Moving to Cardiff South NSW 2285
What the official numbers say about living in Cardiff South — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $400 a week, against a median household income of $1,688 a week.
About 77% of homes are owner-occupied and 22% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Cardiff South shrank 1% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,970 → 2,931 people).
Around 72% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, China; most spoken languages besides English: Samoan, Mandarin, Macedonian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Cardiff South sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (78% of workers), while 21% work from home.
Nearest train station: Cardiff, 1.3 km north.
Nearest bus interchange: Newcastle Interchange, 9.4 km east.
Nearest airport: Lake Macquarie Airport, 12.6 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 110 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 44 schools · 2 cafes & restaurants · 7 supermarkets · 12 parks — see them all on the Cardiff South profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Cardiff South Public School 200 m · Vedic Education Centre 450 m · Cardiff High School, Warners Bay 750 m · Cardiff Public School 1000 m · Saint Kevin's Primary School 1.2 km · Cardiff North Public School 1.7 km · Newcastle Junior School 1.7 km · Hillsborough Public School 1.8 km
Groceries: Bibina 1.3 km · Aldi 1.4 km · Woolworths 1.5 km · Coles 2.7 km · Coles 2.8 km · Woolworths 2.9 km · ALDI 3 km
Parks and reserves: Ulinga Park 450 m · Wilkinson Park 1 km · Campbell Reserve 1.4 km · Chartley Street Reserve 2.4 km · Straker Park 2.7 km · Rodway Parade Reserve 2.7 km · Clarence Street Park 2.7 km · Carramar Park 2.7 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Cardiff South, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Noisy Miner · Australian Magpie · Laughing Kookaburra · Australian Raven · Eastern Rosella.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Cardiff South, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff South here | 2,931 | — | 4/10 | 24% |
| Cardiff | 6,318 | — | 4/10 | 14% |
| Lakelands | 1,445 | — | 10/10 | 27% |
| Macquarie Hills | 3,605 | — | 8/10 | 29% |
| Garden Suburb | 1,959 | — | 9/10 | 46% |
| Cardiff Heights | 1,384 | — | 9/10 | 33% |
| Warners Bay | 8,237 | — | 7/10 | 26% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Lake Macquarie — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Shortland — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2285 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Cardiff South profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $400 a week, and about 22% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 1% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,970 people to 2,931. It sits about 110 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Cardiff station is roughly 1.3 km away. Local government is Lake Macquarie council, and the federal seat is Shortland.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Cardiff South vs Lakelands · Cardiff South vs Macquarie Hills.
Nearby guides: Cardiff · Lakelands · Macquarie Hills · Garden Suburb · Cardiff Heights · Warners Bay.
Keep an eye on Cardiff South
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