View source for City of Lake Macquarie

{{About|the [[Local government in Australia|local government area]]|the lake|Lake Macquarie (New South Wales)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type              = lga
| name              = City of Lake Macquarie 
| state             = nsw
| image             ={{multiple image
  | border        = infobox
  | total_width   = 280
  | perrow        = 1/1
  | caption_align = center
  | image1        = Lake Macquarie (Swansea - Pulbah).jpg
  | caption1      = [[Lake Macquarie (New South Wales)|Lake Macquarie]], after which the LGA is named
  | image2        = Lake Macquarie LGA location map.svg
  | caption2      = Location in [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Greater Newcastle]]
}}
| coordinates       = {{Coord|33|02|S|151|38|E|type:city_region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title}}
| pop               = 213,845
| pop_year          = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes     = <ref name="Census2021">{{cite news|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA14650|title=2021 Lake Macquarie, Census All persons QuickStats|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|accessdate=29 June 2023}}</ref>
| pop2               = 
| pop2_year          = 
| pop2_footnotes     = <ref name=ABS3218.0>{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=27 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019}} Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.</ref>
| poprank           = 23rd
| density           = 315
| density_footnotes = 
| est               = {{Plainlist|
* 7 March 1906 (Shire)
* March 1 1977 (Municipality)
* 7 September 1984 (City)
}}
| local_map = yes
| zoom     = 9
| area              = 648
| area_footnotes    = <ref>{{Census 2011 AUS|id=LGA14650|name=Lake Macquarie (Local Government Area)|accessdate=10 September 2012}}</ref>
| timezone          = [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]]
| utc               = +10
| timezone-dst      = [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]]
| utc-dst           = +11
| mayor             = Adam Shultz ([[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]])
| dist1             = 
| dir1              = 
| location1         = <!-- Sydney -->
| dist2             = 
| dir2              = 
| location2         = <!-- [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] -->
| seat              = [[Speers Point, New South Wales|Speers Point]]
| region            = [[Hunter Region|Hunter]]<ref name=lga>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_Regions.asp?regiontype=2&slacode=4650&region=HT|title=Suburb Search – Local Council Boundaries – Hunter (HT) – Lake Macquarie City Council|publisher=[[New South Wales Division of Local Government]]|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116195147/http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_Regions.asp?regiontype=2&slacode=4650&region=HT|archive-date=16 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| stategov          = [[Electoral district of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Lake-Macquarie |title = Lake Macquarie Electoral District|access-date = 23 November 2019 |publisher = [[New South Wales Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
| stategov2         = [[Electoral district of Swansea|Swansea]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Swansea|title = Swansea Electoral District |access-date = 23 November 2019 |publisher = [[New South Wales Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
| stategov3         = [[Electoral district of Charlestown|Charlestown]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Charlestown|title = Charlestown Electoral District |access-date =23 November 2019 |publisher = [[New South Wales Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
| stategov4         = [[Electoral district of Cessnock|Cessnock]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Cessnock|title = Cessnock Electoral District |access-date =23 November 2019 |publisher = [[New South Wales Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
| stategov5         = [[Electoral district of Wallsend|Wallsend]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Wallsend|title = Wallsend Electoral District |access-date =23 November 2019 |publisher = [[New South Wales Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
| fedgov            = [[Division of Shortland|Shortland]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Shortland&filterby=Electorate|title=Shortland|publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]]|date=26 July 2012|access-date=6 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224101536/http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Shortland&filterby=Electorate|archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref>
| fedgov2           = [[Division of Hunter|Hunter]]
| logo              = Logo of Lake Macquarie City.svg
| url               = http://www.lakemac.com.au
| near-n            = [[City of Newcastle|Newcastle]]
| near-ne           = [[City of Newcastle|Newcastle]]
| near-e            = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-se           = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-s            = [[Central Coast Council (New South Wales)|Central Coast]]
| near-sw           = [[Central Coast Council (New South Wales)|Central Coast]], [[City of Cessnock|Cessnock]]
| near-w            = [[City of Cessnock|Cessnock]]
| near-nw           = [[City of Maitland|Maitland]]
}}
The '''City of Lake Macquarie''' is a [[Local government in Australia|local government area]] (LGA) in the [[Hunter Region]] in [[New South Wales]], Australia. It was proclaimed a city on 7 September 1984.  It is adjacent to the city of [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] and is part of the [[Greater Newcastle]] area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Plans-for-your-area/Greater-Newcastle-metropolitan-planning|title=Greater Newcastle metropolitan planning – Department of Planning and Environment|website=planning.nsw.gov.au|access-date=2017-07-13}}</ref> The city is approximately {{Convert|150|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of [[Sydney]]. One of its major tourist attractions is its lake, also named [[Lake Macquarie (New South Wales)|Lake Macquarie]].

The [[mayor]] of the city is [[Councillor]] Adam Shultz, a member of the [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor Party]].<ref name="mayor">{{cite web|url=https://www.lakemac.com.au/news/2016/09/19/lake-macquarie-city-council%E2%80%99s-2016-election-declared|title=Lake Macquarie City Council Results (2016)|date=19 September 2016|publisher=Lake Macquarie City Council|access-date=25 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326050506/https://www.lakemac.com.au/news/2016/09/19/lake-macquarie-city-council%E2%80%99s-2016-election-declared|archive-date=26 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Royal Australian Navy]] ship {{HMAS|Tobruk|L 50|6}} was granted the [[Freedom of the City|Right of Freedom of Entry]] to the city on 9 August 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gregpiper1.com/download/get-document/mediarelease/20|title=Legend of ANZAC|first=Greg|last=Piper|author-link=Greg Piper|page=6|date=April 2010|access-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008030940/http://www.gregpiper1.com/download/get-document/mediarelease/20|archive-date=8 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
{{Section-stub|date=May 2025}}
The Shire of Lake Macquarie was proclaimed on 6 March 1906. It became a municipality on 1 March 1977, and a city on 7 September 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lakemac.com.au/council/about/history|title=Council History: Lake Macquarie City Council|publisher=City of Lake Macquarie|date=2 March 2007|access-date=1 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hvrf.com.au/pages/hrf/hunter_history_highlights.php|title=Hunter History Highlights|publisher=Hunter Valley Research Foundation|access-date=1 June 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071225012441/http://www.hvrf.com.au/pages/hrf/hunter_history_highlights.php<!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=25 December 2007}}</ref>

==Suburbs, towns and villages==
Lake Macquarie is home to several prominent coastal suburbs such as [[Catherine Hill Bay, New South Wales|Catherine Hill Bay]], [[Caves Beach, New South Wales|Caves Beach]], [[Blacksmiths, New South Wales|Blacksmiths]] and [[Redhead, New South Wales|Redhead]]. Retail and commercial centres include [[Belmont, New South Wales|Belmont]], [[Cardiff, New South Wales|Cardiff]], [[Charlestown, New South Wales|Charlestown]] [[Glendale, New South Wales|Glendale]], [[Swansea, New South Wales|Swansea]], [[Toronto, New South Wales|Toronto]] and [[Morisset, New South Wales|Morisset]].

The towns and villages in the city are split into three wards – East, North and West.<ref>{{cite news |title=Updated Ward Boundaries |url=https://www.lakemac.com.au/Our-Council/Councillors-and-wards/Updated-ward-boundaries |accessdate=30 March 2024 |publisher=}}</ref> These include:

{{col-start}}
{{col-3}}
;East Ward
* [[Belmont, New South Wales|Belmont]]
* [[Belmont North, New South Wales|Belmont North]]
* [[Belmont South, New South Wales|Belmont South]]
* [[Bennetts Green, New South Wales|Bennetts Green]]
* [[Blacksmiths, New South Wales|Blacksmiths]]
* [[Cams Wharf, New South Wales|Cams Wharf]]
* [[Catherine Hill Bay, New South Wales|Catherine Hill Bay]]
* [[Caves Beach, New South Wales|Caves Beach]]
* [[Charlestown, New South Wales|Charlestown]]<ref group>Shared with North Ward</ref>
* [[Crangan Bay, New South Wales|Crangan Bay]]<ref group=n name=CCC>Shared with [[Central Coast Council (New South Wales)|Central Coast Council]]</ref>
* [[Croudace Bay, New South Wales|Croudace Bay]]
* [[Eleebana, New South Wales|Eleebana]]
* [[Floraville, New South Wales|Floraville]]
* [[Gateshead, New South Wales|Gateshead]]
* [[Jewells, New South Wales|Jewells]]
* [[Little Pelican, New South Wales|Little Pelican]]
* [[Marks Point, New South Wales|Marks Point]]
* [[Moonee, New South Wales|Moonee]]<ref group=n name=CCC>Shared with [[Central Coast Council (New South Wales)|Central Coast Council]]</ref>
* [[Mount Hutton, New South Wales|Mount Hutton]]
* [[Murrays Beach, New South Wales|Murrays Beach]]
* [[Nords Wharf, New South Wales|Nords Wharf]]
* [[Pelican, New South Wales|Pelican]]
* [[Pinny Beach, New South Wales|Pinny Beach]]
* [[Redhead, New South Wales|Redhead]]
* [[Swansea, New South Wales|Swansea]]
* [[Swansea Heads, New South Wales|Swansea Heads]]
* [[Tingira Heights, New South Wales|Tingira Heights]]
* [[Valentine, New South Wales|Valentine]]
* [[Warners Bay, New South Wales|Warners Bay]]<ref group>Shared with North Ward</ref>
* [[Windale, New South Wales|Windale]]
{{col-3}}
;North Ward
* [[Adamstown Heights, New South Wales|Adamstown Heights]]<ref group=n name=NCC>Shared with City of Newcastle</ref>
* [[Boolaroo, New South Wales|Boolaroo]]
* [[Cameron Park, New South Wales|Cameron Park]]
* [[Cardiff, New South Wales|Cardiff]]
* [[Cardiff Heights, New South Wales|Cardiff Heights]]
* [[Cardiff South, New South Wales|Cardiff South]]
* [[Charlestown, New South Wales|Charlestown]]<ref group>Shared with East Ward</ref>
* [[Dudley, New South Wales|Dudley]]
* [[Edgeworth, New South Wales|Edgeworth]]
* [[Elermore Vale, New South Wales|Elermore Vale]]<ref group=n name=NCC>Shared with City of Newcastle</ref>
* [[Garden Suburb, New South Wales|Garden Suburb]]
* [[Glendale, New South Wales|Glendale]]
* [[Highfields, New South Wales|Highfields]]
* [[Hillsborough, New South Wales|Hillsborough]]
* [[Kahibah, New South Wales|Kahibah]]
* [[Kotara South, New South Wales|Kotara South]]<ref group=n name=NCC>Shared with City of Newcastle</ref>
* [[Lakelands, New South Wales|Lakelands]]
* [[Macquarie Hills, New South Wales|Macquarie Hills]]
* [[New Lambton Heights, New South Wales|New Lambton Heights]]<ref group=n name=NCC>Shared with City of Newcastle</ref>
* [[Rankin Park, New South Wales|Rankin Park]]<ref group=n name=NCC>Shared with City of Newcastle</ref>
* [[Seahampton, New South Wales|Seahampton]]
* [[Speers Point, New South Wales|Speers Point]]
* [[Warners Bay, New South Wales|Warners Bay]]<ref group>Shared with East Ward</ref>
* [[West Wallsend, New South Wales|West Wallsend]]
* [[Whitebridge, New South Wales|Whitebridge]]
{{col-3}}
;West Ward
* [[Arcadia Vale, New South Wales|Arcadia Vale]]
* [[Argenton, New South Wales|Argenton]]
* [[Awaba, New South Wales|Awaba]]
* [[Balcolyn, New South Wales|Balcolyn]]
* [[Balmoral, New South Wales (Lake Macquarie)|Balmoral]]
* [[Barnsley, New South Wales|Barnsley]]
* [[Blackalls Park, New South Wales|Blackalls Park]]
* [[Bolton Point, New South Wales|Bolton Point]]
* [[Bonnells Bay, New South Wales|Bonnells Bay]]
* [[Booragul, New South Wales|Booragul]]
* [[Brightwaters, New South Wales|Brightwaters]]
* [[Buttaba, New South Wales|Buttaba]]
* [[Carey Bay, New South Wales|Carey Bay]]
* [[Coal Point, New South Wales|Coal Point]]
* [[Cooranbong, New South Wales|Cooranbong]]
* [[Dora Creek, New South Wales|Dora Creek]]
* [[Eraring, New South Wales|Eraring]]
* [[Fassifern, New South Wales|Fassifern]]
* [[Fennell Bay, New South Wales|Fennell Bay]]
* [[Fishing Point, New South Wales|Fishing Point]]
* [[Freemans Waterhole, New South Wales|Freemans Waterhole]]
* [[Holmesville, New South Wales|Holmesville]]
* [[Kilaben Bay, New South Wales|Kilaben Bay]]
* [[Killingworth, New South Wales|Killingworth]]
* [[Mandalong, New South Wales|Mandalong]]
* [[Marmong Point, New South Wales|Marmong Point]]
* [[Martinsville, New South Wales|Martinsville]]
* [[Mirrabooka, New South Wales|Mirrabooka]]
* [[Morisset, New South Wales|Morisset]]
* [[Morisset Park, New South Wales|Morisset Park]]
* [[Myuna Bay, New South Wales|Myuna Bay]]
* [[Rathmines, New South Wales|Rathmines]]
* [[Ryhope, New South Wales|Ryhope]]
* [[Silverwater, New South Wales (Lake Macquarie)|Silverwater]]
* [[Sunshine, New South Wales|Sunshine]]
* [[Teralba, New South Wales|Teralba]]
* [[Toronto, New South Wales|Toronto]]
* [[Wakefield, New South Wales|Wakefield]]
* [[Wangi Wangi, New South Wales|Wangi Wangi]]
* [[Windermere Park, New South Wales|Windermere Park]]
* [[Woodrising, New South Wales|Woodrising]]
* [[Wyee, New South Wales|Wyee]]
* [[Wyee Point, New South Wales|Wyee Point]]
* [[Yarrawonga Park, New South Wales|Yarrawonga Park]]
{{col-end}}

The [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] classifies various towns and suburbs in the LGA as being part of the [[Greater Newcastle]] [[metropolitan area|Statistical District]]. The City of Lake Macquarie has its own independent local government (Lake Macquarie City Council). The largest commercial centre in the area is Charlestown.

==Demographics==
{{Infobox demographics
| type   = Lake Macquarie suburbs (2021)
| group1 = Charlestown
| pop1   = 13,601
| group2 = Cameron Park
| pop2   = 9,977
| group3 = Warners Bay
| pop3   = 8,237
| group4 = Belmont
| pop4   = 7,289
| group5 = Cooranbong
| pop5   = 7,077
| group6 = Eleebana
| pop6   = 6,460
| group7 = Edgeworth
| pop7   = 6,401
| group8 = Cardiff
| pop8   = 6,318
| group9 = Belmont North
| pop9   = 6,291
| group10= Toronto
| pop10  = 5,973
}}

The area is a set of contiguous towns that surround a coastal saltwater lake. These towns merge with the suburbs of Newcastle to the north. Some suburbs, such as Adamstown Heights are partly in the City of Newcastle and partly within the City of Lake Macquarie. There are 92 identified settlements ranging from small rural style communities through to larger and higher density areas such as Toronto, Warners Bay, Belmont, Charlestown and Morisset.

At the {{CensusAU|2011}}, there were 189,006 people in the Lake Macquarie local government area, of these 48.8% were male and 51.2% were female. [[Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people]] made up 3.0% of the population, which was higher than the national and state averages. The [[median#Medians for populations|median]] age of people in the City of Lake Macquarie was 41 years, which was significantly higher than the national median of 37 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 18.6% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 18.4% of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 51.0% were married and 12.2% were either divorced or separated.<ref name=abs2011pop>{{Census 2011 AUS|id=LGA14650 |name=Lake Macquarie (C) (Local Government Area)|accessdate=10 September 2012|quick=on}}</ref>

Population growth in the City of Lake Macquarie between the {{CensusAU|2001}} and the {{CensusAU|2006}} was 3.36%; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 Census, population growth was 3.20%. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78% and 8.32% respectively, population growth in Lake Macquarie local government area was approximately half the national average.<ref name="Census2001"/> The median [[household income|weekly income]] for residents within the City of Lake Macquarie was marginally below the national average.<ref name=abs2011pop/><ref name="Census2006"/>

At the 2011 census, the proportion of residents in the Lake Macquarie local government area who stated their [[ancestor|ancestry]] as [[Australians|Australian]] or [[Anglo-Celtic]] exceeded 81% of all residents (national average was 65.2%). In excess of 58% of all residents in the City of Lake Macquarie nominated a [[Religion in Australia|religious]] affiliation with [[Christianity in Australia|Christianity]] at the 2011 census, which was slightly higher than the national average of 50.2%. Meanwhile, as at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the Lake Macquarie local government area had a significantly lower than average proportion (5.4%) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 20.4%); and a significantly higher proportion (93.0%) where [[Australian English|English]] only was spoken at home (national average was 76.8%).<ref name=abs2011pop/>
[[File:Croudace Bay NSW.jpg|thumb|right|Lake Macquarie at [[Croudace Bay]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Selected historical census data for Lake Macquarie local government area
|-
!colspan=3|Census year
!2001<ref name="Census2001">{{Census 2001 AUS|id=LGA14650 |name=Lake Macquarie (C) |accessdate=17 December 2012 |quick=on}}</ref>
!2006<ref name="Census2006">{{Census 2006 AUS|id=LGA14650 |name=Lake Macquarie (C) |accessdate=17 December 2012 |quick=on}}</ref>
!2011<ref name=abs2011pop/>
!2016<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=LGA14650|name=Lake Macquarie (C)|accessdate=6 November 2018|quick=on}}</ref>
!2021<ref name="Census2021"/>
|-
|rowspan=4 colspan="2"|Population 
|Estimated residents on Census night
|align="right"|{{formatnum:177185}}
|align="right"|{{formatnum:183138}}
|align="right"|{{formatnum:189006}}
|align="right"|{{formatnum:197371}}
|align="right"|{{formatnum:213845}}
|-
|align="right"|LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;4<small>th</small>
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;4<small>th</small>
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;13<small>th</small>
|align="right"| 
|-
|align="right"|% of New South Wales population
|align="right"| 
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|2.73% 
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;2.64%
|align="right"|{{profit}}&nbsp;2.65%
|-
|align="right"|% of Australian population
|align="right"|0.94%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;0.92%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;0.88%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;0.84%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.84%
|-
!colspan=3|Cultural and language diversity
! 
! 
! 
!
!
|-
|rowspan=5 colspan=2|[[ancestor|Ancestry]],<br />top responses
|[[Australians|Australian]]
|align="right"| 
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|33.7%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;32.0%
|align="right"|{{profit}}&nbsp;42.7%
|-
|[[English people|English]]
|align="right"|
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|32.2%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;31.9%
|align="right"|{{profit}}&nbsp;43.9%
|-
|[[Scottish people|Scottish]]
|align="right"|
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|8.2%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;8.6%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;11.8%
|-
|[[Irish people|Irish]]
|align="right"| 
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|7.7%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;8.3%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;10.9%
|-
|[[German people|German]]
|align="right"| 
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|3.0%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;3.1%
|align="right"| 
|-
|rowspan=7 colspan=2|Language,<br />top responses<br />(other than [[Australian English|English]])
|[[Italian language|Italian]]
|align="right"|0.3%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;0.2%
|-
|[[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]
|align="right"|0.3%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;0.2%
|-
|[[Mandarin language|Mandarin]]
|align="right"| 
|align="right"| 
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|0.3%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
|-
|[[Italian language|Italian]]
|align="right"| 
|align="right"| 
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|0.3%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;0.2%
|-
|[[German language|German]]
|align="right"|0.3%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;0.2%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.2%
|-
|[[Cantonese language|Cantonese]]
|align="right"|n/c
|align="right"|{{profit}}&nbsp;0.2%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.2%
|align="right"|
|-
|[[Spanish language|Spanish]]
|align="right"|n/c
|align="right"|n/c
|align="right"|{{profit}}&nbsp;0.2%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.2%
|align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.2%
|-
!colspan=3|Religious affiliation
! 
! 
! 
!
!
|-
|rowspan=5 colspan=2|[[Religion in Australia|Religious]] affiliation,<br />top responses
|[[Irreligion in Australia|No Religion]]
|align="right"|12.5%
|align="right"|{{profit}}&nbsp;15.5%
|align="right"|{{profit}}&nbsp;19.7%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;28.9%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;42.0%
|-
|[[Anglican Church of Australia|Anglican]]
|align="right"|29.1%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;27.6%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;26.2%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;21.3%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;15.7%
|-
|[[Roman Catholic Church in Australia|Catholic]]
|align="right"|23.0%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;22.9%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;22.8%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;20.8%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;18.0%
|-
|[[Uniting Church of Australia|Uniting Church]]
|align="right"|10.0%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;8.8%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;5.8%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;5.9%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;4.1%
|-
|[[List of Presbyterian denominations in Australia|Presbyterian and Reformed]]
|align="right"|4.4%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;4.0%
|align="right"|{{loss}}&nbsp;3.6%
|align="right"|
|align="right"|
|-
!colspan=3|Median weekly incomes
! 
! 
! 
!
!
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|Personal income
|Median weekly personal income
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|A$394 
|align="right"|A$520 
|align="right"|A$609
|align="right"|A$759
|-
|align="right"|% of Australian median income
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|84.5% 
|align="right"|90.1% 
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;92%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;94.3%
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|Family income
|Median weekly family income
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|A$922
|align="right"|A$1,396
|align="right"|A$1,610
|align="right"|A$2,050
|-
|align="right"|% of Australian median income
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|89.8%
|align="right"|94.3%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;92.8%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;96.7%
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|Household income
|Median weekly household income
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|A$1,102
|align="right"|A$1,177
|align="right"|A$1,313
|align="right"|A$1,623
|-
|align="right"|% of Australian median income
|align="right"| 
|align="right"|94.1% 
|align="right"|90.5%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;91.3%
|align="right"|{{gain}}&nbsp;93.0%
|}

==Economics==
Lake Macquarie has a significant [[coal]] mining industry and smaller agriculture and manufacturing industries. [[Eraring Power Station|Eraring power station]], a 1980s-era coal-fired power station, supplies 25% of [[New South Wales]]' power.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/hneph/EHM/Eraring.htm |title=Eraring Power Station |publisher=Hunter New England Area Health Service |year=2005 |access-date=1 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113014636/http://www1.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/hneph/EHM/Eraring.htm |archive-date=13 November 2007 }}</ref> Lake Macquarie has a number of [http://www.lakemac.com.au/page.aspx?pid=109&fid=67&ftype=FGrp&vid=1&dlp=True Constructed Wetlands] with the council placing an emphasis on the environment.

==Council==
{{See also|List of mayors of Lake Macquarie}}
[[File:Worldwind Speers Point.jpg|thumb|right|{{NSWcity|Speers Point}}, which is shown in relation to Newcastle, is the seat of government for the city of Lake Macquarie.]]

===Current composition and election method===
Lake Macquarie City Council is composed of thirteen [[councillor]]s, including the mayor, for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is [[Instant-runoff voting|directly]] elected while the twelve other Councillors are elected [[Single transferable vote|proportionally]] as three separate [[Ward (country subdivision)|wards]], each electing four Councillors. The most recent election was [[2024 New South Wales local elections|held on 14 September 2024]], and the makeup of the council, including the mayor, is as follows:

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Party
! scope="col" | Councillors
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor]]
| align=right | 6
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]]
| align=right | 3
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|lake mac independents}}|&nbsp;
| [[List of local government political parties in Australia#New South Wales|Lake Mac Independents]]
| align=right | 3
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[List of local government political parties in Australia#New South Wales|Independent]]
| align=right | 1
|-
|
| '''Total'''
| align=right | '''13'''
|}

The current Council, elected in 2024, in order of election by ward, is:
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Ward
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Councillor
! scope="col" | Party
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| scope="row" | Mayor
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Adam Shultz
| Labor
| 
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="4" | East Ward
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Christine Buckley
| Labor
|
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| Matt Shultz
| Liberal
| 
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|Labor}}|
| Stacey Radcliffe
| Labor
|
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|lake mac independents}}|&nbsp;
| Michael Hannah
| Lake Mac Independents
| 
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="4" | North Ward
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|lake mac independents}}|&nbsp;
| Colin Grigg
| Lake Mac Independents
|
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| Jack Antcliff
| Liberal
| 
|-
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Brian Adamthwaite
| Labor
| 
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| [[Pat Conroy (politician)|Keara Conroy]]
| Labor
| 
|-
| scope="row" rowspan="4" | West Ward
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|lake mac independents}}|&nbsp;
| Kate Warner
| Lake Mac Independents
|  
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Madeline Bishop
| Labor
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|liberal}}|&nbsp;
| Jason Pauling
| Liberal
|
|-
| scope="row" {{Australian party style|independent}}|&nbsp;
| Anthony Swinsburg
| Independent
| 
|-
|}

==Election results==
===2024===
{{excerpt|Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in Hunter|section=Lake Macquarie results}}

===2021===
{{excerpt|Results of the 2021 New South Wales local elections in Hunter|section=Lake Macquarie}}

==Shopping==
Major shopping centres include:
* [[Charlestown Square]]
* [[Stockland Glendale]]
* Lake Macquarie Square 

==Arts and culture==
Lake Macquarie has a number of cultural and artistic locations:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitlakemac.com.au/what-to-see-and-do/arts-and-culture|title=Arts and Culture – Lake Macquarie NSW Accommodation & Holiday Rentals – tourist visitor information & guide, accommodation bookings, attractions, activities, NSW maps & much more|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>
* Dobell House – last residence of [[William Dobell]], Wangi Wangi
* Finite Gallery, Caves Beach Fine Arts and Crafts
* Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, Booragul
* [[South Sea Islands Museum]] and Sunnyside Historic Home, Cooranbong
* The Friends of Rathmines Incorporated, Rathmines Park

==Sister cities==
The City of Lake Macquarie has [[sister city]] relations with the following cities:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lakemac.com.au/about-council/sister-cities|title=Sister Cities|publisher=Lake Macquarie City Council|access-date=18 December 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304171252/http://lakemac.com.au/about-council/sister-cities|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Hakodate, Hokkaido|Hakodate]], [[Hokkaidō]], Japan
* [[Tanagura, Fukushima|Tanagura]], [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]], Japan
* [[Rotorua]], [[Bay of Plenty Region|Bay of Plenty]], New Zealand
* [[Round Rock, Texas|Round Rock]], [[Texas]], United States of America<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/departments/planning-and-development-services/historic-preservation/historic-round-rock-collection/political-structure/|title=Round Rock, Texas Political Structure|publisher=Round Rock City Council|access-date=12 February 2020|archive-date=13 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813131632/https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/departments/planning-and-development-services/historic-preservation/historic-round-rock-collection/political-structure/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|New South Wales}}
{{Wikivoyage|City of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales}}
{{Commons category|City of Lake Macquarie}}
* [http://www.lakemac.com.au Lake Macquarie City Council]
* [http://www.lakemacquarie.com Lake Macquarie Business Directory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129034320/http://lakemacquarie.com/ |date=29 November 2020 }}
* [http://www.lakemacquariecity.com.au Lake Macquarie City]
* [http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_regions.asp?regiontype=0 Clickable map of New South Wales LGAs] (NSW Dept. of Local Government)
* [http://www.rathmines.org Rathmines Community Website and Forum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521063736/http://rathmines.org/ |date=21 May 2017 }}
* {{statoids|id=yau|title=Shires of Australia}}

{{Cities of Australia}}
{{City of Lake Macquarie suburbs}}
{{Local Government Areas of New South Wales}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lake Macquarie}}
[[Category:City of Lake Macquarie| ]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in Australia]]