Moving to Queenscliff NSW 2096
What the official numbers say about living in Queenscliff — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $650 a week, against a median household income of $2,903 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Queenscliff grew 6% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (3,208 → 3,407 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Brazil; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, Portuguese, French.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Queenscliff sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (31% of workers), while 63% work from home.
Nearest train station: St Leonards, 9.5 km south-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Cremorne Point Wharf, Milson Rd, 8.8 km south-west.
Nearest ferry wharf: Manly Wharf, 2 km south.
Nearest airport: Rose Bay Seaplane Base, 9.9 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 12 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 36 schools · 141 cafes & restaurants · 10 supermarkets · 54 parks · 18 beaches — see them all on the Queenscliff profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Stella Maris College - Main Campus 400 m · Stella Maris College - Benedict Campus 550 m · St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School 800 m · Stewart House School 1.2 km · Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus 1.2 km · Harbord Public School 1.2 km · St Mary's Catholic School 1.4 km · St Kieran's Catholic Primary School 1.7 km
Groceries: IGA 450 m · Harris Farm Markets 600 m · Woolworths 1.7 km · Manly Food Co-op 1.8 km · Coles Local 1.8 km · Coles 1.8 km · Coles 2.2 km · Coles 2.3 km
Parks and reserves: Aitken Reserve 150 m · Crown Road Reserve 150 m · Lagoon Park 300 m · Hinkler Park 350 m · Freshwater Beach Reserve 450 m · Freshwater View Reserve 450 m · Mill Park 500 m · Palomar Reserve 550 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Queenscliff, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Brush-turkey · Noisy Miner · Australian Magpie · Pied Currawong · Australian Raven.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Queenscliff, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queenscliff here | 3,407 | — | 10/10 | 16% |
| Freshwater | 9,186 | — | 10/10 | 33% |
| Curl Curl | 2,364 | — | 10/10 | 21% |
| North Manly | 3,396 | — | 10/10 | 46% |
| Manly | 16,296 | — | 10/10 | 46% |
| Fairlight | 6,141 | — | 10/10 | 19% |
| Manly Vale | 6,389 | — | 10/10 | 47% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Northern Beaches — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Warringah — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2096 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Queenscliff profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $650 a week.
The population grew 6% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 3,208 people to 3,407. It sits about 12 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and North Sydney station is roughly 9.7 km away. Local government is Northern Beaches council, and the federal seat is Warringah.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Queenscliff vs Freshwater · Queenscliff vs Curl Curl.
Nearby guides: Freshwater · Curl Curl · North Manly · Manly · Fairlight · Manly Vale.
Keep an eye on Queenscliff
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