Median house price
$1.76M
+17% change
SA · Mitcham Council
Colonel Light Gardens, 5041
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,507
Growth (1 yr)
+0.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+0.9%
Median age
42
Median income
$2,491/wk
Employment rate
69.7%
Median house price · Q1 2026
$1,760,000
Languages at home
8.3%non-English
Most common: Greek, Polish, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Colonel Light Gardens is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Mitcham Council with everyday amenities close at hand. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street. Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines.
Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses linking the suburb to surrounding areas. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Reported crime has been rising recently. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because schools and education lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus growth momentum.
At a glance
Colonel Light Gardens snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$700/wk
Population (ERP)
3,507
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
3.6%
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
#21
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Safety
27th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
52nd
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
84th
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
- 54.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 16% of South Australia's suburbs
- National rank
- 1574th in Australia
- State rank
- 107th in SA
- Peer rank
- #21 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #82 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $700
- Median house price (Q1 2026)
- $1,760,000
- Median price change
- +17.3%
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
3,507(June 2025)
+0.4% annual · +0.9% over 5 years · 52th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.4%
- 5-year growth
- +0.9%
- Change in 1 year
- +15
- Change in 5 years
- +32
- Growth rank in SA
- 52th 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 (~3,550), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,311
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $2,491
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 43 of 1,200
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,173
- Employment rate
- 69.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,056 / 58 / 35 (+ 9 other)
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)
- 66
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 57
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 18.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 368 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.9th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 31
- Increase (daily rate)
- +22.6%
Most common offence types
- Obtain Benefit By Deception5
- Other Property Damage And Environmental14
- Other Theft11
- Sct - Non Residence6
- Theft From Motor Vehicle10
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
- Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
- 1,098
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 84th
School list
- Colonel Light Gardens Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1119 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 688 students · Top SEA quarter 47% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- St Therese SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1087 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 37% · 172 students · Top SEA quarter 38% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Springbank Secondary CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1021 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 249 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Clapham Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1098 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 243 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Edwardstown Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1098 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 512 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Westbourne Park Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1126 · 90th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 480 students · Top SEA quarter 51% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Scotch CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1146 · 95th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 1,213 students · Top SEA quarter 61% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- Cabra Dominican CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 1065 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 1,165 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
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
22 public transport stops in this suburb
- Stop 13E Grange Rd - South side
- Stop 14 Grange Rd - South side
- Stop 17A East Pkwy - West side
- Stop 17C East Pkwy - East side
- Stop 18C Springbank Rd - North side
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
83 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 2 cafes · 1 pharmacies · 2 fast food · 2 places of worship · 5 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 9 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Great for outdoor family life — 8 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 22 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 16 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 55/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.6
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.51
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.42
Food & drink(5)
- Bond and LaneCafe
- Local CrowdCafe
14 The Strand, Colonel Light Gardens
- Barnacle BillFast food
- Papa Mia's Wood Oven PizzaFast food
- CharminarRestaurant
Shopping(1)
No named venues listed.
Community(2)
- Colonel Light Gardens Primary SchoolSchool
- St Therese Primary SchoolSchool
Health & services(1)
- Chemist King Discount PharmacyPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(24)
- Hillview ReservePark
- Kent Road ReservePark
- Mortlock ParkPark
- Park (5)
- Playground (5)
- Reade Park ReserveSports centre
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (9)
Transport(22)
22 bus stops
Other(11)
- Bench (2)
- Bicycle Parking (3)
- Drinking water
- Parking (13)
- Picnic Table (2)
- Christadelphian HallPlace of worship
- St Therese'sPlace of worship
- Post Box
- Public toilets
- BandstandShelter
- Shelter (3)
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)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
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
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Christadelphian Hall
- St Therese's
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- The Repat Precinct (1.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public Rehabilitation Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- No emergency department listed
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)
- 97
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 27.7
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
- 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· 61 proposals
July 2026
- Extra 8 solar panels to rear south roof and solar battery11 ETON ST COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Install solar panels and battery12 STURT AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Construction of an outbuilding, partially enclosed pergola with a masonry fireplace and pool fencing.48 STURT AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Re roofing3 LINCOLN AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- new side front boundary fence51 PENANG AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Re-roofing15 KANDAHAR CR COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- 15 Solar photovoltaic panels (roof mounted), inverter and battery9 FLINDERS AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Ancillary Accommodation (including demolition of existing pergola).54 EAST PWY COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- verandah24 TIDWORTH CR COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Swimming Pool and Safety Barrier13 DORSET AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Inground Swimming Pool with safety barrier50 RICHMOND AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Retrospective application to underpin the walls in two places and remove and relay the front veranda slab5 FREELING CR COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
June 2026
- Outbuilding71 SPRINGBANK RD COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Installation of roof-mounted solar panels, inverter and battery.28 DORSET AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Verandah attached to rear of existing dwelling42 STURT AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Dwelling alterations (windows and internal walls) and associated partial demolition, attached verandah, widen existing Carport, Sauna outbuilding, Swimming pool and associated safety features, fence above retaining.29 STURT AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Dwelling addition and alteration, outbuilding (garage) with an access to laneway17 SPRINGBANK RD COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Remove paint from exterior walls (northern, eastern, western) and return to original red brick with repointed mortar to match original.14 VIEW ST COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
May 2026
- Solar Panels, inverter and battery71 GRANGE RD COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Extension to the existing deck9 PEMBROKE PL COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Installation of solar panels, battery and inverter17 SALISBURY CR COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Extend existing shed1 LINCOLN AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Partial demolition of primary building (rear lean to and gable roof), demolition of outbuilding, reconfiguration and reconstruction of carparking and asphalt paving, construction of a new accessible ramp, and installation of new verandahs53 -55 WEST PWY COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- removal of 1 significant tree41 SALISBURY CR COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Demolition of existing dwelling additions, new dwelling additions, building alterations and verandah12 SALISBURY CR COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Side boundary fence5 ROCHESTER AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Freestanding Outbuilding (shed) and associated demolition of existing outbuilding1 LANCASTER AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
April 2026
- basketball court38 WEST PWY COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Roof mounted solar panels and associated battery44 THE STRAND COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Add solar panels, battery and inverter21 PRINCE GEORGE PDE COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Internal alterations to existing toilets and kitchen53 -55 WEST PWY COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Partial demolition, dwelling addition and alteration including a verandah and fence7 PICCADILLY CRCS COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Variation of Development Application 24017275 – Two air handling units (air conditioning) and associated services screens on rooftopUNIT 1-2 539 -541 GOODWOOD RD COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Installation of solar panels, battery and Hybrid inverter52 EAST PWY COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Dwelling Addition, garage, restore verandah gable infill panels, boundary fencing, replacement chimney and associated demolition505 GOODWOOD RD COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Demolition of existing verandah at rear, new verandah and front fence27 SPRINGBANK RD COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
March 2026
- VerandahUNIT 1-19 2 KANDAHAR CR COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Solar Panels, inverter and Battery3 RICHMOND AV COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision Made
- Solar panels and inverter30 PRINCE GEORGE PDE COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Under Assessment
- Solar Panels, inverter and battery7 EAST PWY COLONEL LIGHT GARDENS SA 5041Decision 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
Roadworks & transport
2 active roadworks / incidents
- MowingGoodwood Road, Ludgate Crcs01 Jun 2026 – 17 Aug 2026
- MowingGoodwood Road, Dudley Av01 Jun 2026 – 17 Aug 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Traffic SA road events — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (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
- Boothby
- Member of Parliament
- Louise MILLER-FROST (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 129,524
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +7.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 38.9%Labor 61.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.3 km away).
Coalition 37.5%Labor 62.5%
1.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Daw ParkLabor 60.6% · Coalition 39.4% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- Colonel Light GardensLabor 65.5% · Coalition 34.5% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- PasadenaLabor 63.1% · Coalition 36.9% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- Melrose ParkLabor 70.1% · Coalition 29.9% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- ClaphamLabor 63.5% · Coalition 36.5% 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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 Mitcham Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.