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Location and demand driving Central Coast commercial market
Commercial investors on the NSW Central Coast will have high return opportunities, supported by strong transportation links and demand for office, industrial, and retail properties.
A new report showed that the NSW Central Coast's office, industrial, and retail assets have benefited from the strong transportation links between Sydney and Newcastle.
According to the Central Coast Market Monitor Report 2025, released by LJ Hooker Commercial, the region's diverse mix of industries, with construction, manufacturing, and health care together accounting for over 40 per cent of the economy, has provided opportunities for investors.
Principal and licensee of LJ Hooker Commercial Terrigal | Erina, Ben Purdue, said the Central Coast market offered significant opportunities for savvy investors, with quality sites available for those willing to look outside of the metropolitan areas.
“The Central Coast is undergoing a significant period of transformation, increasingly appealing to occupiers seeking expansion opportunities,” Purdue said.
“Its strategic location between Sydney and Newcastle, together with strong transport links and a supportive business setting, is making the region an increasingly attractive choice for operators.”
Given the area’s transportation links to major centres, including Sydney and Newcastle, the report found that well-located warehouses and logistics stock with motorway access remained strategically crucial for buyers.
Additionally, assets in the health sector continued to perform strongly and remain a necessity for the region, given its aging population, with ease of access remaining a priority.
Purdue said the office market in Erina and Tuggerah was improving, with demand for ground-floor suites with parking and a strong profile driving plenty of interest.
“Assets that deliver on the three core fundamentals – good access and parking, quality specifications and lot sizes suited to small and medium enterprises – will continue to outshine the broader market,“ Purdue said.
While newer office spaces remain popular, demand for older stock, such as in Gosford, with no lift access or refurbished amenities, has lagged.
The report found that, to attract tenants to newer industrial strata supply, landlords on the Central Coast are offering incentives such as short rent-free periods and contributions to fit-outs.
“Owners who are prepared to refurbish and align their properties with current occupier requirements are best placed to secure competitive outcomes,” Purdue said
According to the report, beachside retail strips in Terrigal, Avoca, and The Entrance attract significant interest and competition, driven by high levels of tourism and holiday trade.
Purdue said buyers were willing to pay premiums and high rents to secure quality properties in areas commonly visited by tourists.
“With new residents arriving and some key projects nearing completion, enquiries are firming for well-presented shops with practical back of house and good servicing.”
“The beachside gap remains, but the direction for retail is up with increasing population and amenities,” Purdue concluded.