Waratah West
NSW 2298 · Newcastle
3,142 (2021) → 3,193 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 West is a moderate growth suburb in Newcastle, NSW 2298, about 118km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $938K is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 2 schools, a transport score of 76/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Waratah West has an overall score of 78/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 24/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2298 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (1.88%), China (1.37%), Vietnam (1.11%), India (0.89%), Pakistan (0.89%)
Top languages: Mandarin (1.46%), Vietnamese (1.4%), Urdu (0.99%), Spanish (0.57%), Arabic (0.54%)
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
- Waratah West Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 963
- Aspect Hunter School, Waratah West SatellitePrimary · Independent
Nearby (within 10km)
- Corpus Christi Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 0.9kmICSEA 1085
- Waratah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1019
- St Philip's Christian College - WaratahCombined · Independent · 1kmICSEA 1138
- St John's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.2kmICSEA 1083
- St Philip's Christian College Dynamic LearningCombined · Independent · 1.2kmICSEA 1022
- St Philip's Christian College Young ParentsSecondary · Independent · 1.2kmICSEA 776
- Newcastle Senior SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 960
- Newcastle Middle SchoolCombined · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 967
- Lambton Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1065
- Callaghan College Waratah CampusSecondary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 957
- Callaghan College Jesmond Senior CampusSecondary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 980
- Jesmond Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 923
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
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
Solid scene
Well above average for licensed venues — you won't struggle for a night out or a good meal.
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.
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
Childcare desert
Very limited childcare services in and around this suburb — families may face significant travel for childcare.
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 Waratah West with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Waratah West
Is Waratah West safe?
Waratah West has a residential safety score of 24/100, 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 6,365 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Waratah West?
In Waratah West, the median house price is $938K and the median unit price is $754K. Median weekly house rent is $680.
How far is Waratah West from Sydney CBD?
Waratah West is about 117.9 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 249 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Waratah West?
Waratah West has 2 schools, with an average ICSEA of 963 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Waratah West?
Waratah West has a transport score of 76/100 and 25 bus stops.