SA · Adelaide Hills Council
Forreston, SA, 5233
Current weather
9°CLight drizzle
92% humidity · 27.6 km/h wind · 10.9° / 7.5° today · 17.2 mm rain
Desirability index
71.6/100
How this score is calculated#62 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Forreston is a small locality in the Adelaide Hills area, home to around 407 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 8 offences in 2024–25 (Jul–Jun), roughly 19.7 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- 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)
- 0 / 0 / 0
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)
- 8
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 19.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 204 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.5th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 5
- Year-on-year change
- 0%
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
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Period: 2024-25; 2024-25 → 2024-25 · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
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)
Data sources & freshness
- Adelaide Metro GTFS stops — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
43 planning-related records
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· 6 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
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 71.6/100
- Cohort rank
- #62 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 1 x Frost Fanplanning795 WATTS GULLY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 07 May 2025 · Decision Made
- Agricultural buildingplanning328 MARTIN HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 11 Jun 2025 · Decision Made
- Agricultural buildingplanning200 QUINNS RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 19 May 2022 · Decision Made
- Agricultural buildingplanning241 HILL RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 08 Oct 2021 · Decision Made
- Alterations to existing ancillary accommodation unit, addition of carportplanning155 ALEXANDER FORREST RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 29 Apr 2024 · Decision Made
- Ancillary Accommodationplanning35 RESERVE RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 19 Dec 2025 · Under Assessment
- Ancillary accommodationplanning719 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 03 Apr 2025 · Decision Made
- Boundary realignmentplanning180 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 20 Sep 2025 · Decision Made
- Carport forward of dwellingplanning136 NORSWORTHY RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 08 Feb 2023 · Decision Made
- Change of use from outbuilding to shop (cellar door), construction of outbuilding (toilet block), signage and associated parkingplanning180 FORRESTON RD FORRESTON SA 5233Lodged 02 Aug 2024 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Updated on site
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