Forresters Beach

NSW 2260 • Greater Sydney

3,354
Population (2021)
$42,588
Median Income
2.77 km²
Area
$470/wk
Median Rent
BeachsideCoastalFamily-FriendlyPeacefulEstablished

About Forresters Beach

Forresters Beach is a peaceful coastal suburb on the New South Wales Central Coast, situated within the Central Coast City Council area approximately 75 kilometres north of Sydney. Set across 2.8 square kilometres at a modest elevation of 47 metres above the beach strip, it recorded a population of 3,354 at the 2021 Census — a significant increase from 2,900 in 2016, reflecting growing demand for coastal living outside Sydney. With a median age of 44 and a high proportion of married residents, Forresters Beach has the character of an established and family-orientated community.

The suburb's main drawcard is its proximity to the beach and the broader Terrigal-Avoca Beach coastal corridor, popular for swimming, surfing, and outdoor recreation. Residents are within a short drive of Terrigal village, which offers cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and essential services. Gosford station, about 12 kilometres away, provides rail connections to Sydney via the T1 Central Coast and Newcastle Line, and the suburb is well-positioned for those seeking a sea-change lifestyle while maintaining reasonable access to the city. Its very low social housing rate and above-average household income signal a predominantly owner-occupier, aspirational demographic.

Forresters Beach falls under postcode 2260 and is governed by Central Coast Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Terrigal electorate.

📍 Location

Postcode
2260
Urban Area
Gosford - East
LGA / Council
Federal Electorate
State Electorate
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-33.41°, 151.47°
Statistical Area
Greater Sydney
Area
2.77 km²
Elevation
47m

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Gosford
12 km
N/A (drive/bus)
Wyong
14 km
N/A (drive/bus)

Bus Services

  • Busways Central Coast services — Gosford / Terrigal 15-25 min

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
75 km
By Train
Drive/bus to Gosford then train to Sydney Central (~85-100 min total)
By Car (Peak)
80-110 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
65-80 min

🛣️ Pacific Motorway (M1) provides the main road connection to Sydney

Walkability Car-Dependent

Car is needed for almost all errands; walking is primarily recreational along the beach and coastal paths

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🔍 Crime Statistics

NSW crime data is provided by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). Use the interactive tool below to explore recorded crime incidents in Forresters Beach by offence type, year and trend.

📊 View Forresters Beach Crime Statistics on BOCSAR ↗

Data source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Search for "Forresters Beach" under Suburb

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$470
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,171
Avg Household Size
2.6 people
Median Age
44 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
0.2%

0 state housing + 3 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,900
Census 2021
3,354
15.7% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Income 2016
$35,932
Income 2021
$42,588
18.5% increase

Income Comparison

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 2,734
Born Overseas 482

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 173
  • 2. New Zealand 42
  • 3. South Africa 23
  • 4. Ireland 17
  • 5. Germany 16
  • 6. Scotland 16
  • 7. United States 13
  • 8. Brazil 12
  • 9. China 10
  • 10. Egypt 10

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 1,543
Australian 1,336
Irish 531
Scottish 383
German 117
Australian Aboriginal 100
Italian 89
Dutch 67
Chinese 45
Maltese 45

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,102
Both parents born in Australia
611
Both parents born overseas
490
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
52.2%
No Religion
40.6%
Buddhism
0.7%
Islam
0.3%
Sikhism
0.2%
Hinduism
0.1%
Judaism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
177 (5.3%)
5-14 years
464 (13.8%)
15-19 years
181 (5.4%)
20-24 years
163 (4.9%)
25-34 years
295 (8.8%)
35-44 years
407 (12.1%)
45-54 years
424 (12.6%)
55-64 years
384 (11.4%)
65-74 years
463 (13.8%)
75-84 years
315 (9.4%)
85+ years
82 (2.4%)

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