SA · Murray Bridge Council

Brinkley, 5253

Est. population · Jun 2025

109

Growth (1 yr)

+0.9%

Growth (5 yr)

+3.8%

Median age

45

Median income

$1,325/wk

Employment rate

76.9%

University qualified

8.9%

Work from home

26.4%

Languages at home

Most common: Afrikaans

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Agricultural
  • Rural living
What Brinkley is known for: Agricultural, Rural living

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Brinkley, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Brinkley, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/brinkley

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Suburb profile

Brinkley is a semi-rural locality near Adelaide, in Murray Bridge Council. The Murray River is part of the surrounding geography.

Employment is stronger than in comparable places, with employment 24% above the peer median. Working from home is more common than in comparable places, with working from home 80% above the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The main trade-offs are thinner local amenities and weaker population growth, with local amenities 100% below the peer median.

Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising employment over local amenities.

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

Semi-rural locality · compared with semi-rural and lifestyle localities in South Australia (227)

Strengths

  • Employment is a relative strength
  • Working from home is more common than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Local amenity access is relatively limited
  • Population has been growing more slowly than in comparable places, or declining

What stands out

  • Murray River
  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Brinkley compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$205/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

109

+0.9% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

22.2%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

62nd

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

71st

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

27%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

4/10

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

109(June 2025)

+0.9% annual · +3.8% over 5 years · 71th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.9%
5-year growth
+3.8%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
+4
Growth rank in SA
71th 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 (~100), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
107
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$1,325
Dwelling vacancy
22.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
12 of 54
Median monthly mortgage
$1,537
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$205
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
48.6% / 24.3% / 27%
Employment rate
76.9%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
26.4% / 0% / 58.3%
Walked or cycled to work
9.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
45 / 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

8.9% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 23.3% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified8.9% · 22.6% SA
  • Diploma qualified6.7% · 8.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational23.3% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below61.1% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

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

  • Society and culture27.5%
  • Agriculture and environment25%
  • Architecture and building10%
  • Education10%
  • Health10%
  • Management and commerce10%
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)
$49,192

28th percentile in SA · -16% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$54,693

40th percentile in SA · -16% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
8.0%

7th percentile in SA · -42% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$48,939

15th percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia

Residents with business income
8.0%

17th percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5253 — 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
11,168
Taxpayers reporting net rent
929
Median net rent
$650
Taxpayers reporting business income
895
Taxable income vs state median
-9%
Salary / wages vs state median
-5%
Rental investment vs state median
-33%
Super vs state median
-37%
Business income vs state median
-27%

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

Seasonal & agricultural work

52.8% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 23.0× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 3.8% across South Australia.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing
52.8%

89th percentile in SA · +2196% vs Australia

Resident workers (2021)
38
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462

Postcode 5253

Occupation mix in this industry

2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.

  • Managers18

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 5253 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.

Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)

Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for South Australia - South East (SA4 407), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.

  • Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12134,568
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12143,627
  • Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 84151,363
  • Crop Farmers ANZSCO 12121,073
  • Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412992
  • Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211833
  • Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 8413346
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8416308
  • Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419301
  • Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110

South Australia - South East is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.

Census employed residents counted in G54: 72 · AFF share +1290% vs the state.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb

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

  • WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
  • Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0

Community & culture

12.6% born overseas

Language at home
99 English only · 0 other
Non-English at home
0%
Born overseas
13 (12.6%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
3 (2.8%)
Australian citizens
96
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
1

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Afrikaans5 · 100%

Religion

55.1%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 55.1%, while Christianity accounts for 29.9%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion55.1%45.2%
Christianity29.9%40%
Other / not stated15%14.7%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Uniting Church9.3%4.8%

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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
5
Against the person
1
Against property
4
Rate per 1,000 residents
45.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 107 residents
State crime-rate percentile
61.7th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
400
No change (daily rate)
0%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
8
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
73.39

Most common offence types

  • Arson1
  • Common Assault1
  • Damage Or Destroy Property1
  • Theft From A Person2

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
0.1%
Woodland / forest cover
0.1%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
3
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
29°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
Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (12.5 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)
3
Participants per 1,000 residents
27.5

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
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 (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· 4 proposals
  • September 2026

  • Two storey detached dwelling with double garage, front balcony and rear verandah all under the main roof
    LOT 1260 HOADVILLE RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Under Assessment
  • August 2026

  • Alterations and additions to the existing lairage buildings at the Big River Pork facility including associated retaining walls
    283 FLAGSTAFF RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Under Assessment
  • July 2026

  • Torrens Title Land Division - 1 allotment into 2
    LOT 91 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Under Assessment
  • April 2026

  • Land Division - 1 into 2 allotments
    412 FLAGSTAFF RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
2025· 6 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Partial change of use from Farming to Horsekeeping and Trail Riding including; - Horse Stable (Shed), 20m x 7.4m x 4m high - Round Yard - Track Facilities - Agistment - Horse Yards - Maximum of 50 Horses
    72 PEARSON RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • November 2025

  • Agricultural Building 55m x 15m x 6.2m(wall height)
    1342 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Under Assessment
  • August 2025

  • Land Division to create two additional allotments (1 into 3)
    891 POPE RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • Boundary realignment including the extinguishment of one allotment (3-into-2)
    LOT 1260 HOADVILLE RD BRINKLEY SA 5253;LOT 84 FLAGSTAFF RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • Additional cement silo for the existing concrete batch plant
    409 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253;LOT 2 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • May 2025

  • Office building including ramp access, decking area and car parking areas for use in association with the existing Re-Use Centre
    527 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Under Assessment
2024· 1 proposal
  • June 2024

  • 20m x 9m x 5m Gable Roof Shed
    LOT 2 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
2023· 4 proposals
  • November 2023

  • Variation to DA 415/363/2007 to include the recycling of waste material Asphalt within the existing Recycling Depot
    409 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253;LOT 2 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • September 2023

  • Agricultural Building - machinery shed
    413 FLAGSTAFF RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • May 2023

  • Additions to existing industry (manufacture of trailers and agricultural products)
    395 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • April 2023

  • Proposed install of proprietary silo, to supplement existing concrete batching plant. To allow more storage capacity of raw material, and reduce frequency of this delivery to site.
    9 BAKER RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
2022· 3 proposals
  • October 2022

  • Agricultural Building (Implement Shed)
    1013 JARVIS RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • May 2022

  • Single storey Detached Dwelling including two verandahs, carport and alfresco UMR
    72 PEARSON RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
  • March 2022

  • Agricultural building
    1746H CHAUNCEYS LINE RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Under Assessment
2021· 1 proposal
  • August 2021

  • Concrete Batching Plant and Depot, Ancillary Office and Material Storage Bins, Signage and Landscaping
    409 BRINKLEY RD BRINKLEY SA 5253Decision Made
Other· 10 proposals
  • BRIDGE MILLING PTY LTD
    Resource Recovery Waste Disposal and RelatedEPA licence
  • DIRECT-MIX CONCRETE PROPRIETARY LIMITED
    Manufacturing and Mineral ProcessingEPA licence
  • MULGUNDAWA INVESTMENTS PTY LTD
    Hydrocarbon and ChemicalEPA licence
  • MULGUNDAWA INVESTMENTS PTY LTD
    Resource Recovery Waste Disposal and RelatedEPA licence
  • MURRAY BRIDGE BACON PTY LTD
    Food Production and Animal Plant ProcessingEPA licence
  • SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATER CORPORATION
    Resource Recovery Waste Disposal and RelatedEPA licence
  • SPRYCRETE PTY LTD
    Manufacturing and Mineral ProcessingEPA licence
  • SUNPORK COMMERCIAL PIGGERIES PTY. LTD.
    Animal Husbandry and Other ActivitiesEPA licence
  • SUNPORK COMMERCIAL PIGGERIES PTY. LTD.
    Materials Handling and TransportationEPA licence
  • THE RURAL CITY OF MURRAY BRIDGE
    Resource Recovery Waste Disposal and RelatedEPA licence

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
100% 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 19.1 km away).

Coalition 61.4%Labor 38.6%

1.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.1 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Murray Bridge SouthLabor 48.6% · Coalition 51.4% TPP (2025)11.5 km away
  • Woods PointLabor 32.2% · Coalition 67.8% TPP (2025)11.9 km away
  • Murray Bridge WestLabor 40.8% · Coalition 59.2% TPP (2025)12.0 km away
  • Murray BridgeLabor 47.1% · Coalition 52.9% TPP (2025)13.1 km away
  • Murray Bridge EastLabor 36.2% · Coalition 63.8% TPP (2025)14.1 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)
4/10
IRSD decile (2021)
5/10

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 Murray Bridge Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.