This page provides an overview of land values in each region. Select a valuing year and region and click 'Go' to continue.

General overview

The total land value for the Hunter region increased over the 12 month period to 1 July 2018 by 8.8% from $149.4 billion to $162.5 billion.

Residential land values overall increased moderately by 9.0%. Residential increases varied from slight increases in Singleton (3.8%) and Upper Hunter (4.0%) local government areas to strong increases in Mid Coast (13.0%) and Central Coast (12.1%) local government areas. Muswellbrook (0.4%) local government area was the only area of steady residential values.

Commercial land values in the Hunter region overall increased moderately by 8.7%. The increases were related to the flow-on from strong residential demand and low interest rates, improved returns and rents, and government infrastructure spending including roads, light rail and capital works.

Industrial land values in the region overall increased strongly by 11.6%. The largest increase was in the Central Coast local government area at 22.2%, with moderate increases of between 6% - 10% more typical in the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Newcastle, Singleton and Cessnock local government areas. The moderate industrial increases were related to providing supporting services and amenities to strong residential and commercial sectors, while the strong increases in Central Coast had the added benefits of good access to the motorway and arterial roads and affordability over Sydney.

Rural land values in the region experienced moderate increases of 7.3%. The rural increases occurred against the backdrop of poor seasonal conditions and worsening drought, however the rural-residential and hobby farm markets which dominate the Hunter region are less impacted by seasonal conditions and driven more by demand, affordability and accessibility.

Land value trends

Property zone 01 Jul 2017 01 Jul 2018 % change
Residential $120,283,318,465 $131,111,818,133  9.0%
Commercial $4,929,701,180 $5,356,543,670  8.7%
Industrial $2,827,723,998 $3,157,006,279  11.6%
Rural $12,750,386,101 $13,682,046,025  7.3%
Other $8,631,596,241 $9,229,189,896  6.9%
Total $149,422,725,985 $162,536,604,003  8.8%

Number of properties by zone

Total number of properties: 437,615

 Residential land values

Residential overview

Residential land values in the Hunter region overall increased moderately by 9.0%.

Residential land values experienced strong increases in Mid Coast (13.0%) and Central Coast (12.1%) local government areas. Central Coast local government area increases related to commuting proximity to Sydney, relative affordability and limited supply in some areas of the market. Mid Coast local government area increases related to increased demand especially for well located coastal locations.

Moderate increases in residential land values occurred in Lake Macquarie (5.8%), Newcastle (6.7%), Cessnock (7.0%), Dungog (7.7%), Port Stephens (8.2%) and Maitland (9.1%) local government areas. Moderate increases were related to continuing demand, improved infrastructure and strong construction and development activity including land releases.

Slight increases occurred in Singleton (3.8%) and Upper Hunter (4.0%) local government areas following stable land values in recent years indicating increased demand and confidence.

Muswellbrook (0.4%) local government area was the only area of steady residential land values, but this indicates a stabilised residential market following recent downturns.


Median residential land values and sale prices


The above chart shows movement in the property market and land values over a five year period. In areas where there are a low number of sales, median sale prices may not accurately reflect the property market. Land values may not always move directly in line with sale prices due to the influence of other factors, such as building costs.

Local government area land values

LGA 01 Jul 2017 01 Jul 2018 % change
Central Coast $43,103,662,861 $48,334,666,331  12.1%
Cessnock $3,346,955,360 $3,579,915,800  7.0%
Dungog $452,704,911 $487,718,981  7.7%
Lake Macquarie $25,332,007,179 $26,812,355,474  5.8%
Maitland $5,931,342,736 $6,471,611,116  9.1%
Mid-Coast $7,000,790,483 $7,912,047,246  13.0%
Muswellbrook $496,946,125 $499,005,555  0.4%
Newcastle $25,906,712,180 $27,652,595,690  6.7%
Port Stephens $7,204,246,680 $7,795,289,470  8.2%
Singleton $1,066,926,650 $1,107,937,550  3.8%
Upper Hunter $441,023,300 $458,674,920  4.0%

Commercial overview

Commercial land values in the Hunter region increased moderately by 8.7%.

The greatest commercial land value increases were in Central Coast (10.8%) and Newcastle (10.7%) with these strong increases attributed to low interest rates, increased demand, improved returns and rents, government infrastructure spending including roads, light rail and capital works. Strong demand in residential markets in these locations have also increased demand for commercial property to provide supporting amenities and services.

Moderate increases in other locations were attributed to similar drivers, for example increases in Maitland (6.5%) local government area were due to improvements in roads and infrastructure such as the Hunter Expressway. Maitland (6.5%) local government area localities such as Rutherford and Lochinvar benefited from the expressway.

Commercial land values in Upper Hunter (1.2%) and Muswellbrook (0.3%) local government areas remained stable.


Local government area land values

LGA 01 Jul 2017 01 Jul 2018 % change
Central Coast $1,499,011,720 $1,660,470,510  10.8%
Cessnock $87,937,300 $90,383,070  2.8%
Dungog $17,235,260 $17,893,100  3.8%
Lake Macquarie $925,240,830 $988,524,210  6.8%
Maitland $397,853,500 $423,572,800  6.5%
Mid-Coast $318,439,230 $342,660,240  7.6%
Muswellbrook $53,139,670 $53,302,770  0.3%
Newcastle $1,207,395,140 $1,336,614,570  10.7%
Port Stephens $311,301,480 $326,406,030  4.9%
Singleton $84,443,640 $88,674,650  5.0%
Upper Hunter $27,703,410 $28,041,720  1.2%

Industrial overview

Industrial land values in the Hunter region overall increased strongly by 11.6%.

The largest increase in industrial land values was in Central Coast (22.2%) local government area with the strong increases driven by low interest rates, increased demand, affordability over Sydney market equivalents and good proximity to major roads including the M1 and the Pacific Highway.

More typical in the Hunter region were moderate increases including Upper Hunter (6.0%), Port Stephens (7.2%), Newcastle (7.9%), Singleton (8.5%) and Cessnock (9.3%) local government areas. The strength of the residential and commercial sectors has increased demand for industrial land. For example the strong construction activity in Newcastle CBD has increased demand for well located industrial land, however marginal industrial land in fringe locations such as Hexham and Warabrook has had limited demand resulting in steady or only slight increases.

Muswellbrook (1.0%) and Maitland (1.2%) local government areas had steady industrial land values with balanced supply and demand.


Local government area land values

LGA 01 Jul 2017 01 Jul 2018 % change
Central Coast $882,057,210 $1,077,638,510  22.2%
Cessnock $65,835,000 $71,960,710  9.3%
Dungog $2,788,650 $2,871,240  3.0%
Lake Macquarie $479,447,311 $497,495,471  3.8%
Maitland $46,079,390 $46,646,551  1.2%
Mid-Coast $157,748,680 $176,583,880  11.9%
Muswellbrook $29,343,200 $29,621,500  1.0%
Newcastle $858,418,936 $926,043,016  7.9%
Port Stephens $266,946,421 $286,058,801  7.2%
Singleton $27,177,700 $29,491,600  8.5%
Upper Hunter $11,881,500 $12,595,000  6.0%

Rural overview

Rural land values in the Hunter region increased moderately by 7.3%.

Local government areas with the strongest increases in land values were the Central Coast (10.5%) and Cessnock (12.9%), with these locations dominated by lifestyle and rural-residential markets. The accessibility of these locations to Newcastle and Sydney, which has improved with recent infrastructure projects, has increased demand and driven strong rural land value increases.

Local government areas with slight to moderate increases include Maitland (4.1%), Lake Macquarie (5.7%), Singleton (7.2%), Mid-Coast (7.4%) and Port Stephens (8.7%) local government areas. Similar to other sectors the moderate increases were driven by increased demand and improved accessibility and services in some locations. Locations more remote have experienced steady to slight increases.

Muswellbrook (1.7%) local government area was the only area of steady rural land values. There were slight increases for larger grazing holdings and alluvial flats despite worsening drought as rural commodity prices and demand remained strong. Muswellbrook's rural-residential market does not benefit from good accessibility to larger markets in Newcastle and Sydney with values more aligned to Muswellbrook town which has also been steady.


Local government area land values

LGA 01 Jul 2017 01 Jul 2018 % change
Central Coast $1,355,143,400 $1,497,874,300  10.5%
Cessnock $1,542,085,572 $1,741,007,762  12.9%
Dungog $908,221,731 $936,445,111  3.1%
Lake Macquarie $724,901,010 $766,134,050  5.7%
Maitland $767,440,126 $798,951,167  4.1%
Mid-Coast $3,334,491,470 $3,581,432,120  7.4%
Muswellbrook $434,983,700 $442,541,900  1.7%
Port Stephens $940,640,181 $1,022,307,911  8.7%
Singleton $1,258,692,022 $1,349,830,115  7.2%
Upper Hunter $1,483,786,889 $1,545,521,589  4.2%