SA · Alexandrina Council
Goolwa Beach, 5214
Current weather
10.6°CLight drizzle
79% humidity · 30.6 km/h wind · 13° / 10.6° today · 17.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Goolwa Beach revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Sea and sand are the main draw, with neighbouring coastal communities easy to explore on a free afternoon. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability against similar coastal suburbs, even with growth momentum and safety holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,222
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $916
- Dwelling vacancy
- 37.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 597 of 1,608
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,083
- Employment rate
- 38.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 72 / 100 / 4
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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $520
- Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- 20
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- SA Housing Authority rent & sales reports — Government of South Australia · Period: 1 January - 31 March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 45
- Against the person
- 8
- Against property
- 37
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 20.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 278 residents
- State safety percentile
- 28.3th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 36
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -24.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental13
- Other Theft9
- Sct - Residence6
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury4
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injury2
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Period: 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
278 planning-related records
2026· 25 proposals
June 2026
- Building alterations and repair work (like-for-like) for an existing commercial waste processing shed.1226 PORT ELLIOT RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
- Construction of Single storey detached dwelling7 HAYNES ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
- Carport and verandah21 SUNMAN ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Stratco Gable Garage W-6.151m x L-7.414m x H-2.7m35 UNDERWOOD AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
May 2026
- Partial change of use of existing dwelling to ancillary accommodation and building alterations (internal and external)26 HEGGATON RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
- Construction of a verandah2 FIELDING ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding (replacement garage)28 HAYNES ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Outbuilding (shed)5 WELCH ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling, outbuilding and associated earthworks and infrastructure1 SHIPWAY ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
- 2m x 2m spa to be placed at rear of driveway beside house. Suitable pool fencing and gates to be erected and decking steps to be built for access to spa.28 HAYNES ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
April 2026
- Carport and Garage39 EATON AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
- Construction of an outbuilding (garage)6 BOWLEY ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding (shed)22 SUNMAN ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
March 2026
- Dwelling alterations to convert garage under existing roof to main bedroom and verandah to rear.33 PORT ELLIOT RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Demolition and construction of an outbuilding (garage)5 GORDON ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Dwelling additions comprising installation of a balcony and internal alterations.6 BRADFORD RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
- Verandah's16 CAVE ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of a carport9 NESS ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Single storey dwelling additions and alterations29 CASTLE AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
February 2026
- Variation to DA 24033641 - Increase lower and upper ceiling heights from 2.7 to 3.0m33 NEIGHBOUR AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
- Construction of a Verandah8 CASTLE AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding (shed)13 CAVE ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of a single-storey dwelling addition, alterations, and a verandah6 COUNTER RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
January 2026
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling3 FRAYNE ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding and associated verandah34 HEGGATON RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Construction of an outbuilding19 HAYNES CR GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214;21 HAYNES CR GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of a carport6 GLEN CT GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Carport9 ORR ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
November 2025
- Construction of a double-storey dwelling with associated earthworks24 SHIPWAY ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of a freestanding carport57 FERGUSON RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of a verandah (partially enclosed) and deck18 SUNMAN ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding5 BRYANT CR GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Construction of a deck & verandah17 COUNTER RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling, verandah and deck8 COUNTER RD GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Dwelling addition (balcony)30 CASTLE AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Single storey alteration and addition and construction of deck.11 CASTLE AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
October 2025
- Outbuilding (garage)16 BRYANT CR GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Residential61 NEIGHBOUR AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Replace existing roof mounted tilt frame solar panels with new system17 ORR ST GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Decision Made
- Demolition and construction of double-storey detached dwelling with associated retaining wall, deck (ramp), fencing and outbuilding48 CORCORAN AV GOOLWA BEACH SA 5214Under Assessment
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site
Amenities
16 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (5)
- Stop 14 Port Elliot Road - South sideBus stop
- Picnic Table (2)
- Playground
- Shower (2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
- Waste Basket (3)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Heritage placeState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 32.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4952nd in Australia
- State rank
- 493rd in SA
- Peer rank
- #29 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #46 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 62%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Showeramenitiesshower
- Showeramenitiesshower
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Alexandrina Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.