Waratah
NSW 2298 · Newcastle
4,927 (2021) → 5,007 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.
Waratah is a moderate growth suburb in Newcastle, NSW 2298, about 118km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $979K is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 8 schools, a transport score of 92/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Waratah has an overall score of 83/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 33/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2298 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (1.85%), New Zealand (1.26%), Nepal (1.16%), Philippines (0.77%), India (0.71%)
Top languages: Nepali (1.18%), Mandarin (0.85%), Italian (0.71%), Filipino (0.45%), Spanish (0.45%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Nightlife hub. This suburb has a high concentration of licensed venues. Crime figures include incidents involving visitors to the nightlife area, not just residents.
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
This suburb has a high concentration of licensed venues. These totals include incidents involving visitors to the nightlife area, not just residents.
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 1029 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- St Philip's Christian College - WaratahCombined · IndependentICSEA 1138
- Corpus Christi Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1085
- St Philip's Christian College Dynamic LearningCombined · IndependentICSEA 1022
- Waratah Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1019
- Newcastle Middle SchoolCombined · GovernmentICSEA 967
- Newcastle Senior SchoolSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 960
- Callaghan College Waratah CampusSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 957
- St Philip's Christian College Young ParentsSecondary · IndependentICSEA 776
Nearby (within 10km)
- Aspect Hunter School, Waratah West SatellitePrimary · Independent · 1km
- Waratah West Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.1kmICSEA 963
- Lambton High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1057
- Hamilton North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 1030
- St John's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.8kmICSEA 1083
- St Laurence Flexible Learning CentreSecondary · Catholic · 1.8kmICSEA 869
- Mayfield West Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1033
- St Columban's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.9kmICSEA 1034
- Islington Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1090
- Lambton Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1065
- St Dominic's Catholic CollegeCombined · Catholic · 2.1kmICSEA 966
- San Clemente Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 2.1kmICSEA 1038
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
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
Quiet area
Pretty light on licensed venues. Good for peace and quiet; less so for spontaneous nights out.
Nightlife hub. High licensed-venue density drives a significant evening economy here — incidents near the venues are recorded by location, so crime figures include visitors, not just residents.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
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 Newcastle
Compare Waratah with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Waratah
Is Waratah safe?
Waratah has a residential safety score of 33/100, 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 9,783 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Waratah?
In Waratah, the median house price is $979K and the median unit price is $745K. Median weekly house rent is $680.
How far is Waratah from Sydney CBD?
Waratah is about 117.9 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 203 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Waratah?
Waratah has 8 schools, with an average ICSEA of 991 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Waratah?
Waratah has a transport score of 92/100, including 2 train stations and 53 bus stops.