SA · Grant Council

Blackfellows Caves, 5291

Est. population · Jun 2025

68

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+4.6%

Median age

59

Median income

$749/wk

Employment rate

50.7%

University qualified

8.3%

Work from home

0%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Rural living
What Blackfellows Caves is known for: Rural living

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Blackfellows Caves, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Blackfellows Caves, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/blackfellows-caves

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Suburb profile

Blackfellows Caves is a rural locality in South Australia, in Grant Council.

Mapped flood cover is slightly stronger than in comparable places, and recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places, with recorded road crashes 100% below the peer median, and population has been growing faster than in comparable places, well above typical levels for rural localities. The clearer weaknesses are household incomes and thinner local amenities, with household incomes 46% below the peer median.

Household incomes are the most material weakness.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Rural locality · compared with rural localities in South Australia (602)

Strengths

  • Mapped flood cover is a relative strength
  • Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places
  • Population has been growing faster than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Household incomes sit below the peer median
  • Local amenity access is relatively limited

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Blackfellows Caves compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$225/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

68

0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

50.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

70th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

9th

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

8%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

3/10

national SEIFA decile

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

Population

Estimated resident population

68(June 2025)

0.0% annual · +4.6% over 5 years · 9th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
0.0%
5-year growth
+4.6%
Change in 1 year
0
Change in 5 years
+3
Growth rank in SA
9th 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 (~50), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
72
Median age
59
Median household income / week
$749
Dwelling vacancy
50%
Unoccupied private dwellings
36 of 72
Median monthly mortgage
$1,083
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$225
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
44.4% / 47.2% / 8.3%
Employment rate
50.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
0% / 0% / 63.2%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
35 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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

Qualifications

8.3% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 22.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified8.3% · 22.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational22.2% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below69.4% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Engineering and related technologies32%
  • Health24%
  • Society and culture20%
  • Architecture and building12%
  • Management and commerce12%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$56,313

59th percentile in SA · -4% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$60,163

59th percentile in SA · -7% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
12.0%

41st percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$92,040

66th percentile in SA · +45% vs Australia

Residents with business income
9.0%

23rd percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5291 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
6,101
Taxpayers reporting net rent
734
Median net rent
$3
Taxpayers reporting business income
576
Taxable income vs state median
+4%
Salary / wages vs state median
+5%
Rental investment vs state median
0%
Super vs state median
+18%
Business income vs state median
-18%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in SA, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

12% born overseas

Language at home
69 English only · 0 other
Non-English at home
0%
Born overseas
9 (12%)
Australian citizens
70

Religion

61.1%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 61.1%, while Christianity accounts for 36.1%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion61.1%45.2%
Christianity36.1%40%
Other / not stated2.8%14.7%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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 (2025–26)
4
Against the person
0
Against property
4
Rate per 1,000 residents
58.8
State crime-rate percentile
70.4th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
42
Increase (daily rate)
+300%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
0
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
0

Most common offence types

  • Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences3
  • Other Unlawful Entry With Intent1

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
0
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
23°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service (31.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
1
Participants per 1,000 residents
14.7

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

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
23° / 13°
Rainfall
80 mm · ~10 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
19° / 11°
Rainfall
172 mm · ~22 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 8°
Rainfall
350 mm · ~44 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
17° / 9°
Rainfall
181 mm · ~23 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

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· 3 proposals
  • September 2026

  • Verandah (connected to existing outbuildings)
    19 -21 UNGER ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • June 2026

  • Outbuilding
    1 SAUNDERS RD BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • February 2026

  • Detached Dwelling with Carport
    22 SAUNDERS RD BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
2025· 3 proposals
  • October 2025

  • Two-Storey Dwelling; Outbuilding with Ancillary Accommodation and Verandah
    3 HEIGHT DR BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • August 2025

  • To change the use of portion of an existing shed to a Pet Crematorium
    12 -13 HAMMER PDE BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • June 2025

  • Detached dwelling
    1 SAUNDERS RD BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
2024· 9 proposals
  • August 2024

  • Upper Storey Verandah (Pergola)
    10 LIVINGSTON ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • June 2024

  • Outbuilding extension
    12 LIVINGSTON ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • Outbuilding to replace existing outbuilding
    5 HAMMER PDE BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • Detached Dwelling and Outbuilding with amenities
    21 SAUNDERS RD BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Under Assessment
  • April 2024

  • Outbuilding
    21 HAMMER PDE BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • February 2024

  • Outbuilding
    19-21 UNGER ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • Outbuilding
    11 JACKWAY ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • January 2024

  • Change of land use incorporating truck & trailer parking, waste bin storage, office and associated carparking
    3 BISHOP RD WORROLONG SA 5291;5 BISHOP RD WORROLONG SA 5291Decision Made
  • Detached Dwelling and Carport
    15 LIVINGSTON ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
2023· 3 proposals
  • May 2023

  • Change of Use - Convert from Tourist/Holiday Accommodation Building to Private Dwelling (Class 1B to 1A)
    4 JACKWAY ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • Outbuilding
    UNIT 1-2 16 LIVINGSTON ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • March 2023

  • Outbuilding
    4 JACKWAY ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
2022· 3 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Detached Dwelling & Outbuilding
    24 HAMMER PDE BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • July 2022

  • Detached Dwelling and Outbuilding with amenities
    26 HAMMER PDE BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Under Assessment
  • June 2022

  • Outbuilding
    2 BISHOP PL BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
2021· 2 proposals
  • November 2021

  • Second-Storey Dwelling Addition, Carport, Stairway and Deck
    UNIT 1-2 16 LIVINGSTON ST BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
  • October 2021

  • Outbuilding
    9 SAUNDERS RD BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made
2020· 1 proposal
  • November 2020

  • Two-Storey Dwelling
    21 HAMMER PDE BLACKFELLOWS CAVES SA 5291Decision Made

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
97% of suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Flood cover is the share of the suburb boundary overlapping current SA Planning flood overlays (flooding and evidence required). Safer places from CFS designated locations.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Barker
Member of Parliament
Tony PASIN (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
127,045
Turnout (2025)
92.6%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+3.6 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 63.0%Labor 37.0%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 30.2 km away).

Coalition 72.5%Labor 27.5%

9.5 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.0 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • KongorongLabor 21.4% · Coalition 78.6% TPP (2025)9.2 km away
  • Port MacDonnellLabor 28.2% · Coalition 71.8% TPP (2025)24.6 km away
  • MoorakLabor 23.9% · Coalition 76.1% TPP (2025)25.2 km away
  • TantanoolaLabor 34.8% · Coalition 65.2% TPP (2025)26.0 km away
  • ComptonLabor 28.4% · Coalition 71.6% TPP (2025)27.4 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Grant Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.