Kotara
NSW 2289 · Newcastle
3,980 (2021) → 4,200 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Newcastle local government area (est. 179,758 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Kotara is a moderate growth suburb in Newcastle, NSW 2289, about 113km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.01M is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 3 schools, a transport score of 92/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Kotara has an overall score of 85/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 68/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2289 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (2.76%), New Zealand (0.88%), USA (0.75%), China (0.68%), Nepal (0.5%)
Top languages: Mandarin (0.93%), Macedon (0.75%), Vietnamese (0.58%), Spanish (0.45%), Nepali (0.35%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
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
Reasonable school mix
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of schools, though the strongest options may require some travel.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1022 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- St James' Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1104
- Kotara South Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1069
- Kotara SchoolCombined · GovernmentICSEA 816
Nearby (within 10km)
- Kotara High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1066
- New Lambton Heights Infants SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 1100
- Belair Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1103
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1045
- Trinity Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 1.8kmICSEA 1090
- Alesco Secondary College - Charlestown CampusSecondary · Independent · 2.2km
- New Lambton South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1095
- Newcastle Junior SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 940
- Charlestown Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1037
- John Hunter Hospital SchoolCombined · Government · 2.5km
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 1020
- New Lambton Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.6kmICSEA 1108
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.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
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
Quiet area
Pretty light on licensed venues. Good for peace and quiet; less so for spontaneous nights out.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Some choices available
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of childcare options, though popular services may have waiting lists.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
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 Newcastle
Compare Kotara with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Kotara
Is Kotara safe?
Kotara has a residential safety score of 68/100, 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 16,533 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Kotara?
In Kotara, the median house price is $1.01M and the median unit price is $840K. Median weekly house rent is $760.
How far is Kotara from Sydney CBD?
Kotara is about 113.0 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 194 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Kotara?
Kotara has 3 schools, with an average ICSEA of 996 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Kotara?
Kotara has a transport score of 92/100, including 1 train station and 48 bus stops.