Median house price
$840k
-3.6% change
SA · Port Adelaide Enfield Council
Birkenhead, 5015
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,935
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.3%
Median age
39
Median income
$1,598/wk
Employment rate
65.8%
Median house price · Q1 2026
$840,000
Languages at home
9%non-English
Most common: Greek, Italian, Croatian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Birkenhead is a well-connected smaller community in Port Adelaide Enfield Council with everyday amenities close at hand. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Desirability sits below average overall, with parks and green space, plus growth momentum the main drag compared with similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Birkenhead snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$605/wk
Houses $625 · Units $353
Population (ERP)
1,935
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.2%
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
#133
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Safety
65th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
55th
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
55th
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
- 37.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4199th in Australia
- State rank
- 443rd in SA
- Peer rank
- #133 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #303 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $352.5
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $625
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $605
- Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- 15
- Median house price (Q1 2026)
- $840,000
- Median price change
- -3.6%
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
1,935(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +5.3% over 5 years · 55th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.6%
- 5-year growth
- +5.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +11
- Change in 5 years
- +97
- Growth rank in SA
- 55th 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 (~1,950), extrapolated at +0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,798
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,598
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 50 of 812
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,543
- Employment rate
- 65.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 672 / 61 / 34
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)
- 97
- Against the person
- 29
- Against property
- 68
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 50.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 62 residents
- State safety percentile
- 65.3th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 123
- Increase (daily rate)
- +8.1%
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental25
- Other Theft16
- Sct - Residence5
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury22
- Theft From Motor Vehicle11
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
- 1 (1 schools, 1 preschools)
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,018
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 55th
School list
- Le Fevre Peninsula Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 902 · 11th percentile · LBOTE 26% · 232 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
- Dominican SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1048 · 68th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 230 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Largs Bay SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1018 · 55th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 418 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Le Fevre High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 951 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 456 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Portside Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1067 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 626 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Le Fevre Kindergarten Inc14 Hughes StreetPreschools
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
9 public transport stops in this suburb
- Stop 41C Semaphore Rd - North side
- Stop 42D Semaphore Rd - North side
- Stop 43 Fletcher Rd - East side
- Stop 44 Fletcher Rd - West side
- Stop School Victoria Rd / Hilton St
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
32 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 pubs · 1 fast food · 1 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 9 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 18/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.11
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.56
Food & drink(2)
- Port ExpressFast food
95 Victoria Road
- Birkenhead TavernPub
Community(1)
- Le Fevre Peninsula PrimarySchool
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Birkenhead ReservePark
- Playground
- Sports field
Transport(7)
7 bus stops
Other(12)
- Artwork
- Attraction (2)
- Bench
- The Candle DenHouseware
15 Heath Street
- Parking (7)
- Parking Space
- Picnic Table
- Public Bookcase
- Public toilets
- Shelter
- Slipway
- Telephone
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)
- 1
- 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
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (6.1 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)
- 68
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.1
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
- 27° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 49 mm · ~6 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 94 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 161 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 95 mm · ~12 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· 21 proposals
July 2026
- Building additions & alterations - demolition of verandah, construction of a dwelling addition76 FLETCHER RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
- Carport to side of dwelling16 GUNN ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Garage on rear boundary57 FLETCHER RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
- Swimming pool & safety fences43 CLOSE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Swimming Pool and Safety Fence26 ROSE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Ancillary accommodation41 FLETCHER RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
June 2026
- Various screening25 GUNN ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Garage/shed26 ROSE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
May 2026
- Carport35 MEAD ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Dwelling additions, associated building alterations and verandah51 MEAD ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
April 2026
- New decking25 GUNN ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Spa and safety barrier279 SEMAPHORE RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- The proposed development is a hospitality venue intended to operate as a café and private event space. The building will include an indoor dining area with approximately 60–70 seats, a service counter, commercial kitchen, dry store and dishwashing areas, staff preparation spaces, and accessible public amenities. The design references the port’s industrial and maritime character, incorporating features such as arched openings, shutter-style elements, and a coastal material palette including rendeLOT 14 NELSON ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- 1 into 3 Land division (creating 2 additional allotments)31 GUNN ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Alterations and additions to existing dwelling5 LITTLE CRAIGIE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
March 2026
- Verandah (louvre opening roof system)49 FLETCHER RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Garage and attached carport ancillary to existing dwelling91 VICTORIA RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Dwelling addition including internal building alterations, partial demolition and construction of shed and fence19 CLOSE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
February 2026
- New 8m x 6.5m skillion roof garage positioned as close to the side boundaries as possible. Both neighboring garages are on the boundary. I would like to go as close to those garages as possible. The garage builder/installer have stated that they can go close as long as council approve it. I'm guessing the gap between my garage and both neighbors garages could be approximately 150-200mm each side so as to allow some breathing space!?80 ROBERTS ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Three detached dwellings and removal of two Regulated trees.31 GUNN ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
January 2026
- Building alterations - internal alterations & new cladding33 GUNN ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling addition and associated building alterations18 ROSE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Verandah over existing deck21 DARTON ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Replacement verandah at rear of dwelling63 FLETCHER RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Dwelling alterations and additions59 EMILY ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
November 2025
- Dwelling additions and building alterations with associated new carport, front porch and rear verandah35 BAKER ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Dwelling addition and alterations, and extension of existing front and rear verandahs24 ROSE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
- Carport78 FLETCHER RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Outbuilding in the form of a shed and garaport14 CRAIGIE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
October 2025
- Masonry front fence with metal infills2A CLOSE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- verandah6 CLOSE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Land Division - 1 Allotment into 2 Allotments; and removal of a regulated tree60 ROBERTS ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Demolish Rear Lean-to / Rear Verandah & Class 1A outbuilding - construct a Lower & Upper Storey Addition with a Verandah57 FLETCHER RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Dwelling alterations and addition and construction of a partially enclosed verandah and deck64 ROBERTS ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
September 2025
- Domestic outbuilding (shed)33 DARTON ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
August 2025
- Partial demolition works35 BAKER ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Partial Demolition of Existing Wharf InfrastructureLOT 106 ELDER RD PETERHEAD SA 5016;LOT 201 ELDER RD LARGS BAY SA 5016;LOT 45 STIRLING ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015;UNIT 1-2 LOT 10 ELDER RD LARGS NORTH SA 5016Decision Made
- Swimming pool and safety barriers76 FLETCHER RD BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
July 2025
- Two, two storey detached dwellings45C MEAD ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015;45D MEAD ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- New two storey dwelling60 EMILY ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
June 2025
- Remove regulated (Melia azedarach) street tree10 LEVI ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Building alterations and additions, replacement carport and front verandah43 HEATH ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
April 2025
- Outbuilding comprising a garage and carport under the main roof172 HARGRAVE ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Decision Made
- Multi use development comprising function space, consulting rooms/personal establishment, indoor recreation facility (yoga and meditation)LOT 14 NELSON ST BIRKENHEAD SA 5015Under Assessment
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
Roadworks & transport
3 active roadworks / incidents
- MowingVictoria Road, Nelson St14 Apr 2026 – 17 Aug 2026
- MowingVictoria Road, Heath St11 May 2026 – 17 Aug 2026
- MowingVictoria Road, Nelson St11 May 2026 – 17 Aug 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Traffic SA road events — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · current · Updated
Heritage
7 heritage places
- Birkenhead Bridge [Metal Double Bascule]BIRKENHEADState heritage
- Birkenhead Tavern3-7 Riverview Street BIRKENHEADLocal heritage
- Former Naval Drill Hall, HMAS Encounter1 - 7 Fletcher Road BIRKENHEADState heritage
- Le Fevre Primary School buildings207-245 Semaphore Road BIRKENHEADLocal heritage
- Two storey row house9 Mead Street BIRKENHEADLocal heritage
- Two storey row house11 Mead Street BIRKENHEADLocal heritage
- Two storey row house7 Mead Street BIRKENHEADLocal heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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
- Hindmarsh
- Member of Parliament
- Mark BUTLER (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 131,379
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +7.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 33.6%Labor 66.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.0 km away).
Coalition 22.9%Labor 77.1%
10.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- BirkenheadLabor 78.6% · Coalition 21.4% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- SemaphoreLabor 74.8% · Coalition 25.2% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Largs BayLabor 75.4% · Coalition 24.6% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Largs Bay WestLabor 72.8% · Coalition 27.2% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Semaphore SouthLabor 76.5% · Coalition 23.5% TPP (2025)1.6 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)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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 Port Adelaide Enfield Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.