3% share seen across Regional NSW. The community functions predominantly as a residential enclave with restricted commercial employment capacity, as demonstrated by the disparity between the local working population and resident count at the Census. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS and SALM statistical area figures, the twelve months to March 2026 saw the local labour supply contract by 0.4% alongside a 1.1% drop in total employment, pushing the unemployment rate up by 0.7 percentage points. Across Regional NSW over the same timeframe, employment diminished by 0.9%, the workforce shrank by 0.4%, and unemployment increased by 0.5 percentage points. Broader hiring prospects are informed by Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26, which project nationwide employment growth of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, though trajectories diverge by sector. Projecting these industry-level expectations onto the local workforce distribution implies potential employment gains of 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years in Redhead, representing a weighted benchmark that excludes specific demographic forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Redhead is $1,598 a week (about $83,000 a year), with median personal income at $771 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,166 a year against an average of $74,186. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Based on aggregated postcode ATO figures for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch, taxpayers in the suburb of Redhead recorded a median income of $55,166 and an average of $74,186, both exceeding the national benchmark as well as the respective Regional NSW levels of $52,390 and $65,215. Incorporating a Wage Price Index expansion of 10.32% since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of $60,859 for median earnings and $81,842 for average earnings as of March 2026. At the Census, personal, family, and household earnings clustered between the 41st and 43rd percentiles.
The primary earnings tier is the $400 - 799 bracket, comprising 26.2% of residents (1,034 people), unlike Regional NSW where the $1,500 - 2,999 tier leads at 29.9%. Local earnings exhibit a distinct split, with 32.8% falling into lower tiers (<$800/week) and 30.7% in upper tiers (>$3,000/week). Residents retain 86.7% of income after housing expenses, placing disposable earnings at the 45th percentile and the overall SEIFA income measure in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Redhead had 1,416 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 1% apartments. 29% are owned with a mortgage, 13% rented and 57% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $420 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,300 a month. Rent absorbs 26.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 33.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to recent Census data, the housing stock in Redhead is overwhelmingly dominated by standalone houses at 93.3%, while other dwellings (comprising semi-detached units, apartments, and alternative structures) make up 6.7%, compared with 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings across Regional NSW. Outright property ownership is particularly elevated at 57.2%, well above Regional NSW benchmarks, with mortgaged properties comprising 29.4% and rentals accounting for 13.4%. Median monthly mortgage repayments in Redhead reach $2,300 and median weekly rent sits at $420, notably higher than the Regional NSW medians of $1,733 and $330, as well as the national averages of $1,863 for repayments and $375 for rent.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Redhead counted 1,416 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the majority of local living arrangements at 65.3%, consisting of couples with children (32.2%), couples without children (24.9%), and single parent families (7.8%). The remaining 34.7% consists of non-family households, including lone person households at 32.7% and group households at 1.7%. The typical household size stands at 2.4 people, matching the average across Regional NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
29.2% of adults in Redhead hold a university qualification, including 19.6% with a bachelor degree and 6.1% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 82% of areas nationally. A further 25.9% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 248 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,083 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment in Redhead is prominent, with 29.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, surpassing the Rest of NSW benchmark of 21.3% and the SA3 area figure of 23.5%. Within this group, Bachelor degrees represent 19.6%, postgraduate qualifications make up 6.1%, and graduate diplomas account for 3.5%. Vocational and technical training is likewise substantial, as 37.5% of persons aged 15+ hold trade credentials, divided between advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 25.9%. Formal learning engagement is substantial across the suburb, with 30.0% of the population enrolled in an educational institution.
Specifically, primary education accounts for 10.8% of residents, secondary education encompasses 9.2%, and tertiary studies involve 4.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Redhead reaches 37 stops on 9 routes, timetabled for about 120 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport infrastructure across Redhead includes 37 active transport stops served by buses across 9 individual routes, generating 116 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is strong, with commuters averaging 149 meters to their closest stop. Given the suburb's residential focus, outbound travel is standard, with private vehicles serving as the primary mode of travel for 95% of commuters, and households maintaining an average of 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. In addition, 29.0% of workers indicated working from home at the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 patterns. Across the broader network, services run at an average rate of 16 trips per day, which translates to approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.0% of residents in Redhead report no long-term health condition. 8.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health metrics compiled by AreaSearch reveal favorable outcomes across Redhead, aligning generally with nationwide trends; common ailments remain infrequent across the wider population while showing higher prevalence in older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is extensive at roughly 56% of residents (~2,219 people), outperforming the Regional NSW rate of 51.9%. Arthritis and mental health conditions represent the leading reported medical concerns, affecting 9.9 and 8.9% of residents respectively, while 62.0% reported no long-term medical conditions, comparable to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Health indicators among residents under 65 are particularly positive.
Those aged 65 and over comprise 29.2% of the local population (1,152 people), above the 23.3% seen across Regional NSW, with senior health presenting greater challenges and tracking below broader national outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Redhead is largely Australian-born, at 89.5% of residents, with 4.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (33.1%) and Australian (32.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Redhead sit below broader averages, with Australian-born residents making up 89.5% of the community, Australian citizens comprising 93.3%, and 95.7% speaking solely English at home. Christianity is the predominant faith, representing 55.6% of local residents, closely tracking the 55.9% observed across Regional NSW. When examining parental heritage, the most common ancestries among residents in Redhead are English (33.1%), Australian (32.3%), and Scottish (9.6%). Several other ancestries also show higher concentrations locally relative to regional averages, notably Welsh at 0.9% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Macedonian at 0.6% (compared to 0.4%), and Russian at 0.4% (compared to 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Redhead is 48, older than 88% of areas nationally. 19.4% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic structure of Redhead skews older when contrasted with Regional NSW. As at August 2026, seniors and retirees aged 65+ make up 29.2% of the population, compared to 23.3% across Regional NSW, whereas adults aged 25 - 44 represent only 16.6%, against 23.5% regionally. The estimated median age of 48 remains unchanged since the 2021 Census, sitting 5 years above the Regional NSW figure of 43 from that same Census and well above the nationwide Census median of 38. Furthermore, individuals aged 45 - 64 have reduced from 27.2% at the Census to an estimated 25.1%.
Between now and 2041, senior cohorts aged 65+ are expected to see the strongest growth, increasing by 203 residents (18%) to reach 1,356.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Redhead
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Oct 2025 11 months ago all 5 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Oct 2025. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 291 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,785 at the 2021 Census → 3,947 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL13353). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.