Waratah West, NSW 2298 — Suburb Profile
Last reviewed: · By Knowburb Research Team
In short
Waratah West is a suburb of New South Wales, postcode 2298, home to 3,142 residents with a younger demographic. Located in the Newcastle local government area and roughly 117 km from the Sydney CBD.
Snapshot
Demographics
- Population
- 3,142
- Median age
- 31 years
- Median household income
- $1,518 /week
- Median personal income
- $686 /week
- Median family income
- $1,938 /week
- Average household size
- 2.4
- Persons per bedroom
- 0.8
- Local government area
- Newcastle
- Statistical region (SA4)
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
- Remoteness classification
- Major Cities of Australia
- Federal electorate
- Newcastle
Property & cost of living
- Median rent
- $390 /week
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,853
- Rent share of household income
- 26%
Schools
- Waratah Public School
- Newcastle Senior School
- Newcastle Middle School
- Callaghan College Waratah Campus
- Waratah West Public School
Transport
- Within 800 m walk: 58 bus stops
- Within 1.6 km: 2 train stops, 162 bus stops
- Coolamin Rd Opp Waratah Public School
- Lambton Rd At Coolamin Rd
- Waratah Public School, Bridge St
- Lambton Rd Opp Waratah Public School
- Waratah Station, Platform 2
Lifestyle & amenities
- 9 cafés
- 20 restaurants
- 7 pubs and bars
- 30 parks and reserves
- 18 gyms and fitness centres
- 1 library
- 1 supermarket
- 17 playgrounds
Climate
- Warmest month: Jan (28.3°C avg max)
- Coolest month: Jul (17.2°C avg max)
- Annual rainfall: 1134 mm
- Reference station: Williamtown RAAF, 16.9 km away
NBN & connectivity
Fibre to the Premises serves 56.6% of the 1,334 resolvable premises in Waratah West. Most premises here have a fibre cable running directly into the property — the fastest and most reliable NBN option, with plans available up to NBN 1000.
- Fibre to the Premises: 56.6%
- Fibre to the Node: 43.4%
Safety
- Recorded offences: 739 across postcode 2298 in the year to Dec 2025 (stable on the prior year).
- Most common categories: 225 violent offences, 136 theft, 89 vehicle theft.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Waratah West?
Waratah West (NSW 2298) had 3,142 residents at the most recent ABS Census. The median age is 31. It sits within the Newcastle local government area.
What is the median rent in Waratah West?
The median advertised rent in Waratah West is $390/week, based on SQM Research listings data. Rents vary by property type, bedrooms and condition.
Are there schools in Waratah West?
Yes — 5 schools are listed within or near Waratah West covering government sectors. Nearest include: Waratah Public School (0.1 km), Newcastle Senior School (0.4 km), Newcastle Middle School (0.5 km). School data sourced from ACARA and state education departments.
What NBN technology is available in Waratah West?
Waratah West is predominantly served by Fibre to the Premises (56.6% of premises). Coverage data is sourced from the NBN upgrade map aggregated from NBN Co address checks.
How safe is Waratah West?
Across postcode 2298, 739 offences were recorded in the 12 months to Dec 2025. The most common offence categories were violent (225), theft (136), vehicle theft (89). Crime statistics are recorded by area (postcode or LGA), not by individual suburb. Data sourced from each state's crime statistics agency.
What is the climate like in Waratah West?
In Waratah West, mean daily temperatures range from 12.5°C to 23.2°C and annual rainfall is 1,134 mm measured at the Williamtown RAAF weather station (16.9 km away). Long-term averages from the Bureau of Meteorology.
What public transport options are in Waratah West?
164 public transport stops are mapped within 1.6 km of the Waratah West centroid. Within 800 m, you'll find 58 bus stops. Stop data is sourced from state government GTFS feeds.
Sources & methodology
Demographics from ABS Census. Property data from SQM Research. Climate from Bureau of Meteorology. Schools from ACARA. NBN from NBN Co. Amenities from OpenStreetMap. See full methodology.
Additional sources for this profile: