Median house price
—
No data available
SA · Mount Barker Council
Brukunga, 5252
Est. population · Jun 2025
449
Growth (1 yr)
+2.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+10.6%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,458/wk
Employment rate
63.9%
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Heritage area
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Brukunga is a quieter smaller community in Mount Barker Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range.
Reported crime has been falling recently. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
The desirability picture is around average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Brukunga snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$345/wk
Population (ERP)
449
+2.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
10.5%
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
#15
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
1st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
94th
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 41.9/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3429th in Australia
- State rank
- 351st in SA
- Peer rank
- #15 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #55 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $345
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 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
449(June 2025)
+2.0% annual · +10.6% over 5 years · 94th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.0%
- 5-year growth
- +10.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +9
- Change in 5 years
- +43
- Growth rank in SA
- 94th 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 (~500), extrapolated at +1.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 400
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,458
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 18 of 171
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,350
- Employment rate
- 63.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 152 / 0 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 2
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 2
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 4.5
- State safety percentile
- 1th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 28
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -66.6%
Most common offence types
- Obtain Benefit By Deception1
- Other Theft1
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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Pyrites Rd / Shephard Rd - East side (Brukunga)
- Pyrites Rd / Smillie St - West side (Brukunga)
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
8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Decent local green space — 0 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 3/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Community(1)
- Brukunga Community HallCommunity centre
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Playground
- Sports field
Other(5)
- BrukungaFire station
- Parking
- Public Bookcase
- TelstraTelephone
- Waste Basket
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Mount Barker District Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (11.0 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)
- 16
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.6
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· 8 proposals
August 2026
- Detached dwelling (single storey) with associated pergola and two (2) decks250 MILITARY RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Under Assessment
July 2026
- Outbuilding (garage)10 PLAYFORD CR BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Verandah and deck10 WATTS RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Under Assessment
May 2026
- Detached dwelling (single storey)358 HARROGATE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Under Assessment
April 2026
- Carport7 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
March 2026
- Outbuilding (garage)59 WATTS RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Outbuilding (domestic garage/storage)LOT 4 PEGGY BUXTON RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
January 2026
- Outbuilding (shed)18 SMILLIE ST BRUKUNGA SA 5252Under Assessment
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Outbuilding and Two (2) rainwater tanks (above ground)LOT 2 PEGGY BUXTON RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
November 2025
- Verandah and Deck10 PLAYFORD CR BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
October 2025
- Land Division 2 into 2 Boundary Realignment252 PINEY RIDGE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252;LOT 2 PINEY RIDGE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Detached dwelling (single storey) and water tank (above ground - 50000l)LOT 4 PEGGY BUXTON RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Variation to Development Authorisation 24000776 comprising the change the use of existing building from Tourist Accommodation to Ancillary Accommodation346 PINEY RIDGE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
July 2025
- Carport4 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
February 2025
- Partial demolition, alterations and additions to existing detached dwelling, verandah and deck296 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252;LOT 294 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Under Assessment
2024· 19 proposals
September 2024
- Alterations and additions to existing dwelling, verandah, deck and Outbuilding160 PEGGY BUXTON RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Verandah840 MILITARY RD NORTH HAVEN SA 5018Decision Made
- Verandah (U37)840 MILITARY RD NORTH HAVEN SA 5018Decision Made
August 2024
- Partial Conversion of an Agricultural building to Dwelling (Two Storey)LOT 1 PEGGY BUXTON RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Verandah610 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Detached dwelling (single storey), outbuilding, rainwater tanks (above ground - two (2) x 60000L) and conversion of existing dwelling to outbuilding76 HARROGATE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
July 2024
- Outbuilding (Semi-enclosed shade structure)250 MILITARY RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
June 2024
- Detached Dwelling (Single Storey), Carport, Agricultural building and DeckLOT 296 HARROGATE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Water tank (above ground - 246,600L)LOT 294 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
May 2024
- Detached dwelling (single storey)LOT 2 PEGGY BUXTON RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Managers residence and Deck376 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
April 2024
- Ancillary accommodation including decking and retaining walls10 WATTS RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Detached dwelling and deckLOT 1973 JURY RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Detached dwelling (single storey) and water tankLOT 2 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Agricultural building76 HARROGATE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
March 2024
- Carport, deck and outbuilding (shade structure)113 HOPE WATTS RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
January 2024
- Variation to Development Application 23026441 (Single Storey detached dwelling and associated infrastructure) removal of three water tanks and construction of 111,000L rainwater tank (Above ground) and amended access.376 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Fencing and Retaining Wall Structure17 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Change of use of a newly-built Barn-style shed for Tourist Accommodation346 PINEY RIDGE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
2023· 9 proposals
December 2023
- Horse Keeping for up to 25 Horses including agistment, riding lessons and shelter over horse arena113 MCINTYRE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
October 2023
- Ancillary Accommodation and deck113 MCINTYRE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Partial change in use of land for the establishment of a veterinary facility consisting of consulting rooms with ancillary facilities, sign, landscaping, vehicular access and on-site parking70 HARROGATE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Detached Dwelling (Single Storey)376 PYRITES RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
September 2023
- Verandah and deck10 PLAYFORD CR BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
April 2023
- Agricultural Building (storage of farm machinery and farm implements)122 JURY RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
February 2023
- Swimming pool fence (AS 1926)91 MCINTYRE RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
- Alterations and additions to existing dog kennelling facility comprising nine (9) outdoor exercise yards, cat boarding within existing building for a maximum of ten (10) cats, and acoustic fencing77 WATTS RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision Made
January 2023
- Distillery (light industry; not exceeding processing of 49.9 tonnes of produce per annum), being a change in use of an outbuilding, additions to the building, ancillary tasting area, meeting room and mezzanine storage area and associated infrastructure and carparking1130 MILITARY RD BRUKUNGA SA 5252Decision 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
6 heritage places
- Byrth Homestead, wall & chimneyPyrites Road BRUKUNGALocal heritage
- CottageHarrogate Road BRUKUNGALocal heritage
- Dawes Bridge [Timber Girder]McIntyre Ford Road near DAWESLEYState heritage
- Doiran Park - houseJury Road DAWESLEYLocal heritage
- Dwelling ('The Valleys')Lot 2 Peggy Buxton Road NAIRNEState heritage
- fr Watts Brickworks (chimney) & tunnelHarrogate Road BRUKUNGALocal 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 11.0 km away).
Coalition 43.7%Labor 56.3%
1.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- BrukungaLabor 56.0% · Coalition 44.0% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- NairneLabor 65.8% · Coalition 34.2% TPP (2025)5.2 km away
- LittlehamptonLabor 57.1% · Coalition 42.9% TPP (2025)8.6 km away
- WoodsideLabor 51.7% · Coalition 48.3% TPP (2025)8.9 km away
- Mount Barker CentralLabor 58.3% · Coalition 41.7% TPP (2025)10.1 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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 Mount Barker Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.