Sanctuary Point

Sanctuary Point lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Nov 2025, the estimated population of Sanctuary Point is around 7694, a decrease of 180 people (2.3%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7874. This estimation by AreaSearch is based on resident population data from ERP releases by ABS in Jun 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date, totalling 7681 residents. The population density ratio stands at 1284 persons per square kilometer, exceeding average national levels assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade ending Dec 2021, Sanctuary Point's population grew at a compound annual growth rate of 1%, outpacing non-metro areas nationally. Overseas migration contributed approximately 77% to overall population gains during recent periods in the suburb. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by ABS data.

Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 1887 persons to reach a total population of 9581 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 27.5% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Sanctuary Point according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Sanctuary Point had around 19 dwelling approvals annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 97 homes. So far in FY26, 3 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.1 people moved to the area per new home constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating healthy demand. New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $471,000.

This financial year, $1.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Rest of NSW, Sanctuary Point has markedly lower building activity (65.0% below regional average per person). Recent construction comprises 82.0% detached houses and 18.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character. With around 1052 people per dwelling approval, Sanctuary Point reflects a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate Sanctuary Point will gain 2,118 residents by 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Sanctuary Point has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified eight projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Sanctuary Point Library, Tahnee Street Residential Development, Paradise Beach Road Multi Dwelling Housing, and Revitalise Sanctuary Point. The following details projects most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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.

Sanctuary Point has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Sanctuary Point has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Its unemployment rate is 3.5%.

In the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 3.8%. As of June 2025, 2,947 residents are employed, which is 0.2% less than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Sanctuary Point is lower at 45.6%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Construction stands out with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.6% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.8%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.1% with a labour force growth of 0.3%, and an increase in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Sanctuary Point's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 indicates that median income in Sanctuary Point is $41,743 and average income stands at $52,619. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where median income is $49,459 and average income is $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from financial year ending June 2022 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $47,007 (median) and $59,254 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Sanctuary Point fall between the 5th and 7th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 29.7% of individuals earn between $400 - $799, differing from broader area patterns where $1,500 - $2,999 dominates with 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Sanctuary Point, with only 80.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

Sanctuary Point is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Sanctuary Point, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.9% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 5.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 87.8% houses and 12.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sanctuary Point stood at 43.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.1% and rented ones at 28.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,545, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Sanctuary Point was $360, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $350. Nationally, Sanctuary Point's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,545 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $360 compared to the national figure of $375.

Sanctuary Point has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 67.7% of all households, including 19.5% couples with children, 32.3% couples without children, and 14.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households comprising 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Sanctuary Point faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 10.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 44.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (34.7%).

Educational participation is high at 25.3%, comprising 9.3% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 1.8% in tertiary education. Sanctuary Point Public School serves the local area with an enrollment of 429 students, operating under varied educational conditions (ICSEA: 913). The school focuses on primary education only, with secondary options available nearby. Local school capacity is limited at 5.6 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.7, leading many families to travel for schooling.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Sanctuary Point has 87 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 15 different routes that together offer 196 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is rated as excellent, with residents on average located 151 meters from their nearest stop.

On average, there are 28 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Sanctuary Point is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Sanctuary Point faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low at approximately 48%, covering around 3,677 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.9%) and mental health issues (11.2%). Conversely, 55.5% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of NSW's 59.4%. As of 2021, 25.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,954 people), lower than the 27.8% in Rest of NSW. Senior health outcomes align with the general population's health profile.

Sanctuary Point ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Sanctuary Point's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 85.9% of its population born in Australia, 90.3% being citizens, and 94.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Sanctuary Point, comprising 51.2% of people, compared to 52.6% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.5%), Australian (31.0%), and Irish (7.5%).

Notably, Hungarian (0.4%) was overrepresented in Sanctuary Point compared to the regional average of 0.2%, as were Australian Aboriginal (6.0% vs 4.4%) and Maltese (0.8% vs 0.6%).

Sanctuary Point hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Sanctuary Point has a median age of 46, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group is strongly represented at 14.1%, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 10.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 10.4% to 11.8% of the population, and the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 10.6% to 11.8%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 15.9% to 14.1%. By 2041, Sanctuary Point is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 35 to 44 group projected to grow by 46%, adding 419 people and reaching a total of 1,327 from the previous figure of 907.