Kotara South
NSW 2289 · Lake Macquarie
1,267 (2021) → 1,337 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.
Kotara South is a moderate growth suburb in Lake Macquarie, NSW 2289, about 112km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.10M is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has no schools recorded, a transport score of 76/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Kotara South has an overall score of 77/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 54/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2289 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (1.82%), South Africa (1.26%), New Zealand (0.55%), Scotland (0.55%), Canada (0.47%)
Top languages: Macedon (0.87%), German (0.79%), Italian (0.79%), Afrikaans (0.63%), Greek (0.47%)
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 1020 (above the national average of 1000).
No schools inside the suburb boundary — the schools below are in adjoining suburbs (counted within 10km for the education score).
Nearby (within 10km)
- Kotara South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.6kmICSEA 1069
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.9kmICSEA 1045
- St James' Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 0.9kmICSEA 1104
- Newcastle Junior SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.2kmICSEA 940
- Kotara SchoolCombined · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 816
- Alesco Secondary College - Charlestown CampusSecondary · Independent · 1.3km
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1020
- Kotara High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 1066
- Charlestown Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 1037
- New Lambton Heights Infants SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.8kmICSEA 1100
- Charlestown South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.8kmICSEA 1075
- Cardiff High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 986
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
Outdoor paradise
Top 20% nationally — abundant parks and green space, plus trails, bike paths and places to enjoy the outdoors.
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
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
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
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 Kotara South with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Kotara South
Is Kotara South safe?
Kotara South has a residential safety score of 54/100, 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 2,526 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Kotara South?
In Kotara South, the median house price is $1.10M. Median weekly house rent is $760.
How far is Kotara South from Sydney CBD?
Kotara South is about 111.9 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 249 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Kotara South?
Kotara South has 0 schools. Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Kotara South?
Kotara South has a transport score of 76/100 and 16 bus stops.