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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
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
Sapphire Beach lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
As of May 2026, the estimated population of Sapphire Beach is around 2,840. This figure represents an increase of 180 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,660. The current resident population estimate of 2,829 by AreaSearch, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025), and an additional 65 validated new addresses since the Census date, indicates a population density ratio of 362 persons per square kilometer. Sapphire Beach's growth rate of 6.8% since the 2021 census exceeds that of its SA3 area (3.7%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 41.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and interstate migration also playing positive roles. AreaSearch's population projections for Sapphire Beach are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, or NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year for areas not covered by the former.
By 2041, the suburb is forecast to expand by 1,079 persons, reflecting a gain of 37.6% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Sapphire Beach among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Sapphire Beach shows an average of around 18 new dwelling approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 91 homes. In FY-26 so far, 18 approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, there has been an average of 3.8 people moving to the area for each dwelling built. This high demand coupled with new supply suggests potential price growth and increased buyer competition.
The average construction value of new properties is $482,000, indicating a focus on premium market segment by developers. Commercial approvals this financial year total $354,000, predominantly residential in nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Sapphire Beach has 63.0% higher new home approvals per person, offering greater choice for buyers. Detached houses make up 81.0% and townhouses or apartments 19.0% of new building activity, maintaining the area's low density character appealing to families seeking space.
The location currently has approximately 165 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. AreaSearch quarterly estimates forecast Sapphire Beach will gain 1,068 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Sapphire Beach
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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
Sapphire Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally
No infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include Pacific Highway Upgrade: Hexham To Brisbane, Queensland New South Wales Interconnector, Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, and NSW Heavy Vehicle Rest Stops Program (TfNSW).
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
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
Comprehensive NSW state planning reforms designed to increase housing density in well-located areas. The policy mandates mid-rise apartment buildings (3-6 storeys) and low-rise multi-dwelling housing (terraces, townhouses, and dual occupancies) within 800m of 171 high-frequency transport hubs and town centres. As of May 2026, the policy is fully operational following the phased rollout of dual occupancy provisions in July 2024 and mid-rise apartment provisions in early 2025. Recent updates include refined floor space ratios (FSR) and non-refusal standards to streamline local council assessments.
Enabling Digital Health Services for Regional and Remote Australia
A national digital infrastructure program under the Digital Health Blueprint 2023-2033 designed to provide equitable healthcare access for regional and remote Australians. The initiative is currently rolling out the 'Share by Default' legislative framework, which mandates the uploading of pathology and diagnostic imaging reports to My Health Record starting July 2026. Current 2026 milestones include the launch of the Digital Health Implementer Hub to accelerate software conformance and the implementation of the National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan to integrate allied health practitioners into the national digital ecosystem.
Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production
A national program to coordinate and deploy the enabling infrastructure required to support large-scale renewable hydrogen production across Australia. Building on the 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy and the National Hydrogen Infrastructure Assessment (NHIA), the program aligns electricity transmission, water supply, transport corridors, port and storage infrastructure with Renewable Energy Zones and prospective hydrogen hubs (Bell Bay, Darwin, Eyre Peninsula, Gladstone, Latrobe Valley, Hunter Valley, Pilbara). Two key federal mechanisms underpin delivery. The Hydrogen Headstart program provides up to 4 billion AUD in long-term revenue support via production credits, with Round 2 (2 billion AUD administered by ARENA) opening for Expressions of Interest in October 2025 with EOIs closing 8 December 2025. The Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive (HPTI), legislated through the Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Act 2025 which received Royal Assent on 14 February 2025, provides an uncapped refundable tax offset of 2 AUD per kilogram of eligible renewable hydrogen for up to 10 years between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2040 for projects reaching final investment decision by 2030. The HPTI is jointly administered by the ATO and Clean Energy Regulator and requires certification under the Guarantee of Origin scheme. Round 1 of Hydrogen Headstart shortlisted six projects representing more than 3.5 GW of electrolyser capacity, with 814 million AUD ultimately awarded.
NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Program
NSW is delivering five Renewable Energy Zones (Central-West Orana, New England, South West, Hunter-Central Coast, and Illawarra) to coordinate wind and solar generation, storage, and high-voltage transmission. Led by EnergyCo NSW under the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, the program targets at least 12 GW of new renewable generation and 2 GW of long-duration storage by 2030. Major construction of the first REZ (Central-West Orana) transmission project began in June 2025, involving 90km of 500kV and 150km of 330kV lines. As of February 2026, the project reached a milestone with the Australian Energy Regulator's final decision on network revenue determinations, and significant progress has been made on temporary worker accommodation and road upgrades between the Port of Newcastle and the Central-West Orana region.
Bulk Water Supply Security
Nationwide program led by the National Water Grid Authority to improve bulk water security and reliability for non-potable and productive uses. Activities include strategic planning, science and business cases, and funding of state and territory projects such as storages, pipelines, dam upgrades, recycled water and efficiency upgrades to build drought resilience and support regional communities, industry and the environment.
National EV Charging Network (Highway Fast Charging)
Partnership between the Australian Government and NRMA to deliver a backbone EV fast charging network on national highways. Program funds and co-funds 117 DC fast charging sites at roughly 150 km intervals to connect all capital cities and regional routes, reducing range anxiety and supporting EV uptake.
Network Optimisation Program - Roads
A national program concept focused on improving congestion and reliability on urban road networks by using low-cost operational measures and technology (e.g., signal timing, intersection treatments, incident management) to optimise existing capacity across major city corridors.
Queensland New South Wales Interconnector
The proposed Queensland New South Wales Interconnector (QNI Connect) aims to link New England's power to Queensland over approx. 600km, enhancing network capacity by up to 1,700 MW, with anticipated completion by FY2030-31.
Employment
Employment conditions in Sapphire Beach rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally
Sapphire Beach has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.6% as of December 2025, showing employment growth of 2.7% over the previous year. This figure is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.
As of that date, 1,314 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 2.3%, lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 57.8% compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 17.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training sectors.
Sapphire Beach shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, manufacturing is under-represented at 2.3% compared to Regional NSW's 5.8%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 2.7% while labour force increased by 2.5%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide insight into potential future demand within Sapphire Beach. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Sapphire Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.9% over ten years. These figures are illustrative extrapolations based on national trends and do not account for localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis
In financial year 2023, Sapphire Beach's median taxpayer income was $51,245 and average income was $64,714. These figures are lower than the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 for Regional NSW respectively. By March 2026, estimated median and average incomes would be approximately $56,533 and $71,392 based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, Sapphire Beach's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 71st percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 29.6% of locals (840 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, similar to the metropolitan region's 29.9%. Notably, 31.9% of residents exceed $3,000 weekly income, indicating strong purchasing power. After housing costs, residents retain 87.0% of their income, reflecting high purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Sapphire Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
The dwelling structure in Sapphire Beach, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.7% houses and 15.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Sapphire Beach was 45.8%, with the rest being mortgaged at 37.0% or rented at 17.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,174, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $475, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Sapphire Beach's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Sapphire Beach features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households compose 78.1% of all households, including 32.9% couples with children, 38.2% couples without children, and 6.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.9%, with lone person households at 20.1% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Sapphire Beach demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics
Sapphire Beach has a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 34.9% have university qualifications, compared to 19.8% in the SA4 region and 21.3% in the Rest of NSW. This is due to a substantial proportion having bachelor degrees (23.9%), postgraduate qualifications (7.2%), and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 37.6% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.5%) and certificates (25.1%).
Educational participation is high, with 26.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 10.3% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 3.0% in 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
Sapphire Beach has 17 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 15 different routes that together offer 136 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents on average living 229 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 97% of residents. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average.
According to the 2021 Census, 17.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 19 trips per day, equating to roughly 8 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Sapphire Beach's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups
Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Sapphire Beach.
AreaSearch's assessment indicates very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~1,492 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.7 and 6.8% of residents respectively. Seventy percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 25.1% of residents aged 65 and over (712 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Sapphire Beach ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Sapphire Beach's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 81.8% of its population born in Australia, 91.0% being citizens, and 92.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 53.2% of Sapphire Beach's population. Notably, the category 'Other' comprised 1.2%, which is higher than Regional NSW's average of 0.8%.
The top three ancestry groups were English (31.9%), Australian (25.9%), and Irish (10.9%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: South Australian was overrepresented at 0.9% compared to the regional average of 0.2%, Scottish at 8.9% versus 8.0%, and French at 0.6% compared to 0.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Sapphire Beach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide
Sapphire Beach has a median age of 46, which is higher than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and significantly above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group makes up 14.8% of Sapphire Beach's population, compared to Regional NSW, while the 25-34 cohort comprises 7.0%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group grew from 6.2% to 8.1%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 7.3% to 8.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 16.0% to 14.2%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 8.1% to 7.0%. By 2041, Sapphire Beach is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 45 to 54 group growing by 47% (178 people), reaching 559 from 380.