SA · Unley Council
Black Forest, SA, 5035
Current weather
11.9°CDense drizzle
85% humidity · 23.9 km/h wind · 13.3° / 10.8° today · 33.2 mm rain
Desirability index
#46 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Black Forest is a small locality in the Unley area, home to around 1,982 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 84 offences in 2024–25 (Jul–Jun), roughly 42.4 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $510 (flats $480, houses $635), median house prices near $1,485,500 (up 36% recently), 1 school and preschool site in the area, 11 public transport stops within the suburb, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, 8 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 1,982
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,664
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 66 of 916
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 63.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 41 / 71 / 272
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $480
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $635
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $510
- Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- 10
- Median house price (Q1 2026)
- $1,485,500
- Median price change
- +36.3%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- SA Housing Authority rent & sales reports — Government of South Australia · Period: 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 84
- Against the person
- 18
- Against property
- 66
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 42.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 110 residents
- State safety percentile
- 58.3th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 39
- Year-on-year change
- 0%
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental15
- Other Theft17
- Sct - Residence11
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury8
- Theft From Motor Vehicle7
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Period: 2024-25; 2024-25 → 2024-25 · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,108
- Black Forest Primary SchoolPrimary · ICSEA 1108
Data sources & freshness
- Government education sites register — Government of South Australia · Period: current · Updated on site · Static register
- School ICSEA (ACARA) — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
11 public transport stops in this suburb
- Clarence Park Railway Station
- Emerson Railway Station
- Stop 8 East Ave - West side
- Stop 8 South Rd - East side
- Stop 9 South Rd - East side
Data sources & freshness
- Adelaide Metro GTFS stops — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
8 active roadworks / incidents
- ConstructionSouth Road, South Rd01 May 2025 – 31 Jul 2026
- ConstructionSouth Road, Addison Rd01 May 2025 – 31 Jul 2026
- ConstructionSouth Road, Aroha Tce01 May 2025 – 31 Jul 2026
- ConstructionSouth Road, Emerson Rd01 May 2025 – 31 Jul 2026
- Median WorksSouth Road, Nottingham Cr13 Apr 2026 – 31 Jul 2026
- Torrens To Darlington - Construction WorksSouth Road, Maude St30 Jul 2025 – 23 Jul 2026
- Trenching - Water And SewerSouth Road, Aroha Tce13 Apr 2026 – 31 Jul 2026
- Vms TrailerSouth Road, Cross Rd18 Jul 2025 – 31 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Traffic SA road events — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
150 planning-related records
2026· 14 proposals
June 2026
- Single storey dwelling addition3 COULTER AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
- Alterations to the existing dwelling including modifying the garage to a carport and the construction of a single storey dwelling addition and verandah17 HARTLAND AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
May 2026
- Verandah10 WILSON AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
- Placing door to access the building and internal fit out707 SOUTH RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
April 2026
- Verandah11 AROHA TCE BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Ancillary Accommodation (Retrospective)1 EMERSON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
March 2026
- Dwelling addition and alterations including the partial demolition of the existing dwelling, and the construction of a verandah and outbuilding22 ADDISON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
- Removal of a significant tree (Eucalyptus sideroxylon)25 BYRON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Land division - (creations of two additional allotments) Torrens Title - 2 into 3UNIT 1-2 12 -14 HARTLAND AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035;UNIT 1-2 16 HARTLAND AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
February 2026
- Construction of a verandah687 SOUTH RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Outbuilding (garage)2A GORDON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Outbuilding (shed)45 BYRON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
January 2026
- Outbuildings x 2 (pool equipment shed and storage shed)67A FOREST AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Removal of a regulated tree - Liquidambar5 ERIC AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Carport12 -14 EGLINGTON AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Change of use to light industry with associated shop, building alterations and illuminated signage705 SOUTH RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
October 2025
- Attached Verandah3 HARTLAND AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
September 2025
- Construction of an outbuilding5 DAVID AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Alterations and additions to the existing dwelling12 DRYDEN RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
August 2025
- Verandah8 ERIC AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Attached verandah (rear of unit 4)UNIT 4 41A AROHA TCE BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Inground swimming pool and safety fence9 LINCOLN AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
July 2025
- Swimming Pool and Safety Fence67A FOREST AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Verandah with louvre roof8 AROHA TCE BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
June 2025
- construct vernadah attached to dwelling with enclosed side wall60 FOREST AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
May 2025
- verandah5 BUSBY AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
April 2025
- Removal of a regulated tree (Willow Myrtle) and a significant tree (Umbrella tree)8 ERIC AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Addition and alterations to existing dwelling including new alfresco and carport on side boundary42 AROHA TCE BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Additions and alterations to existing dwelling including new garage and alfresco, construction of a new outbuilding (shed) and swimming pool and removal of one (1) Significant tree and one (1) Regulated tree19 BYRON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
- Masonry and timber batten front fence to a maximum height of 1.8 metres19 GRAY ST BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
February 2025
- Alterations and additions to the existing dwelling and construction of an outbuilding and verandah5 DAVID AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Under Assessment
- Construction of an outbuilding (shed)1 HILL CT BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Verandah and partial enclosure of verandah and carport6 DRYDEN RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035;6A DRYDEN RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Internal renovations to existing residence in retirement village3 HARTLAND AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
January 2025
- Installation of swimming pool and safety barriers6 DAVID AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Alterations to rear of existing dwelling4 EMERSON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Carport3 FOREST AV BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
2024· 25 proposals
December 2024
- Double storey detached dwellingUNIT 4 11 ADDISON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding (shed)7 ADDISON RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
November 2024
- Retrospective privacy screen to a height of 2.95 metres11 COWPER RD BLACK FOREST SA 5035Decision Made
2023· 27 proposals
27 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 29 proposals
29 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 32 proposals
32 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site
Amenities
132 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- Bench (40)
- Bicycle Parking (3)
- Black Forest Primary School Wheels HubBicycle Parking
- Stop 8 East Avenue - West sideBus stop
- Stop 8 South Road - East sideBus stop
- Stop 9 East Avenue - West sideBus stop
- Stop 9 South Road - East sideBus stop
- The Village BakerCafe
- S.McLay Mechanical RepairsCar repair
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
8 state heritage places
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Black Forest Primary School OSHCchildcare
- Nido Early Schoolkindergarten
- childcarechildcare
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services (SA) — OpenStreetMap + SA Education · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 85.5/100
- Cohort rank
- #46 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Black Forest Primary School OSHCchildcarechildcare
- Nido Early Schoolchildcarekindergarten
- childcarechildcarechildcare
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services (SA) — OpenStreetMap + SA Education · Updated on site
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Updated on site
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