Median house price
$1.05M
+12% change
SA · Marion Council
Dover Gardens, 5048
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,401
Growth (1 yr)
+2.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+10.5%
Median age
39
Median income
$1,423/wk
Employment rate
58.3%
Median house price · Q1 2026
$1,050,000
Languages at home
20.1%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Nepali, Arabic
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
In Marion Council, Dover Gardens is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Many residents were born overseas or speak a language other than English at home.
Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities lag behind, despite relative strength in schools and education, plus growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Dover Gardens snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$685/wk
Houses $685 · Units $700
Population (ERP)
3,401
+2.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.6%
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
#58
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Safety
42nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
96th
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
78th
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
- 48.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 31% of South Australia's suburbs
- National rank
- 2356th in Australia
- State rank
- 216th in SA
- Peer rank
- #58 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #164 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $700
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $685
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $685
- Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- 25
- Median house price (Q1 2026)
- $1,050,000
- Median price change
- +11.7%
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
3,401(June 2025)
+2.4% annual · +10.5% over 5 years · 96th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.4%
- 5-year growth
- +10.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +80
- Change in 5 years
- +322
- Growth rank in SA
- 96th 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 (~3,750), extrapolated at +2.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,062
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,423
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 122 of 1,417
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 58.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 880 / 401 / 15
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)
- 93
- Against the person
- 41
- Against property
- 52
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 27.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 75 residents
- State safety percentile
- 41.7th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 99
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -36.6%
Most common offence types
- Common Assault6
- Other Property Damage And Environmental15
- Other Theft12
- Sct - Residence8
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury29
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
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 1,077
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 78th
School list
- Stella Maris Parish SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1086 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 429 students · Top SEA quarter 35% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Darlington Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 964 · 31th percentile · LBOTE 66% · 184 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Seaview High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1038 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 1,377 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Brighton Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1077 · 78th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 726 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Christ the King SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1079 · 78th percentile · LBOTE 32% · 179 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Seacliff Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1094 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 356 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- Seaview Downs Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1051 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 324 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- School ICSEA (ACARA) — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenSeacombe Roadkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services (SA) — OpenStreetMap + SA Education · current · Updated
Public transport
17 public transport stops in this suburb
- Stop 32 Morphett Rd - West side
- Stop 33 Morphett Rd - West side
- Stop 33 Sturt Rd - South side
- Stop 35 Seacombe Rd - North side
- Stop 36 Seacombe 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
45 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 3 playgrounds · 4 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 17 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 8 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 28/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.33
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.63
Food & drink(1)
- Thai Ban Cafe & RestaurantRestaurant
Community(1)
- Kindergarten
159 Seacombe Road
Sport & outdoors(13)
- Branksome Terrace ReservePark
- McKay Street ReservePark
- Park (2)
- Scarborough Terrace ReservePark
- Playground (3)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (4)
Transport(17)
17 bus stops
Other(7)
- Bench
- Car repair
- Fitness Station
- Parking (5)
- Picnic Table (2)
- Public toilets
- Shelter (2)
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)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Brighton Day Surgery (1.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Private Day Only 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)
- 116
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.1
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· 42 proposals
July 2026
- Two storey detached dwelling with associated fences10 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Three single storey detached dwellings in a row configuration13 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Land Division (Torrens title 1 into 3 allotments)2 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Construction of one (1) residential flat building comprising 12 dwellings with associated fencing, retaining walls and car parking11 QUINTUS TCE DOVER GARDENS SA 5048;9 QUINTUS TCE DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Outbuilding25 LAURENCE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Torrens Title 1 into 3 Land Division. Land Use DA 26015342.1 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Two (2x) double storey detached dwellings, swimming pool and the removal of one significant tree6 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Variation of development application 25002480 – Changes to internal boundaries38 VINALL ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
June 2026
- Verandah56 BRANKSOME TCE DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Three single-storey detached dwellings with associated retaining walls and fencing as well as removal of two Regulated trees and one Significant street tree19 FELIX ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Single storey detached dwelling and fencing1 DANAE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Verandah16 LAURENCE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Two storey detached dwelling and remove regulated Umbrella Tree10 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Single-storey detached dwelling5 BESSIE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
May 2026
- Verandah1C QUINTUS TCE DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Three (3) two storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement, with associated fences1 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Verandah8 DOVER CT DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Excavation & installation of fiberglass swimming pool & associated safety barrier1C QUINTUS TCE DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
April 2026
- Two single storey detached dwelllings and associated fencing550 MORPHETT RD DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Torrens title Land Division - 1 into 2 allotments9 MCKAY ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Two (2) single storey detached dwellings, fences and removal of two (2) Significant Trees (White Cedar and Norfolk Island Pine)546 MORPHETT RD DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Remove significant tree, Melia azedarach (White Cedar)115 SEACOMBE RD DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Land Division (Torrens title 1 into 3 allotments)8 DUNEDIN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Two-storey detached dwelling10 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Three single-storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement as well as the removal of 1 Regulated and 3 Significant trees.2 KATHLEEN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Verandah16 BESSIE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
March 2026
- Verandah to rear of dwelling28 LAURENCE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Land division (boundary alignment)1 SEAVIEW CR DOVER GARDENS SA 5048;1A SEAVIEW CR DOVER GARDENS SA 5048;3 SEAVIEW CR DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- 1 into 2 Torrens Title Land Division7 DANAE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Two x new double storey detached dwellings with southern dwelling to have a swimming pool & safety fence46 VINALL ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
February 2026
- Land division one into three allotments including common driveway6 DUNEDIN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Verandah2B CLACTON RD DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Land Division (Torrens title 1 into 2 allotments)3 VINALL ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling, fencing and retaining walls (Future Lot 702)1 SEAVIEW CR DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Land Division (Torrens title 1 into 2 allotments)546 MORPHETT RD DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- three (3) detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement with associated fencing and retaining8 DUNEDIN ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Construction of a single-storey detached dwelling including associated retaining, fencing and ground works within the root zone of a Significant Tree14 HOPE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Construction of a single-storey detached dwelling including associated retaining, fencing and ground works within the root zone of a Significant Tree14 HOPE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- Verandah59 QUINTUS TCE DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
January 2026
- Land Division 1 into 5 Community Title in association with Development Application ID 250308039 RUGBY ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
- 2 x Single Storey Detached Dwelling Single Garage7 DANAE ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Decision Made
- 2 x two storey dwellings9 MCKAY ST DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
- Construction of three-level supported accommodation (aged care) facility comprising 150 beds and associated car parking, water tanks (6 x 25kL), retaining walls, fencing, masonry walls, removal of a Significant Tree and pruning of two Significant Trees, and 2 outbuildings.LOT 104 FOLKESTONE RD DOVER GARDENS SA 5048Under Assessment
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
1 heritage place
- Albion Homestead95 - 107 Sturt Road DOVER GARDENSState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (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 2.0 km away).
Coalition 34.6%Labor 65.4%
4.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +9.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Seaview DownsLabor 61.9% · Coalition 38.1% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Seacombe GardensLabor 73.3% · Coalition 26.7% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- Seacombe HeightsLabor 64.8% · Coalition 35.2% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- Oaklands ParkLabor 68.6% · Coalition 31.4% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- SeacliffLabor 65.1% · Coalition 34.9% TPP (2025)1.5 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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 Marion Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.