Merewether Heights
NSW 2291 · Newcastle
1,495 (2021) → 1,543 est. (2025) · Stable
Part of the Newcastle local government area (est. 179,758 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Merewether Heights is a stable suburb in Newcastle, NSW 2291, about 114km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.77M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 76/100, and is right by the coast. Merewether Heights has an overall score of 81/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 100/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2291 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (2.41%), New Zealand (0.74%), India (0.54%), South Africa (0.47%), China (0.4%)
Top languages: Greek (1.2%), Japan (0.6%), Italian (0.54%), Mandarin (0.33%), German (0.33%)
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
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1027 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Merewether Heights Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1129
Nearby (within 10km)
- St Columba's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.3kmICSEA 1107
- Merewether Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 950
- Adamstown Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 1078
- Belair Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1103
- Merewether High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1206
- Trinity Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 1.9kmICSEA 1090
- Holy Family Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2kmICSEA 1132
- New Lambton South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.2kmICSEA 1095
- Kotara High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1066
- Hamilton South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 1139
- Hunter School of Performing ArtsCombined · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 1085
- The Junction Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.6kmICSEA 1115
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
Cultural hotspot
Top 20% nationally — theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and landmarks all within reach. A genuinely vibrant cultural scene.
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
Strong options nearby
Well above average for childcare services — good choice and quality, with most families finding a place without a long drive.
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
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Newcastle
Compare Merewether Heights with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Merewether Heights
Is Merewether Heights safe?
Merewether Heights 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 1,806 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Merewether Heights?
In Merewether Heights, the median house price is $1.77M. Median weekly house rent is $950.
How far is Merewether Heights from Sydney CBD?
Merewether Heights is about 114.0 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 249 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Merewether Heights?
Merewether Heights has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1129 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Merewether Heights?
Merewether Heights has a transport score of 76/100 and 15 bus stops.