Higher Macdonald flood map & planning overlays
A planning-constraint profile of Higher Macdonald (Hawkesbury, NSW) - 87.01 km², mapped from live council and state overlay data. This suburb is highly constrained.
Everything below is suburb-wide. Overlays change block to block - see which ones actually touch your lot. The map is free.
Constraint readout
87.01 km² - this suburb is highly constrained by planning overlays.
Elevation hillshade with street names, clipped to Higher Macdonald's boundary, with the flood, bushfire and environmental overlays drawn on top. It shows where constraints fall; the interactive map shows them on your exact address.
Higher Macdonald at a glance
How Higher Macdonald is zoned
Buying in Higher Macdonald? The zoning, flood and bushfire lines on the section 10.7 certificate attached to the contract are mapped controls - see our s10.7 certificate guide.
Across its 87.01 km², Higher Macdonald is highly constrained by planning overlays. Flood mapping covers the suburb and none of it falls within a mapped flood overlay, and 100% is flagged bushfire-prone. There are 3 heritage-listed sites on record, and the dominant land-use zone is National Parks and Nature Reserves. The median lot measures about 169,236 m² across 85 parcels. These figures are suburb-wide - the overlays that actually apply to a given lot can differ block to block, which is what a property-level check tells you.
Who lives in Higher Macdonald
Census 2021 figures published by the ABS for the Higher Macdonald suburb boundary itself, not a wider region.
Socio-economic standing
ABS SEIFA 2021 ranks every Australian suburb. Decile 1 is the most disadvantaged tenth of the country, decile 10 the least.
Score 1010, and decile 6 within New South Wales. The national average is 1000.
Population trend, 2001 to 2025
Estimated resident population of Bilpin - Colo - St Albans, the wider ABS statistical area containing Higher Macdonald. There is no annual population series published at suburb level, so this describes the surrounding area rather than Higher Macdonald itself.
2,518 in 2001 to 2,781 in 2025, up 10%.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) and SEIFA 2021, both published at the Suburbs and Localities level; Regional Population (estimated resident population) at Statistical Area Level 2. Used under CC BY 4.0. Census counts of small populations are randomly adjusted by the ABS to protect confidentiality, so figures for small suburbs are indicative.
Higher Macdonald data sources and coverage
Every figure below is an aggregate for the suburb boundary. “Not mapped” means LayeredGeo does not hold a source layer covering this suburb; it is never an all-clear for a particular property.
| Dataset | Coverage | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Flood mapping | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Bushfire-prone mapping | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Zoning | Mapped | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Heritage and environment | Mapped where published | NSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies |
| Demographics | Available | Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021 Census and SEIFA) |
Profile last materially updated 5 August 2026. See the methodology and full source list. Source data changes over time and critical decisions should be checked with the responsible authority.
Check a specific Higher Macdonald address
See exactly which overlays touch a single property - the interactive map is free. Need it on paper? A full planning PDF is just $9.
See what's in the $9 report →Higher Macdonald planning - frequently asked
Where can I see a flood map of Higher Macdonald?
The schematic on this page is a Higher Macdonald flood map: the mapped flood overlays drawn over the suburb's terrain and street grid. Flood lines vary block to block, so for a specific property use the free interactive map - search any Higher Macdonald address and it shows the flood, zoning and bushfire mapping on the exact lot boundary.
Is Higher Macdonald flood-prone?
Flood mapping covers Higher Macdonald and none of the suburb falls within a mapped flood overlay (the council-wide suburb average is 1%). Flood overlays vary block to block, so whether a particular lot is affected needs a property-level check.
Is Higher Macdonald bushfire-prone?
Yes - around 100% of Higher Macdonald is mapped as bushfire-prone, compared with a Hawkesbury average of 84%. A bushfire-prone designation can trigger additional building requirements, so check the specific address.
What is the zoning in Higher Macdonald?
The dominant planning zone in Higher Macdonald is National Parks and Nature Reserves, though the suburb also includes Environmental Living and Rural Landscape. Zoning sets what you can build and do on a site, and can differ lot by lot.
Does Higher Macdonald have heritage-listed places?
Higher Macdonald has 3 heritage-listed places on record. Heritage listing affects what you can alter or demolish, so confirm whether a specific property is listed or near a heritage place.
What is the typical lot size in Higher Macdonald?
Across 85 surveyed parcels in Higher Macdonald, the median lot size is about 169,236 m². There are also 4 registered easements mapped in the suburb - an easement can restrict where you can build, so always check the title and overlays for the specific lot.
Is Higher Macdonald an advantaged suburb?
On the ABS SEIFA 2021 index of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD), Higher Macdonald scores 1010 and sits in decile 7 of 10 nationally and decile 6 within New South Wales - decile 1 being the most disadvantaged tenth of Australian suburbs and decile 10 the least. The national average score is 1000. SEIFA summarises income, education, occupation and housing across the whole suburb, so it describes the area, not any particular household in it.
Do I need a planning report for a Higher Macdonald property?
A Higher Macdonald planning report pulls every overlay - zoning, flood, bushfire, heritage and environmental - that touches a single lot, on live council and state data. The interactive map preview is free; a full PDF report is $9.
Compare nearby suburbs
| Nearby suburb | Distance | Flood mapped | Bushfire-prone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perrys Crossing | 8.3 km | 0% | 100% |
| Upper Macdonald | 10.0 km | 0% | 100% |
| Womerah | 11.3 km | 0% | 100% |
| Fernances | 11.7 km | 0% | 100% |
| St Albans | 15.1 km | 0% | 100% |
| Mellong | 16.2 km | 0% | 100% |
| Yengo Cessnock |
16.4 km | 0% | 100% |
| Mogo Creek | 16.6 km | 0% | 100% |
| Webbs Creek | 18.9 km | 0% | 100% |
| Central Macdonald | 19.8 km | 0% | 100% |