SA · Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council

Emu Flat, 5453

Est. population · Jun 2025

110

Growth (1 yr)

+0.9%

Growth (5 yr)

+1.9%

Median age

41

Median income

$2,250/wk

Employment rate

65.8%

University qualified

17.1%

Work from home

8.3%

Languages at home

6.4%non-English

Most common: Punjabi

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Rural living
What Emu Flat is known for: Rural living

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Emu Flat, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Emu Flat, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/emu-flat-sa

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Suburb profile

Emu Flat is a rural locality in South Australia, in Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council.

Rents are relatively affordable, with median rents 17% below the peer median. Household incomes are a relative strength, with household incomes 64% above the peer median, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, with university qualifications 104% above the peer median, and green cover is stronger than in comparable places, well above typical levels for rural localities. The main trade-offs are thinner heritage listings and higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population.

Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising university qualifications and lower rents over heritage character.

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

  • Household incomes are a relative strength
  • University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
  • Green cover is stronger than in comparable places
  • Rents are relatively affordable

Weaknesses

  • Heritage listings are a relative weakness
  • Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Emu Flat compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$350/wk

Population (ERP)

110

+0.9% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

27.3%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

61st

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

70th

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

25%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

8/10

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

Housing

Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$350

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 (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

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

110(June 2025)

+0.9% annual · +1.9% over 5 years · 70th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.9%
5-year growth
+1.9%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
+2
Growth rank in SA
70th 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 +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
106
Median age
41
Median household income / week
$2,250
Dwelling vacancy
27.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
12 of 44
Median monthly mortgage
$2,059
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$370
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
34.4% / 40.6% / 25%
Employment rate
65.8%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
8.3% / 0% / 68.8%
Walked or cycled to work
6.2%
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

17.1% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 19.7% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified17.1% · 22.6% SA
  • Diploma qualified15.8% · 8.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational19.7% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below47.4% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

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

  • Health29.5%
  • Engineering and related technologies20.5%
  • Management and commerce13.6%
  • Education11.4%
  • Agriculture and environment9.1%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services9.1%
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)
$54,499

51st percentile in SA · -7% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$56,960

48th percentile in SA · -12% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
14.0%

73rd percentile in SA · +1% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$99,427

73rd percentile in SA · +57% vs Australia

Residents with business income
11.0%

61st percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5453 — 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
3,185
Taxpayers reporting net rent
436
Median net rent
$1,178
Taxpayers reporting business income
352
Taxable income vs state median
0%
Salary / wages vs state median
-1%
Rental investment vs state median
+17%
Super vs state median
+28%
Business income vs state median
0%

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

6.4% speak a language other than English at home; 15.7% born overseas

Language at home
88 English only · 6 other
Non-English at home
6.4%
Born overseas
14 (15.7%)
Australian citizens
86
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).

  • Punjabi4 · 100%

Religion

37.7%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 37.7%, while 36.8% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion36.8%45.2%
Christianity37.7%40%
Other / not stated25.5%14.7%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic16%15.5%
Uniting Church9.4%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

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
5
Against the person
0
Against property
5
Rate per 1,000 residents
45.5
State crime-rate percentile
61.1th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
27
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
7
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
63.64

Most common offence types

  • Damage Or Destroy Property2
  • Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences1
  • Sct - Residence1
  • Theft From A Person1

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

2 mapped amenities

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Sport & outdoors(2)
  • Spring Gully LoopCycling route
  • Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Trail - Stage 1Walking trail

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

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
0.6%
Woodland / forest cover
0.6%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
1
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
30°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
Clare Hospital (4.0 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
27.3

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
30° / 15°
Rainfall
50 mm · ~6 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
24° / 11°
Rainfall
82 mm · ~10 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
17° / 6°
Rainfall
139 mm · ~17 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
23° / 9°
Rainfall
106 mm · ~13 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
  • August 2026

  • Outbuilding (horse stables and hay store associated with existing dwelling use)
    247 SCOBIE RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • July 2026

  • Outbuilding (shed)
    78A BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • May 2026

  • Swimming pool and associated safety features
    247 SCOBIE RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
2025· 2 proposals
  • September 2025

  • Swimming pool and associated safety features
    162 BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • April 2025

  • Outbuilding (shed)
    216 BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
2024· 8 proposals
  • December 2024

  • Demolish dwelling and construct new dwelling with carport and verandahs under main roof
    25 OHLMEYER PARK RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • September 2024

  • SWIMMING POOL AND SAFETY FENCE
    367 SCOBIE RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • August 2024

  • Extension to an existing dwelling
    236 EMU FLAT RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • July 2024

  • Change of use from ‘accommodation’ to ‘meditation/wellness retreat including accommodation and amenities within existing buildings, verandah addition and 4 caravan sites'
    217 EMU FLAT RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Under Assessment
  • Detached dwelling
    81 OHLMEYER PARK RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Under Assessment
  • May 2024

  • Outbuilding (shed)
    350 SPRING GULLY RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • April 2024

  • Above-ground steel firefighting water tank
    272 BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • March 2024

  • Outbuilding (Shed)
    285 SCOBIE RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
2023· 4 proposals
  • October 2023

  • Land division (Torrens Title - 2 into 3 allotments)
    27 DIAGONAL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • Single storey detached dwelling with garage and verandahs under main roof and above ground water tank
    247 SCOBIE RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • August 2023

  • Agricultural Building (Shed) and 100,000ltr colorbond rainwater tank
    247 SCOBIE RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • February 2023

  • Four (4) tourist accommodation units with associated carports and decking
    25 OHLMEYER PARK RD EMU FLAT SA 5453;334 NEAGLES ROCK RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
2022· 3 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Verandahs (to the perimeter of the dwelling) and carport
    363 BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • July 2022

  • Alterations and additions to an existing dwelling including the addition of an upper storey loft, verandah and decking, freestanding carport, rain water tanks (two x 150,000L) and retaining walls
    162 BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • Single storey detached dwelling
    181 BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
2021· 7 proposals
  • September 2021

  • Swimming pool and safety fence
    178 SPRING GULLY RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • July 2021

  • Dwelling Addition
    206 SCOBIE RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • June 2021

  • Meditation Facility and 60kL Water Tank - Variation to 433/253/14 & 433/159/16
    187 EMU FLAT RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Under Assessment
  • Shed (22.5 m x 13m)
    LOT 2 OHLMEYER PARK RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • May 2021

  • Fiberglass swimming Pool
    261 SCOBIE RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • April 2021

  • Single Storey Detached Dwelling, Domestic Outbuilding & Water Tank (135kL)
    LOT 3 OHLMEYER PARK RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • March 2021

  • Farm Shed 21.21m x 15m and Steel Water Tank 11.53m x 2.27m high
    350 BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
2020· 3 proposals
  • December 2020

  • Verandah
    363 BENNYS HILL RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • November 2020

  • Domestic Outbuilding 9m wide x 9m long
    192 NEAGLES ROCK RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made
  • October 2020

  • Construction of Agricultural Building with associated Pergola, Decking and Rain Water Tank
    23 MAGGIES FARM RD EMU FLAT SA 5453Decision Made

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • Former Railway DamOhlmyer Park Road EMU FLATLocal heritage

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Heritage listings as established streetscape

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
Grey
Member of Parliament
Tom VENNING (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
128,707
Turnout (2025)
89.4%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+5.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.6%Labor 45.4%

Estimated suburb voting profile

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

Coalition 62.9%Labor 37.1%

8.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +1.9 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • ClareLabor 37.2% · Coalition 62.8% TPP (2025)2.9 km away
  • BlythLabor 32.7% · Coalition 67.3% TPP (2025)9.5 km away
  • WatervaleLabor 44.0% · Coalition 56.0% TPP (2025)12.3 km away
  • Farrell FlatLabor 30.4% · Coalition 69.6% TPP (2025)19.2 km away
  • AuburnLabor 47.4% · Coalition 52.6% TPP (2025)20.3 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)
8/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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 Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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