Median house price
—
No data available
SA · Adelaide Hills Council
Forreston, 5233
Est. population · Jun 2025
439
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.1%
Median age
48
Median income
$2,079/wk
Employment rate
62.9%
Languages at home
1.6%non-English
Most common: Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Forreston sits up in the Adelaide Hills Council hills, a smaller community where elevation and tree cover define the mood. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Open space is thinner than in many regional towns, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
The overall desirability read is below average, pulled by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities compared with similar regional towns, though community and employment remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Forreston snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
439
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
12.3%
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
#114
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
26th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
61st
percentile in SA
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 27.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6003rd in Australia
- State rank
- 596th in SA
- Peer rank
- #114 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #195 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
439(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +2.1% over 5 years · 61th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +2.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +9
- Growth rank in SA
- 61th 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 (~450), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 407
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $2,079
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 19 of 154
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 62.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 138 / 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 · 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)
- 8
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 18.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 204 residents
- State safety percentile
- 25.8th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 5
- Increase (daily rate)
- +33.7%
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental1
- Sct - Non Residence1
- Sct - Residence1
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury2
- Theft/Illegal Use Of Mv2
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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Forreston Rd / Watts Gully Rd - North side (Forreston CFS)
- Forreston Rd / Watts Gully Rd - South side (Forreston CFS)
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 3/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Other(1)
- Forreston CFSFire station
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)
- 1
- 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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Gumeracha District Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (6.0 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)
- 13
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 29.6
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
- 29° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 67 mm · ~8 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 97 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 119 mm · ~15 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· 1 proposal
May 2026
- Construction of an agricultural building (tank/implement shed)148 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233Under Assessment
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Ancillary Accommodation35 RESERVE RD FORRESTON SA 5233Under Assessment
October 2025
- Outbuilding (shed)43 -45 JAMIESON ST FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Replace roofing frame and sheets, plaster and paint to fire damaged dwelling (kitchen & living room)27 NORSWORTHY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
September 2025
- Construction of two verandahs attached to an established dwelling and outbuilding200 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Boundary realignment180 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
July 2025
- Protective Tree Netting Structure82 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
June 2025
- Single storey dwelling and fire water tank137 NORSWORTHY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Agricultural building328 MARTIN HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
May 2025
- Protective tree netting structure148 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233;174 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233;82 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233;LOT 201 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- 1 x Frost Fan795 WATTS GULLY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
April 2025
- Change of use to shop (cellar door) including building alterations and additions, and associated advertising signage346 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Under Assessment
- Ancillary accommodation719 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Swimming pool and safety fence405 CHECKER HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
August 2024
- Change of use from outbuilding to shop (cellar door), construction of outbuilding (toilet block), signage and associated parking180 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
July 2024
- Ground Floor Residential Addition847 WATTS GULLY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
April 2024
- Change of use to include child care facility and upgrade to swimming pool safety features296 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Alterations to existing ancillary accommodation unit, addition of carport155 ALEXANDER FORREST RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
February 2024
- Swimming pool and associated pool safety barriers, deck88 RATHJEN RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Dwelling alterations and additions, deck, verandah344 CHECKER HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
January 2024
- Outbuilding807 WATTS GULLY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
2023· 8 proposals
November 2023
- Domestic outbuildingLOT 5 WATTS GULLY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
August 2023
- Single storey detached dwelling and retaining walls and fencingLOT 8 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Outbuilding413 CHECKER HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
March 2023
- Outbuilding (Greenhouse)162 MARTIN HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Dwelling addition6 RESERVE RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
February 2023
- Sheep shearing building36 RATHJEN RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Carport forward of dwelling136 NORSWORTHY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
January 2023
- Change of use to vineyard (horticulture)46 HANNA RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
2022· 8 proposals
November 2022
- Outbuilding346 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling & 22,500L water storage tank814 WATTS GULLY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
October 2022
- Swimming pool and safety fence704 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
July 2022
- Outbuilding468 WINTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
May 2022
- Agricultural building200 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Outbuilding20 JAMIESON ST FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Conversion of existing outbuilding to tourist accommodation (maximum 2 guests) and associated office404 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
January 2022
- Change of use to horticulture (vineyard), re-location existing outbuilding and change of use to agricultural building, and two (2) 220kL water tanks (above ground)346 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
2021· 3 proposals
December 2021
- Swimming pool and safety fence31 RESERVE RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
October 2021
- Outbuilding (Pool Pavilion)328 MARTIN HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision Made
- Agricultural building241 HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Decision 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
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 · 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 15.6 km away).
Coalition 51.1%Labor 48.9%
6.1 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- ForrestonLabor 46.9% · Coalition 53.1% TPP (2025)3.4 km away
- BirdwoodLabor 53.0% · Coalition 47.0% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
- GumerachaLabor 53.5% · Coalition 46.5% TPP (2025)6.8 km away
- KersbrookLabor 49.2% · Coalition 50.8% TPP (2025)7.0 km away
- Mount TorrensLabor 42.1% · Coalition 57.9% TPP (2025)11.0 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)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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 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.