Considering Merewether? This page brings together 17 data cards on what it’s like to live there, what the catchments and amenities are, and where the suburb is heading. The analysis covers safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle.
Is Merewether a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Merewether (2291) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
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273 min
266 min
284 min
262 min
293 min
Approximate off-peak driving times: straight-line distance × a Sydney detour factor at 35 km/h. Real road times will vary. Saved on this device.
The verdict
Who it is for
Merewether suits higher-income owner-occupiers who prioritise beach access and open space over urban convenience. The median household income of $2,287 per week and a SEIFA decile of 10 out of 10 signal an affluent, established neighbourhood. With 61% separate houses and 16 parks within 1.6 kilometres, it suits families or couples who want space and coastal lifestyle, and who are comfortable driving to most daily needs rather than walking to them.
Who would not love it
The walkability score sits at the 15th percentile, and the amenity data is stark: zero cafes and zero medical services within 1.6 kilometres, with a single supermarket. If you rely on walkable errands or need regular GP access nearby, this suburb will frustrate you. The bushfire-prone land figure of 48.7% of the postcode area is a serious flag, not a minor footnote, and the composite Stickybeak grade of C- reflects genuine, broad shortcomings across safety and lifestyle categories.
What to verify before you bid
- Check the specific bushfire attack level (BAL) rating for any property you are considering, given that nearly half the postcode is classified bushfire-prone land. Construction standards and insurance costs can vary significantly by BAL rating. - Confirm the nearest GP, medical centre, and emergency services, as the data records zero medical amenities within 1.6 kilometres. - If you have or plan to have secondary-school-aged children, note there are no public secondary schools in the postcode and research your catchment options before committing.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Merewether?
BOCSAR · MEREWETHER 2291
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K7,94912 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−1%Around Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Newcastle
Within LGA: Newcastle
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT79%546 reports
ASSAULT11%78 reports
MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY10%71 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED35%
NON-DOMESTIC65%
Across 72 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Bond count suppressed by DCJ (30 or fewer lodgements this quarter).
Rents here sit around the Sydney middle. A balance of rental stock and owner-occupier demand.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
Small sample
$600per week
Sep 2025 · bond count suppressed
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Hamilton2303
…
2.5 km away
Newcastle West2302
…
2.7 km away
Adamstown2289
…
3.6 km away
Newcastle2300
…
4.1 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2291
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2291. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Merewether with another suburb
Also in Newcastle
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Newcastle postcodes, or explore the full Newcastle suburb index.
Merewether is the primary suburb with postcode 2291 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Merewether is the main locality.
Which local government area is Merewether in?
Merewether (2291) is located in the Newcastle local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Merewether?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Merewether (2291) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Merewether flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Merewether. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Merewether?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Merewether (2291), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Merewether (2291) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Merewether (2291). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Merewether changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Merewether (2291) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
