Gawler is a suburb of Adelaide, in Gawler Council, characterised by heritage streetscapes alongside mixed commercial and residential development. It is close to the Gawler River.
The suburb is highly walkable compared with similar places, placing it among the highest-ranked comparable places. Local amenities are a relative strength. The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, with university qualifications 63% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on household incomes and limited school access, with household incomes 37% below the peer median.
Gawler is a better fit for people who value walkability and local amenities more than school access.
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
Outer metropolitan suburb · compared with outer metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (64)
Strengths
The suburb is highly walkable compared with similar places
Local amenities are a relative strength
The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings
University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Household incomes sit below the peer median
School access is a relative weakness
What stands out
Heritage streetscapes
Gawler River
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★☆☆
Professionals★★☆☆☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★★★★☆
Budget buyers★★★★☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Gawler compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$791k
+7.7% change
Median rent
$520/wk
Population (ERP)
787
+1.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.9%
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
#38
among Metro Adelaide · Mature
Crime rate
97th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
86th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
36%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
41st
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
48.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 27% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
2358th in Australia
State rank
190th in SA
Peer rank
#38 among Metro Adelaide · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#141 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
100%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$520
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$791,000
Median price change
+7.7%
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.
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; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
787(June 2025)
+1.6% annual · +12.6% over 5 years · 86th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.6%
5-year growth
+12.6%
Change in 1 year
+12
Change in 5 years
+88
Growth rank in SA
86th 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 (~850), extrapolated at +2.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
668
Median age
57
Median household income / week
$936
Dwelling vacancy
9.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
37 of 372
Median monthly mortgage
$1,200
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$240
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
36.1% / 28.2% / 35.7%
Employment rate
42.8%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
10.3% / 1.5% / 71.4%
Walked or cycled to work
1.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
179 / 116 / 29 (+ 15 other)
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.
19.6% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 17.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified19.6% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified8.3% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational17.6% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below54.4% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Society and culture18.4%
Health17.7%
Engineering and related technologies15.7%
Management and commerce14.4%
Education8.4%
Food, hospitality and personal services7%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 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)
$60,019
77th percentile in SA · +2% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$64,472
80th percentile in SA · -1% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
12.0%
52nd percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$89,124
63rd percentile in SA · +41% vs Australia
Residents with business income
8.0%
21st percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5118 — 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
12,379
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,502
Median net rent
-$591
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,020
Taxable income vs state median
+10%
Salary / wages vs state median
+12%
Rental investment vs state median
0%
Super vs state median
+15%
Business income vs state median
-27%
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
4.9% speak a language other than English at home; 24.4% born overseas
Language at home
597 English only · 31 other
Non-English at home
4.9%
Born overseas
155 (24.4%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
22 (3.3%)
Australian citizens
585
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).
Italian4 · 100%
Religion
49.4%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 49.4%, while Christianity accounts for 42.5%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
49.4%
45.2%
Christianity
42.5%
40%
Other / not stated
8.1%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
11.8%
15.5%
Anglican
11.7%
7.2%
Uniting Church
6%
4.8%
Lutheran
4%
2.4%
Christian (not further defined)
2.1%
2.6%
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
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
353
Against the person
68
Against property
285
Rate per 1,000 residents
448.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 10 residents
State crime-rate percentile
97.4th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
139
Increase (daily rate)
+6.6%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
126
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
160.1
Most common offence types
Common Assault27
Damage Or Destroy Property64
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences27
Theft From A Person38
Theft From Retail Premises96
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Gawler Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 954 · 26th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 168 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
Immanuel GawlerPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1038 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 353 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
Gawler East Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 987 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 374 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Gawler 1 Education Director OfficePhoenix Plaza Tenancy 4, 3-5 Calton RoadSupport Services
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap and the SA Sports Vouchers venue list, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Church Of Christ Gawler
132 Murray Street
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
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.
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° / 13°
Rainfall
69 mm · ~9 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 9°
Rainfall
80 mm · ~10 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
14° / 5°
Rainfall
142 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 8°
Rainfall
125 mm · ~16 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 33 proposals
September 2026
Attached Verandah
UNIT 1 32A JACOB ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Installation of a new security gate to an existing Woolworths tenancy
2 COMMERCIAL LANE GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Freestanding Carport
3 CAMERON ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Gates / Fencing to be installed on the northern side of the building
4 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
August 2026
Big W Pallet Racking Removal/Relocation & Sprinkler Modification
2 COMMERCIAL LANE GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
New verandah and alterations to building facade and reconfiguration of crossover and existing car park
1 JULIAN TCE GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Change in land-use: Increasing from two consulting rooms to four with associated carpark upgrade
10 MAIN NORTH RD GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Change of use from tourist information centre and gallery to office
2 LYNDOCH RD GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Internal Tenancy Fitout - Shop 1 (Flight Centre) - Internal Works Only - Separate application lodged for external works
124 -130 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
July 2026
Construction of Verandah attached to State Heritage Place (together with associated building work and repairs)
146 -150 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Building repairs to existing balcony/verandah and painting of a Local Heritage Place
LOT 522 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Building Alterations & Partial Demolition of a Building within the Historic Area Overlay (for the purposes of existing beer garden refurbishment).
30 -32 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118;34 -36 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Building Alterations & Partial Demolition of a State Heritage Building (for the purposes of commercial kitchen & sanitary facilities refurbishment).
30 -32 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118;34 -36 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Business identification signage (please note internal fit-out to be completed under separate application)
124 -130 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Change of Use from Shop to Office; Installation of Advertising Signage
78 -90 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118;92 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Building alterations and verandah
18 -20 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Temporary Advertisement (Fence Wrap)
14 NIXON TCE GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Educational facility
22 NIXON TCE GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
June 2026
Solar photovoltaic panels (roof mounted) - 10.45kW Battery - 18.4kWh
1 CAMERON ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
May 2026
Change of Use from Kindergarten to Community Facility, including internal building work and external advertising signs.
22B COWAN ST GAWLER SA 5118;23 FINNISS ST GAWLER SA 5118;24 COWAN ST GAWLER SA 5118;25 FINNISS ST GAWLER SA 5118;LOT 99 COWAN ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
boundary realignment
15 FINNISS ST GAWLER SA 5118;4 MOORE ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Repair cracks and Repoint Church façade facing Light Square. Repair cracks to Tracery window and replace glass to missing panels, approx. 6 panels.
1A MOORE ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Advertisements/Signage
151 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
April 2026
Minor internal modifications to the State Heritage Place, Gawler Town Hall (involving installation of fixings for removable acrylic panels in front of existing windows within the Heritage Gallery)
89 -91 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Verandah
3 DUNDAS ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
March 2026
Heritage re roofing and guttering to main residence including curved attached verandah.
3 DUNDAS ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Installation of three Advertising Signs on a Local Heritage Place (attached to upper level balcony balustrade)
21 -23 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Building Alterations (Garage conversion to bedroom/ensuite)
19 KING ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
February 2026
Outbuilding (shed)
17 NIXON TCE GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Construction of a new verandah and carport, and removal of existing verandah, carport and regulated tree (Eucalyptus Platypus – 1.3m circumference)
21 COWAN ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Amenities upgrades and alterations
22 NIXON TCE GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling and verandah, with boundary fence and photovoltaic solar panels
8 ORLEANA SQ GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
January 2026
Internal and external building alterations including internal fit-out, temporary fenestrations and replacement fensetrations, and advertisement to Local Heritage Place (formerly the Bunyip)
LOT 522 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
Repainting of building facade. Change colour from Vivid White to Antique White.
89 -91 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Dwelling located above a non-residential use (Local Heritage Place) and carport to rear of existing Local Heritage Place
LOT 742 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Variation of Development Application 24011663 (Demolition of three (3) Representative Buildings within Historic Area Overlay; Construction of Three-Storey Mixed-Use Building comprising Shops (retail), Offices and Tourist Accommodation; Construction of Shop (retail); and associated retaining walls, carparking and landscaping; with associated Advertising Signage) - to incorporate five stages: Stage 1: Demolition Stage 2: Structural – excavation, footings, retaining walls Stage 3: Structural – rema
3-5 CALTON RD GAWLER EAST SA 5118;55-57 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118;SHOP 1-6 41 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
November 2025
Change of Use from Office to Shop and advertisement
SHOP 1-5 101 -107 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Tree-damaging Activity - removal of one (1) regulated and one (1) significant tree both Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm)
3 DUNDAS ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Fencing and retaining to corner allotment with maximum combined height of 2.5m
14 QUEEN ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
6 new Pickle Ball Courts, new lighting, new fencing
LOT 2 VICTORIA TCE GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Internal fit-out for Service SA customer service centre.
1 COWAN ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
October 2025
Alterations to Hotel building - conversion of existing Function Venue (meeting room) to Tourist Accommodation (comprising two additional suites)
102 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Outbuilding (shed) and carport
4 SUTTON ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Decommission of double-knock system and reinstatement of DTS door release on GFA
133 -135 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Outbuilding (shed) and air-conditioning system to side of existing State Heritage Place
3 DUNDAS ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Open-sided carport to side of existing dwelling
17 NIXON TCE GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
External painting of Local Heritage Place - mural to northern portion of wall
LOT 742 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
September 2025
EDV bike storage shed for letter delivery bikes
6 TOD ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Roof-mounted solar photovoltaic panels
LOT 742 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Tourist Accommodation (two (2) single storey buildings) and roof-mounted solar photovoltaic panels
7 MAIN NORTH RD GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Refurbishment and expansion of customer service centre. New entry and exit into customer service area.
1 COWAN ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
2 x Verandah's - 16.9m (l) x 4.3m (w) x 3.08m (h) and 7.7m (l) x 4.8m (w) x 3.08m (h)
44 JACOB ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
August 2025
Illuminated advertisement to underside of eaves
77 -79 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Under Assessment
Alterations to existing bank tenancy involving new egress door
133 -135 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
Advertisements x 2 and Change of Use to 'Office'
SHOP 1-4 104 MURRAY ST GAWLER SA 5118Decision Made
External alterations including painting and roller shutters to existing shopfront (Local Heritage Place)
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.
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.7 km away).
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
3.9 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
GawlerLabor 65.0% · Coalition 35.0% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
Gawler WestLabor 59.4% · Coalition 40.6% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
Gawler SouthLabor 54.5% · Coalition 45.5% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
WillastonLabor 61.3% · Coalition 38.7% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
Gawler EastLabor 56.7% · Coalition 43.3% TPP (2025)1.6 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.
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%)