Median house price
—
No data available
SA · Victor Harbor Council
Encounter Bay, 5211
Est. population · Jun 2025
5,878
Growth (1 yr)
+1.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+9.1%
Median age
66
Median income
$929/wk
Employment rate
29.5%
Languages at home
4%non-English
Most common: German, Punjabi, Afrikaans
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Heritage area
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Encounter Bay wears its coastal identity openly, a mid-sized suburb built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. City outings and nearby suburbs add variety without undoing the coastal pace of everyday life. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Reported crime has been falling recently. Historic fabric and newer builds sit side by side as the area renews without erasing its past.
Against similar coastal suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because community and employment, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities lag behind, despite relative strength in schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Encounter Bay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$580/wk
Houses $580 · Units $425
Population (ERP)
5,878
+1.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
27.1%
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 Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
3rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
90th
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
74th
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
- 45.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 39% of South Australia's suburbs
- National rank
- 2801st in Australia
- State rank
- 275th in SA
- Peer rank
- #21 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #33 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $425
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $580
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $580
- Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- 25
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
5,878(June 2025)
+1.8% annual · +9.1% over 5 years · 90th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.8%
- 5-year growth
- +9.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +104
- Change in 5 years
- +489
- Growth rank in SA
- 90th 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 (~6,350), extrapolated at +1.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 5,305
- Median age
- 66
- Median household income / week
- $929
- Dwelling vacancy
- 27.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 923 of 3,407
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,170
- Employment rate
- 29.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,405 / 58 / 9
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)
- 36
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 22
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 6.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 379 residents
- State safety percentile
- 3.1th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 74
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -55.4%
Most common offence types
- Common Assault3
- Other Property Damage And Environmental5
- Other Theft6
- Sct - Residence2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury9
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
- 1,065
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 74th
School list
- Investigator CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1065 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 668 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 2.0 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
Public transport
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bartel Blvd / Nicholas Baudin Dr - South West side (Encounter Bay)
- Mill Rd - South East side (Encounter Bay)
- Stop 4 Maude St / Bay Rd - West side (Victor Harbor)
- Tabernacle Rd - North East side (Estia Health Encounter Bay)
- Whalers Rd / White Cres - South West side (Encounter Bay)
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
32 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 1 cafes · 2 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 9 parks mapped in suburb
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 8 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 16/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.19
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.38
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.7
Food & drink(2)
- The Boulevard Cafe On The LakeCafe
- Beach House CafeRestaurant
Sport & outdoors(12)
- Park (6)
- Peter Matthews ReservePark
- The Yilki CommonPark
- Picnic area
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (2)
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(9)
- Bbq
- Yilki StoreGeneral
- Tabernacle CemeteryGrave Yard
- Bluff Boat Ramp Car ParkParking
- Parking (7)
- Public toilets
- Shelter (3)
- Slipway
- Social Facility
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)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
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
- South Coast District Hospital (1.7 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)
- 211
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.9
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
- 23° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 55 mm · ~7 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 129 mm · ~16 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 260 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 135 mm · ~17 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· 75 proposals
August 2026
- Two Storey Detached Dwelling82 STONE HUT CCT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Upper Level Deck Extension7 MAYFLOWER CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Retrospective - Dwelling Addition - Balcony and Conversion of Garage to Bedroom21 SEACREST AV ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Variation of Development Application 25008035 to remove obscured screening73 BATTYE RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Two Storey Detached Dwelling3 BALEEN CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
July 2026
- Garage and Associated Retaining Walls (up to 2.0m high) - newly created Lot 3135 INMAN VALLEY RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Supply and construction of 7.966m x 4m x 2.4m high Gable Shed21 MATTHEWS ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Two Storey Detached Dwelling (with undercroft storage) and Carport26 CLIVE AV ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Detached Dwelling - Lot 156LOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Detached Dwelling - Lot 157LOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Two Storey Detached Dwelling19 RYMILL AV ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Two Storey Detached DwellingLOT 40 GEORGE ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Detached Dwelling - Lot 127LOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Detached Dwelling - Lot 153LOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Detached Dwelling - Lot 154LOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Detached Dwelling - Lot 155LOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Carport & Verandah27 SHIELDS CR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwellingLOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single storey detached dwellingLOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single storey detached dwellingLOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single storey detached dwellingLOT 303 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Demolition of all existing structures on site, construction of a pair of three-storey semi-detached dwellings29 FRANKLIN PDE ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single storey detached dwelling146 -148 BAY RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single storey detached dwelling146 -148 BAY RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Verandah6 HODGE AV ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Carport83 BATTYE RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
June 2026
- Elevated Single Storey Detached Dwelling18 BOLGER WAY ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Dwelling Addition2 POLLARD CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Verandah4 GRIBBLE CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Verandah7 EAGLE WAY ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Verandah and Alfresco38 AINSLIE ROBERTS DR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Partial Demolition and Single Storey Dwelling Additions and Alterations, Carport and Verandah5 OAKHAM ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Dwelling Addition12 CAKEBREAD RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Land Division 1 into 2 (Torrens Title)7 RIDGEWAY ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Garage1 THOMPSON CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- SHED / DOM. STORAGE15 POLTONG CR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
May 2026
- new veranda10 HARWOOD CL ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Carport - Hard Copy Application - Unit 3451 -27 MAUDE ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Replacement Dwelling (demolition of existing Dwelling), Alterations and Addition to Dwelling and Deck101 FRANKLIN PDE ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- 2 x Freestanding Carports19 HIGGINS ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision 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
12 heritage places
- Rosetta Head Well and Whaling Station Site (former Encounter Bay Whaling Station) [Designated as a place of archaeological significance]off Franklin Parade ENCOUNTER BAYState heritage
- 'Yilki Farm'Lot 275 Tabernacle Road ENCOUNTER BAYLocal heritage
- Battye Farm Homestead building and long-barn outbuilding previously used as a milking shed and horse stables1-3 Battye Road ENCOUNTER BAYLocal heritage
- Dwelling173 Bay Road ENCOUNTER BAYLocal heritage
- Dwelling40-41A Franklin Parade ENCOUNTER BAYLocal heritage
- Dwelling ('Yilki', former Fountain Inn)66 Franklin Parade ENCOUNTER BAYState heritage
- Dwelling - 'Maryville'9 Russell Street ENCOUNTER BAYLocal heritage
- Dwelling and Outhouse4B Krill Court ENCOUNTER BAYLocal heritage
- Former Butter Factory3 - 7 Mill Road ENCOUNTER BAYLocal heritage
- Former Yilki Post Office66 Franklin Parade (off) ENCOUNTER BAYLocal heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
- Bushfire safer places
- 1
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 20.0 km away).
Coalition 44.8%Labor 55.2%
0.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Victor Harbor SouthLabor 57.2% · Coalition 42.8% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- Victor HarborLabor 51.2% · Coalition 48.8% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
- Victor Harbor EastLabor 55.4% · Coalition 44.6% TPP (2025)5.9 km away
- Port ElliotLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)8.8 km away
- MiddletonLabor 56.1% · Coalition 43.9% TPP (2025)11.9 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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 Victor Harbor Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.