Garden Suburb
NSW 2289 · Lake Macquarie
1,959 (2021) → 2,025 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Lake Macquarie local government area (est. 222,310 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Garden Suburb is a moderate growth suburb in Lake Macquarie, NSW 2289, about 112km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $974K is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 62/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Garden Suburb has an overall score of 71/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 100/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2289 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (2.14%), New Zealand (1.02%), India (0.87%), Germany (0.77%), USA (0.56%)
Top languages: Macedon (0.97%), Italian (0.66%), French (0.61%), German (0.61%), Hindi (0.56%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Strong school options
Well above average — good-quality schools within reach and a healthy range of options to choose from.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1019 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1045
Nearby (within 10km)
- Cardiff High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1kmICSEA 986
- St Kevin's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.3kmICSEA 1071
- Newcastle Junior SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 940
- New Lambton Heights Infants SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1100
- Kotara South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1069
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1020
- Cardiff South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 1017
- Cardiff North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 1014
- Kotara SchoolCombined · Government · 2kmICSEA 816
- Cardiff Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1000
- St James' Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2kmICSEA 1104
- Alesco Secondary College - Charlestown CampusSecondary · Independent · 2.3km
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Fitness paradise
Top 20% nationally — gyms, leisure centres, pools and sports fields all close by. Easy to stay active without travelling far.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Great outdoor access
Well above average — plenty of parkland and outdoor recreation within easy reach.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Rich cultural scene
Well above average — a strong mix of cultural venues nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Not much nightlife
No licensed on-premises venues recorded in this suburb.
No licensed pubs, bars or clubs are registered in this suburb per the Liquor & Gaming NSW register.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: OpenStreetMap
Childcare
Outstanding childcare access
Top 20% nationally for childcare service density and quality — an excellent suburb for families with young children.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Lake Macquarie
Compare Garden Suburb with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Garden Suburb
Is Garden Suburb safe?
Garden Suburb has a residential safety score of 100/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 1,889 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Garden Suburb?
In Garden Suburb, the median house price is $974K. Median weekly house rent is $760.
How far is Garden Suburb from Sydney CBD?
Garden Suburb is about 112.0 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 249 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Garden Suburb?
Garden Suburb has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1045 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Garden Suburb?
Garden Suburb has a transport score of 62/100 and 14 bus stops.