Gilles Plains is a middle-ring metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Port Adelaide Enfield Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development.
Everyday destinations are relatively walkable, well above typical levels for middle-ring metropolitan suburbs. Dining and café access is an exceptional strength. Park access is a strong feature of the suburb, with park access 43% above the peer median. University qualifications are a relative strength, with university qualifications 30% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on higher crime and higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising walkability and dining over peace and quiet.
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
Middle-ring metropolitan suburb · compared with middle-ring metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (106)
Strengths
Everyday destinations are relatively walkable
Dining and café access is a relative strength
Park access is a relative strength
University qualifications are a relative strength
Weaknesses
Reported crime is well above the peer median
Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated
What stands out
Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.
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 Gilles Plains compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$915k
+16% change
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $650 · Units $390
Population (ERP)
4,525
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.7%
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
#26
among Metro Adelaide · Growth area
Crime rate
88th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
62nd
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
41%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
63rd
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
42.8/100 — Average
State standing
Top 46% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
3687th in Australia
State rank
326th in SA
Peer rank
#26 among Metro Adelaide · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#212 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
98%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$390
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$650
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$650
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
35
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$915,000
Median price change
+16%
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
4,525(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +4.2% over 5 years · 62th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+4.2%
Change in 1 year
+32
Change in 5 years
+182
Growth rank in SA
62th 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 (~4,750), extrapolated at +1.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
4,101
Median age
36
Median household income / week
$1,446
Dwelling vacancy
4.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
74 of 1,589
Median monthly mortgage
$1,536
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$295
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
21.2% / 37.7% / 41.1%
Employment rate
56.1%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
7.9% / 8.4% / 70.1%
Walked or cycled to work
1.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,172 / 138 / 201
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.
28.2% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 14.5% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified28.2% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified8.5% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational14.5% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below48.7% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce23.7%
Engineering and related technologies16.2%
Society and culture14.6%
Health12.4%
Information technology7.5%
Education6.7%
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)
$56,184
59th percentile in SA · -4% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$61,463
65th percentile in SA · -5% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
14.0%
71st percentile in SA · +1% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$45,971
11th percentile in SA · -27% vs Australia
Residents with business income
15.0%
93rd percentile in SA · +44% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5086 — 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
11,382
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,537
Median net rent
-$1,216
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,671
Taxable income vs state median
+3%
Salary / wages vs state median
+7%
Rental investment vs state median
+17%
Super vs state median
-41%
Business income vs state median
+36%
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
45.2% speak a language other than English at home; 44.1% born overseas
Language at home
2,134 English only · 1,762 other
Non-English at home
45.2%
Born overseas
1,724 (44.1%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
85 (2.1%)
Australian citizens
3,304
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
26
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Punjabi112 · 15.5%
Gujarati77 · 10.6%
Mandarin60 · 8.3%
Bengali46 · 6.4%
Hindi46 · 6.4%
Urdu45 · 6.2%
Arabic34 · 4.7%
Cantonese31 · 4.3%
Religion
33.7%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 33.7%, while 29.2% reported no religion. Islam is more prevalent locally than across the state. Hinduism is more prevalent locally than across the state.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
29.2%
45.2%
Christianity
33.7%
40%
Hinduism
8.3%
2.1%
Islam
12.1%
2.3%
Buddhism
3.5%
1.9%
Other / not stated
13.3%
8.5%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
14.7%
15.5%
Anglican
4.5%
7.2%
Uniting Church
2.5%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
2.3%
2.6%
Eastern Orthodox
2%
2.4%
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)
537
Against the person
90
Against property
447
Rate per 1,000 residents
118.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 46 residents
State crime-rate percentile
88.3th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
140
Increase (daily rate)
+33.6%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
284
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
62.76
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property105
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences77
Serious Assault53
Theft From A Person67
Theft From Retail Premises123
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Wandana Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 962 · 30th percentile · LBOTE 55% · 181 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
St Paul's CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 1037 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 50% · 1,191 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
Avenues CollegeCombined · Government · ICSEA 929 · 18th percentile · LBOTE 51% · 493 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
Kildare CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1051 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 768 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Heritage College IncorporatedCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1040 · 64th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 437 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Dernancourt SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1046 · 67th percentile · LBOTE 43% · 326 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Prescott Primary School, NorthernPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1083 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 88% · 462 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Valley View Secondary SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 963 · 30th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 596 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Ingle Farm East Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 981 · 38th percentile · LBOTE 37% · 268 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Wandana Preschool2-12 Cowra AvenuePreschools
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Great for outdoor family life — 9 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 24 public transport stops
Good everyday shopping nearby — 6 shops and services
Walkability proxy
79/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.49
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2.93
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.19
Food & drink(12)
The Cheescake ShopBakery
Coffee MateCafe
Kozy Breeze CafeCafe
575 North East Road
Domino'sFast food
McDonald'sFast food
575 North East Road
Noodle BoxFast food
Afghan ChefRestaurant
Ba-MiRestaurant
Fasta PastaRestaurant
Hoa Tam RestaurantRestaurant
Unit 2 509-511 North East Road
Kickin' InnRestaurant
Momo SushiRestaurant
575 North East Road
Shopping(8)
Dan Murphy'sBottle shop
Woolworths MetroGoConvenience store
Vinny's Fruit & VegGreengrocer
Gilles Plains Shopping CentreShopping centre
575 North East Road
ALDISupermarket
Salam Supermarket & Halal ButcherSupermarket
WoolworthsSupermarket
Younger Asian GrocerySupermarket
Everyday services(5)
ATM (2)
Laundromat@GillesLaundry
Unit 10b 511 North East Road
Woolworths PetrolPetrol station
Australia PostPost office
Unit 61 575 North East Road, Gilles Plains
Community(2)
School
St Paul's CollegeSchool
Health & services(1)
Gilles Plains Medical CentreMedical clinic
575 North East Road
Sport & outdoors(19)
Adelaide RCNCycling route
Dry Creek TrailCycling route
O-Bahn BikewayCycling route
Fitness station
Oakdale ReservePark
Park (6)
Tasman ReservePark
Wandana ReservePark
Fulton ReservePlayground
Oakdale Reserve PlaygroundPlayground
Playground
Wandana ReservePlayground
Oaks Swim CentreSports centre
11 Blacks Road
Sports field
Transport(19)
19 bus stops
Other(25)
Game On EntertainmentAmusement Arcade
Bench (4)
Bicycle Parking
AutobarnCar Parts
Unit 2 621-623 North East Road, Gilles Plains
Burson Auto PartsCar Parts
633 North East Road, Gilles Plains
Holden Hill Crash RepairsCar repair
607 North East Road, Gilles Plains
Carwash KingCar wash
605 North East Road, Gilles Plains
Carpet CourtCarpet
TAFE SA Gilles Plains CampusCollege
Happy's CutHairdresser
North East NewsagencyNewsagent
Unit 61 575 North East Road, Gilles Plains
Optical SuperstoreOptician
Australia PostParcel Locker
Parking (54)
Picnic Table
Wandana MosquePlace of worship
52-56 Wandana Avenue
Wandana MosquePlace of worship
56 Wandana Avenue
Clinpath PathologySample Collection
575 North East Road
Ward's ShoesShoes
575 North East Road
OfficeworksStationery
New Look TailorTailor
Adelaide Tyre CentreTyres
The Reject ShopVariety Store
Vending machine (2)
Waste Basket (3)
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
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Wandana Mosque
52-56 Wandana Avenue
Wandana Mosque
56 Wandana Avenue
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· 50 proposals
September 2026
Two single storey detached dwellings with retaining walls and fencing.
20 MORAWA AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
August 2026
Verndahs x 3
16 OAKDALE DR GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Verandah
30 MARVIN AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Land division - 1 into 2 allotments
908 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Variation to DA 26007001 (Condition 7) to increase the number of service bays within the approved auto-repair facility
846 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086;848 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
July 2026
Freestanding advertisement (pylon sign) associated with Motor Repair Station authorised by DA 26007001
846 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086;848 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Regulated Tree Removal (Brush Box tree)
9 ANITA AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Carport
2 FEATURE CT GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Alterations and additions to existing educational facility
792 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Outbuilding in association with existing educational facility
792 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
June 2026
2x Single storey detached dwellings, retaining walls and fencing
15 MORAWA AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Land division (1 into 2 Allotments) and Removal of 3x Regulated trees and 1x Significant tree.
3 MARVIN AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Tenancy Fitout (Sushi Hub Gilles Plains)
575 NORTH EAST RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Land division creating one additional allotment (1 into 2)
12 BRENDA AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
(Retrospective) Remove One (1) Significant Tree (Tree Damaging Activity)
1 HARVEY AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
12 HAWKER AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Advertisement signage with LED screen
SHOP 1-11 511 NORTH EAST RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
May 2026
Lessor Works - T44, Kiosk + K02, T37, T38, T38a, T34a/b (Gilles Plains Shopping Centre Small Works)
575 NORTH EAST RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Two (2) single storey detached dwellings and combined fence & retaining walls
8 NEWCOMBE DR GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Internal shop refurbishment - Lucky Nails (Tenancy 8)
575 NORTH EAST RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
2 x Two-storey detached dwellings, retaining walls, fencing and removal of 1x regulated tree.
908 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Relocation of three existing transportable buildings, including access infrastructure, within the school site to a new location
792 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Land division 1 in 3 allotments and construction of three two-storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement.
14 VICAR ST GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Domestic outbuilding - Shed - storage purposes
14 MARVIN AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Swimming pool and safety barrier
7 KARRATTA ST GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
April 2026
Construction of four, two storey group dwelling with ancillary retaining walls and fencing
11 HARVEY AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Torrens Title land division (1 allotment into 3 allotments) and the construction of three (3) single storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement with associated decks and combined fence & retaining wall structures
11 DIAMOND AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Car wash and associated office and advertisements, removal of one regulated tree and internal building work
575 NORTH EAST RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Removal of two (2) regulated Melia azedarach (Chinaberry) trees
16 GAY AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Land division - 1 into 2 allotments
4 WEEBO ST GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
March 2026
Community title land division: 2 allotments from 1
3 -3A DALLY RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Removal of a regulated tree (Cupressus).
20 REX AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Swimming pool and safety barriers
82 LURLINE AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Construction of a Shop with drive-through facility and a Motor repair station with associated car parking, Retaining walls, Fences, Advertising signage, Landscaping and Removal of two (2) x Regulated trees
846 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086;848 GRAND JUNCTION RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Land division (1 into 2), 2 x single storey detached dwellings, retaining walls and fencing
19 ALTON AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Construction of 3 new single storey dwellings; 1 detached dwelling facing the road and 2 dwellings in a group dwelling configuration with common driveway, retaining walls and fencing
2 HARVEY AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Under Assessment
Dwelling alterations & additions with attached verandah and deck
22 TASMAN AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Storage Shed
14 SWANSON AV GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
February 2026
Internal fitout to existing pharmacy
575 NORTH EAST RD GILLES PLAINS SA 5086Decision Made
Conventional land division creating 2 allotments from 1
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.
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%)