Gawler South is an outer metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Gawler Council, where heritage streetscapes sit alongside mixed commercial and residential development. The South Para River is part of the surrounding geography.
Local amenities is an exceptional strength, well above typical levels for outer metropolitan suburbs. Walkability is a very strong feature of the suburb. The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings, and population growth is another area where the suburb performs particularly well, with population growth 30% above the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are higher housing costs and thinner mapped green cover within the suburb boundary, with median house prices 28% above the peer median.
Overall, Gawler South suits people prioritising heritage character and local amenities over lower housing costs.
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 has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings
Local amenity access is stronger than in most comparable places
Walkability is a relative strength
Population growth is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group
Green cover is a relative weakness
What stands out
Heritage streetscapes
South Para 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 South compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$983k
+45% change
Median rent
$485/wk
Houses $535 · Units $315
Population (ERP)
3,102
+1.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.5%
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
#58
among Metro Adelaide · Mature
Crime rate
66th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
84th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
31%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
34th
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
31.6/100 — Below average
National rank
6211th in Australia
State rank
602nd in SA
Peer rank
#58 among Metro Adelaide · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#307 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
97%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$315
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$535
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$485
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
10
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$982,500
Median price change
+45.4%
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
3,102(June 2025)
+1.5% annual · +12.7% over 5 years · 84th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.5%
5-year growth
+12.7%
Change in 1 year
+45
Change in 5 years
+350
Growth rank in SA
84th 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 (~3,450), extrapolated at +2.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
2,618
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$1,238
Dwelling vacancy
8.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
107 of 1,255
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$260
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
31.3% / 37.6% / 31.2%
Employment rate
54.6%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
5.6% / 1.6% / 74.9%
Walked or cycled to work
2.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
856 / 272 / 18
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.
14% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 20.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified14% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified9.6% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational20.1% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below56.3% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce20.1%
Engineering and related technologies17.9%
Society and culture16.1%
Health12.4%
Education10.2%
Food, hospitality and personal services6.4%
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
2.9% speak a language other than English at home; 18.2% born overseas
Language at home
2,425 English only · 72 other
Non-English at home
2.9%
Born overseas
452 (18.2%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
71 (2.7%)
Australian citizens
2,368
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
5
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Italian6 · 33.3%
Cantonese3 · 16.7%
German3 · 16.7%
Korean3 · 16.7%
Persian3 · 16.7%
Religion
50.8%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 50.8%, while Christianity accounts for 40%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
50.8%
45.2%
Christianity
40%
40%
Other / not stated
9.2%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
12.4%
15.5%
Anglican
11.8%
7.2%
Uniting Church
5.1%
4.8%
Lutheran
3.2%
2.4%
Christian (not further defined)
2.3%
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)
159
Against the person
48
Against property
111
Rate per 1,000 residents
51.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 55 residents
State crime-rate percentile
65.9th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
139
Increase (daily rate)
+1.3%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
88
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
28.37
Most common offence types
Common Assault12
Damage Or Destroy Property34
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences12
Serious Assault31
Theft From A Person26
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Gawler and District College B-12Combined · Government · ICSEA 932 · 19th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 1,247 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Immanuel GawlerPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1038 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 353 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Gawler East Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 987 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 374 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Gawler Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 954 · 26th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 168 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Reasonably walkable — many shops and services reachable on foot or by bus
Well connected by public transport — 18 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
60/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.38
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
3.44
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.38
Food & drink(9)
Gawler South BakeryBakery
The Cheesecake ShopBakery
Unit Shop 2 33 Adelaide Road
Gawler Heritage CafeCafe
Twentythird Street
KFCFast food
17-19 Adelaide Road
Mamma Mia PizzeriaFast food
36 Adelaide Road
McDonald'sFast food
40-42 Adelaide Road
Noodle BoxFast food
The Criterion TavernPub
18 Nineteenth Street
Pizza HutRestaurant
Shopping(3)
Sip'n Save - Criterion TavernBottle shop
18 Nineteenth Street
Mitre 10Hardware store
7 Adelaide Road
Community(1)
Goodstart Gawler SouthKindergarten
37 Twelfth Street, Gawler South
Health & services(6)
Adelaide Road ClinicClinic
25 Adelaide Road
Nunyara House Specialist Medical CentreClinic
43 Adelaide Road
Clinpath Pathology GawlerMedical clinic
78 Adelaide Road
Gawler PharmacyPharmacy
21 Adelaide Road
Gawler Animal HospitalVeterinary
76 Adelaide Road
Gawler South Small Animal HospitalVeterinary
Sport & outdoors(5)
Gawler Rivers Tapa Pariara PathCycling route
Real Pilates- StudioGym
The Station GymGym
Twentythird Street
Fifth Street ReservePark
Public toilets
Transport(14)
13 bus stops · 1 train stations
Other(36)
Sanders FodderAgrarian
2 Twentythird Street
Claire the ChiropractorAlternative
51 Adelaide Road
Battery WorldBattery
35 Adelaide Road
Bench (3)
Bicycle Parking
Car
Steinborner Holden - GawlerCar
Autopro GawlerCar Parts
Burson Auto PartsCar Parts
19 Seventh Street
Car wash
Crow ComputersComputer
14 Twentyfirst Street
Gawler Dry CleanersDry Cleaning
Unit 3 36 Adelaide Road
AG Power Sales & ServiceElectrical
12 Nineteenth Street, Gawler South
Flower DelightsFlorist
Unit Shop 1 33 Adelaide Road
Totally FramedFrame
59 Adelaide Road
Taylor and Forgie - Adelaide Road ChapelFuneral Directors
98 Adelaide Road
Little Red Door Hair StudioHairdresser
82 Adelaide Road
Ultimate Hair & BeautyHairdresser
31B Adelaide Road
Somerset ModelsModel
31A Adelaide Road, Gawler South
Motorcycle Parking (2)
Roam OffroadOutdoor
34 Adelaide Road
Gawler Park 'n' RideParking
Parking (60)
Parking Space (66)
Picnic Table (2)
Church of the TransfigurationPlace of worship
Gawler Adventist ChurchPlace of worship
22 Twentysecond Street
Immanuel Lutheran Worship centrePlace of worship
Australian Clinical LabsSample Collection
25 Adelaide Road
Shelter
ADRA Community Pantry GawlerSocial Facility
22 Twentysecond Street
United DisAbilitySocial Facility
47 Adelaide Road
TelstraTelephone
Freechoice TobacconistTobacco
41 Adelaide Road
Town of GawlerWaste Basket
Waste Basket
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
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
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Church of the Transfiguration
Gawler Adventist Church
22 Twentysecond Street
Immanuel Lutheran Worship centre
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° / 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 (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 54 proposals
September 2026
Verandah
20 THIRTEENTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Construction of Verandah and Decking (maximum 1.7m above natural ground level)
41A GAWLER TCE GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Construction of attached verandah
UNIT 10 28 EIGHTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Outbuilding (garage and domestic storage shed)
23 GAWLER TCE GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Verandah and carport
6 MOUNT TCE GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Divide existing allotment into 2
61 ADELAIDE RD GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Outbuilding (Shed) - 15.25m (l) x 9.156m (w) x 3.3m (h)
33 SECOND ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
August 2026
Installation of fibreglass swimming pool and safety features
33 SECOND ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Partial demolition and additions and alterations to existing dwelling
10 TWENTYSECOND ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Carport (20m X 6.35m)
67 HILL ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Retaining walls and Decking/Bridge structure associated with Land Division (DA Ref: 23036139)
25 ECKERMAN AV GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118;37 ECKERMAN AV GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Land Division - 1 into 3 - Community Title
3 EIGHTEENTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Alterations and Additions to existing Single Storey Detached Dwelling, including extension of Carport
32 SECOND ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Torrens Title land division (1 allotment into 2) including retention of existing dwelling and construction of carport
15 FIRST ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Split level detached dwelling, fill exceeding 9m3 and associated retaining walls exceeding 1m
3 LEICESTER CL GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
July 2026
Community Title Land Division - 1 into 2
15 FIRST ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Single Storey Detached Dwelling with garage under main roof
LOT 55 SECOND ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Freestanding Verandah and tree damaging activity
6 FIRST ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Addition to existing Outbuilding (shed)
48 GAWLER TCE GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
June 2026
Retaining wall on boundary adjacent to 15 Ninth Street
3 TENTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Verandah
40 EIGHTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Carport and verandah
14 TWENTYSECOND ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Hard Copy Lodgement - New Roof - Z600 galvanised corrugated iron, replacement guttering in Colorbond Shale Grey
9 GAWLER TCE GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Hard-Copy Application - Change Sleepout into an Ensuite Bathroom
63 HILL ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
May 2026
Outbuilding (Shed)
41A GAWLER TCE GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
An open front, open roof pergola along the front of the house
28 SECOND ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Ancillary accommodation
11 MOUNT TCE GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
April 2026
Verandah
28 FOURTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Outbuilding (Garage)
15 EIGHTEENTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Single storey dwelling, Retaining walls and fence
12 QUARRY VIEW DR GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Repairs to fire damaged roof framing and roof cladding.
41 ADELAIDE RD GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Change of use from Dwelling to Consulting Room (comprising two (2) consult rooms) and Office (comprising two (2) offices) including associated Building Alterations; with Installation of Advertising Signage and associated car parking and landscaping
2 THIRTEENTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Detached Dwelling (split level, containing three levels) with garage and verandahs under main roof
4 SULLIVAN GR GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Change of Use from Dwelling to Consulting Room, with Advertising Sign (0.3sqm) and associated landscaping and carparking
22 FOURTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
March 2026
Verandah to rear, replacement verandah to front porch, with carport to side and re-roofing of existing local heritage place.
20 SEVENTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Verandah
30 EIGHTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Development affecting State Heritage Place - Replacing an existing cellar opening with glass blockwork
27 EIGHTEENTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Verandah - 6m (l) x 3.4m (w) x 2.4m (h)
4 EIGHTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
Construction of two-storey multi-use building, comprising Dwelling and Office/Showroom, with associated carparking and landscaping
61 ADELAIDE RD GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Verandah
225 GAWLER-ONE TREE HILL RD GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
Internal Alterations to existing Consulting Room - including increase in total number of Consulting Rooms from 8 to 9
LOT 101 SEVENTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Under Assessment
Carport
14 TWELFTH ST GAWLER SOUTH SA 5118Decision Made
November 2025
Dwelling additions and alterations including partial demolition (non-heritage addition) to rear of representative building (single storey dwelling)
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 2.9 km away).
Coalition 42.5%Labor 57.5%
7.9 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Gawler SouthLabor 54.5% · Coalition 45.5% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
GawlerLabor 65.0% · Coalition 35.0% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
EvanstonLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
Gawler WestLabor 59.4% · Coalition 40.6% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
Gawler EastLabor 56.7% · Coalition 43.3% TPP (2025)2.0 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.
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%)