Median house price
$777k
+11% change
SA · Adelaide Hills Council
Birdwood, 5234
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,485
Growth (1 yr)
+0.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.3%
Median age
43
Median income
$1,754/wk
Employment rate
63.4%
Median house price · Q1 2026
$777,000
Languages at home
1.8%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Heritage area
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Birdwood is a hillside smaller community in Adelaide Hills Council, with elevated streets and a greener, quieter pace. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. Heritage streetscapes remain visible even as renewal refreshes selected pockets of the suburb.
Desirability lands around average here: softer parks and green space weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with community and employment, plus growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Birdwood snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$560/wk
Houses $585 · Units $345
Population (ERP)
1,485
+0.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.7%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#17
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
33rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
66th
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
45th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 41.2/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3545th in Australia
- State rank
- 369th in SA
- Peer rank
- #17 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #62 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $345
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $585
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $560
- Median house price (Q1 2026)
- $777,000
- Median price change
- +11%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Median house sale prices cover metropolitan Adelaide and selected fringe councils (19 LGAs, including Adelaide Hills and Gawler), not all of regional South Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- SA rent report & metro median house sales — Government of South Australia · 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
1,485(June 2025)
+0.8% annual · +2.3% over 5 years · 66th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.8%
- 5-year growth
- +2.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +12
- Change in 5 years
- +33
- Growth rank in SA
- 66th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~1,500), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,376
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,754
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 40 of 519
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,602
- Employment rate
- 63.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 467 / 12 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 33
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 27
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 22.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 229 residents
- State safety percentile
- 32.9th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 6
- Increase (daily rate)
- +18.2%
Most common offence types
- Obtain Benefit By Deception3
- Other Property Damage And Environmental4
- Other Theft6
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury4
- Theft From Motor Vehicle4
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated · Financial-year releases
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 995.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 45th
School list
- Birdwood High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 996 · 45th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 555 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Birdwood Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 995 · 44th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 194 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- Government education sites register — Government of South Australia · current · Updated
- School ICSEA (ACARA) — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Shannon St - North side (Birdwood PO)
- Shannon St - South side (Birdwood PO)
- Torrens Valley Rd / August St - South side (Birdwood CFS Station)
- Torrens Valley Rd / Lang Cres - North side (Birdwood CFS Station)
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Adelaide Metro GTFS stops — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · current · Updated
Amenities
4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 6/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.73
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Park
- Sports field
Other(2)
- Birdwood CFSFire station
67 Shannon Street, Birdwood
- CaltexPetrol station
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Mount Pleasant District Hospital (8.7 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 43
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 29.0
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 29° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 67 mm · ~8 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 97 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 119 mm · ~15 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 28 proposals
August 2026
- Carport16 TALUNGA ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Variation to Development Authorisation 23027879 - Alteration of storage building to shipping containers58 SHANNON ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
July 2026
- Tree damaging activity (removal of one (1) regulated tree)7 EDWARD ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Fibreglass swimming pool & associated safety barrier14 TALUNGA ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Ancillary accommodation6 CHURCH ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Carport12 WILLIAM ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling with front portico & alfresco (UMR) and outbuilding (carport)9 MCVITTIES RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Change of use to include animal keeping (maximum of 20 dogs)165 MCVITTIES RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Change of use from horticulture (vineyards) to horticulture (orchards) on land, installation of protective tree netting structures over orchards and installation of one freestanding 50 kilowatt solar array.1282 TORRENS VALLEY RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Land division in the form of a boundary realignment (3 allotments into 2 allotments)197 PEAKE RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Pergola13 WILLIAM ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Additions and alterations to an existing dwelling and the construction of a deck, verandah, ancillary accommodation and outbuilding (garage)15 POOL ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
June 2026
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling35 POOL ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Verandah and Installation of Associated Swimming Pool Safety Features112 MUELLERS RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Building Alterations (Internal)12 TALUNGA ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Change of use to an indoor recreational facility (gym)SHOP 1-6 20 SHANNON ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- VerandahUNIT 3 18 WILLIAM ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
May 2026
- Construction of an outbuilding31 OLIVEDALE ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Verandah6 STUCKEY RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Verandah26 OLIVEDALE ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Partial Change of use to a function venue (Maximum capacity of 75 persons on 2-3 occasions per month)107 BLOCKS RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
April 2026
- Single-storey detached dwelling7 CROMER RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Argicultural building and outbuilding (retrospective)165 MCVITTIES RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
March 2026
- Single Storey Dwelling & combined fence & retaining walls49 SHANNON ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
February 2026
- Verandah287 CROMER RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- External building alteration (Repointing / repair of two sections of stonework - National Motor Museum)LOT 201 SHANNON ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- verandahUNIT 1 32A WILLIAM ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
January 2026
- Tourist Accommodation unit and associated carport44 POSEN RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
2025· 18 proposals
December 2025
- Combined ancillary accommodation and agricultural building with deck112 MUELLERS RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
November 2025
- Land division - Boundary realignment (2 into 2)4A SHANNON ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234;6 SHANNON ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
October 2025
- Building Alterations - Building renewal work to roof gutters, fixtures and fittings and external wall treatments (Birdwood Institute)42 SHANNON ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Single storey group dwelling and associated retaining walls and fencingUNIT 2 32A WILLIAM ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
September 2025
- storage shed18 THIELE RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Construction of a domestic outbuildingUNIT 1 32A WILLIAM ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Outbuilding2 POOL ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
August 2025
- Verandah & CarportUNIT 1 29 POOL ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Construction of dwelling additions and a deck.13 POOL ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Community title land division (1 into 2)73 SHANNON ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Under Assessment
- Construct two freestanding carports16 RANDELL RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Workers accommodation83 BURTON RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Outbuilding6 CHURCH ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Construction of addition to consulting rooms, and extension of verandah18 HARMS AV BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Single story detached dwelling and outbuildings (shed and greenhouse)11A OLIVEDALE ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Construction of a domestic outbuilding6 TALUNGA ST BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
July 2025
- Construction of an agricultural building, with two associated shipping containersLOT 6291 RANDELL RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
- Single storey alterations & additions including a garage and verandah & spa pool with associated safety features66 BLACK SNAKE RD BIRDWOOD SA 5234Decision Made
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · 2026 · Updated
Heritage
13 heritage places
- Birdwood Institute42 Shannon Street BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- Birdwood Soldiers Memorial Arch42A Shannon Street BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- Former Pflaum House & garden (Birdwood Area School)46 Shannon Street BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- Former Stables, Birdwood Mill11 Shannon Street BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- Former primary school35 Shannon Street BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- Former wattle bark mill & posts, Birdwood Mill15 Shannon Street BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- Lutheran church, manse, palm tree & shed2017 Warren Road BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- Shop & residence (former Pflaum store and residence)11 Shannon Street BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- St Matthews Catholic Church, cemetery & railings2 Shannon Street BIRDWOODLocal heritage
- Stony Creek BridgeNear 1609 Torrens Valley Road [316,945E 6,147,106N] BIRDWOODLocal heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Bushfire & hazard overlays (SA) — Government of South Australia · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Mayo
- Member of Parliament
- Rebekha SHARKIE (Centre Alliance)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 137,818
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +3.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 45.0%Labor 55.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 15.4 km away).
Coalition 48.4%Labor 51.6%
3.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- BirdwoodLabor 53.0% · Coalition 47.0% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- Mount TorrensLabor 42.1% · Coalition 57.9% TPP (2025)6.5 km away
- ForrestonLabor 46.9% · Coalition 53.1% TPP (2025)7.9 km away
- GumerachaLabor 53.5% · Coalition 46.5% TPP (2025)9.3 km away
- KersbrookLabor 49.2% · Coalition 50.8% TPP (2025)12.6 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Adelaide Hills Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.