SA · Adelaide Hills Council
Forest Range, 5139
Current weather
10.1°CLight drizzle
97% humidity · 26.4 km/h wind · 11.9° / 8.9° today · 35.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Premium
- Rural
- Established
- Residential
- Amenities
Suburb profile
Forest Range sits up in the Adelaide Hills hills, a smaller community where elevation and tree cover define the mood. Close enough to visit the capital for a day trip, yet far enough away to keep a distinctly local pace. Fresh country air and elevated outlooks are part of the appeal up here among the hills.
Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum against similar regional towns, even with transport and access and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 290
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $2,089
- Dwelling vacancy
- 18.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 22 of 120
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 70.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 5
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 17.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 72 residents
- State safety percentile
- 21.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +401.4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Common Assault1
- Dangerous Or Negligent Acts3
- Other Property Damage And Environmental1
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Period: 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
41 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Building alterations to existing ancillary accommodation282C DEVIATION RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Under Assessment
- Single-storey detached dwelling, change of use of outbuilding to tourist accommodation including associated building alterations10 FRY LANE FOREST RANGE SA 5139Under Assessment
- Protective Tree Netting Structure226 MAWSON RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Under Assessment
April 2026
- Agricultural building and water tank (above ground)1454 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
2025· 6 proposals
October 2025
- Outbuilding (shed)181 PLUMMERS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
August 2025
- Construction of a domestic outbuilding138 PLUMMERS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
July 2025
- Agricultural building (implement shed)42 PLUMMERS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
June 2025
- Protective tree netting structures130 PLUMMERS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
April 2025
- Outbuilding (shed)15 STENTIFORD RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
March 2025
- Outbuilding452 MAWSON RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Outbuilding ancillary to existing dwelling112 STENTIFORD RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
August 2024
- New garage and conversion of existing carport to studio (ancillary accommodation)282C DEVIATION RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
July 2024
- Verandah282A DEVIATION RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
- Verandah & deck attached to outbuilding & partial demolition (Retrospective)1283 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
April 2024
- Caport and verandah attached to existing dwelling15 STENTIFORD RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
February 2024
- Shop (cellar door), freestanding toilet building, retaining walls and associated car parking1409 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
- Deck attached to dwelling1211 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
- Change of use from farm building to dwelling including associated alterations and mezzanine levels.393A DEVIATION RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
2023· 10 proposals
November 2023
- Land division - Boundary Realignment (2 into 2)112 STENTIFORD RD LENSWOOD SA 5240;98 STENTIFORD RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
October 2023
- Demolition of dwelling & new single storey detached dwelling with attached deck1409 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
August 2023
- Protective Tree Netting Structure226 MAWSON RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
May 2023
- Alterations and Additions to existing Farm Building and Outbuilding, Change of use to winery (25 Tonne Crush), staff amenities and associated earthworks.534 MAWSON RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
- Protective tree netting structure226 MAWSON RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
- Outbuilding1353A LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
- Boundary re-alignment (2 into 2)1283 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139;9 SMITHS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
April 2023
- Agricultural building15 STENTIFORD RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
- Verandah32 PLUMMERS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
March 2023
- Dwelling alterations and additions, verandah, retaining walls and fencing, and swimming pool & associated safety features428 DEVIATION RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Under Assessment
2022· 8 proposals
November 2022
- Existing garage to have a new roof fitted with windows added2 FRY LANE FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
September 2022
- Two (2) verandahs210 DEVIATION RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
August 2022
- Swimming pool and safety fence, storage room, verandah, and retaining wall364 MAWSON RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
June 2022
- Outbuilding3 STENTIFORD RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
May 2022
- Land Division - Boundary Realignment (2 into 2)3 STENTIFORD RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139;41 STENTIFORD RD LENSWOOD SA 5240Decision Made
- Shed1338 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
March 2022
- Carport305 DEVIATION RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
January 2022
- Addition to existing agricultural building11 HEWLETTS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
2021· 4 proposals
November 2021
- Dwelling alterations & additions and 22,000L water storage tank73 PLUMMERS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
- Dwelling Alterations and Additions1189 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
June 2021
- Extension to existing outbuilding, including internal alterations53 HEWLETTS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Decision Made
May 2021
- Change of use from domestic outbuilding to tourist accommodation & associated building alterations (non-complying)258 MAWSON RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Under 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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Heritage placeState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 32.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4759th in Australia
- State rank
- 472nd in SA
- Peer rank
- #52 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #127 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 62%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Common Assaultcrime1
- Dangerous Or Negligent Actscrime3
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime1
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Addition to existing agricultural buildingplanning11 HEWLETTS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Lodged 27 Jan 2022 · Decision Made
- Agricultural buildingplanning15 STENTIFORD RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Lodged 24 Apr 2023 · Decision Made
- Agricultural building (implement shed)planning42 PLUMMERS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Lodged 22 Jul 2025 · Decision Made
- Agricultural building and water tank (above ground)planning1454 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Lodged 21 Apr 2026 · Decision Made
- Alterations and Additions to existing Farm Building and Outbuilding, Change of use to winery (25 Tonne Crush), staff amenities and associated earthworks.planning534 MAWSON RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Lodged 25 May 2023 · Decision Made
- Boundary re-alignment (2 into 2)planning1283 LOBETHAL RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139;9 SMITHS RD FOREST RANGE SA 5139Lodged 03 May 2023 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Updated on site
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Updated on site
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
More in Adelaide Hills Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.