SA · Unincorporated SA Council

Leigh Creek, 5731

Est. population · Jun 2025

46

Growth (1 yr)

-2.1%

Growth (5 yr)

-13.2%

Median age

40

Median income

$1,625/wk

Employment rate

58.2%

University qualified

16%

Work from home

0%

Languages at home

24.2%non-English

Most common: Australian Indigenous languages

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Remote
What Leigh Creek is known for: Remote

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Leigh Creek, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Leigh Creek, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/leigh-creek-sa

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Suburb profile

Leigh Creek is a remote locality in South Australia, in Unincorporated SA. It is set against the Flinders Ranges.

Rents are relatively affordable, with median rents 26% below the peer median. University qualifications are more common than in comparable places, well above typical levels for remote localities, and household incomes are a relative strength, with household incomes 24% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on weaker population growth and lower school ICSEA scores.

Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising lower rents and university qualifications over population growth.

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

Remote locality · compared with remote localities in South Australia (321)

Strengths

  • Rents are relatively affordable
  • University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
  • Household incomes are a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • Population growth is a relative weakness
  • Local school ICSEA scores sit below those of comparable places

What stands out

  • Flinders Ranges

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Leigh Creek compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$280/wk

Population (ERP)

46

-2.1% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

69.2%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

97th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

1st

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

100%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

4/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

3rd

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

Housing

Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$280

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.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

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 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only

Population

Estimated resident population

46(June 2025)

-2.1% annual · -13.2% over 5 years · 1th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-2.1%
5-year growth
-13.2%
Change in 1 year
-1
Change in 5 years
-7
Growth rank in SA
1th 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 (~50), extrapolated at -4.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
91
Median age
40
Median household income / week
$1,625
Dwelling vacancy
69.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
72 of 104
Median monthly mortgage
$0
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$84
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
0% / 0% / 100%
Employment rate
58.2%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
0% / 0% / 46%
Walked or cycled to work
42%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
30 / 0 / 0

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.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

16% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 19.8% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified16% · 22.6% SA
  • Diploma qualified3.7% · 8.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational19.8% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below60.5% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Education30%
  • Engineering and related technologies26.7%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services16.7%
  • Health13.3%
  • Management and commerce13.3%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 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)
$48,867

25th percentile in SA · -17% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$51,232

25th percentile in SA · -21% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
19.0%

96th percentile in SA · +38% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$60,165

25th percentile in SA · -5% vs Australia

Residents with business income
10.0%

38th percentile in SA · -4% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5731 — 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
117
Taxpayers reporting net rent
22
Median net rent
-$68
Taxpayers reporting business income
12
Taxable income vs state median
-10%
Salary / wages vs state median
-11%
Rental investment vs state median
+58%
Super vs state median
-23%
Business income vs state median
-9%

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

24.2% speak a language other than English at home; 6% born overseas

Language at home
47 English only · 15 other
Non-English at home
24.2%
Born overseas
4 (6%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
20 (22%)
Australian citizens
66
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).

  • Australian Indigenous languages9 · 100%

Religion

40.7%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 40.7%, while Christianity accounts for 19.8%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion40.7%45.2%
Christianity19.8%40%
Other / not stated39.6%14.7%

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)
20
Against the person
10
Against property
10
Rate per 1,000 residents
434.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 9 residents
State crime-rate percentile
97.4th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
7
Increase (daily rate)
+33.3%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
2
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
43.48

Most common offence types

  • Assault Of A Police Officer2
  • Common Assault2
  • Damage Or Destroy Property8
  • Receive Or Handle Proceeds Of Crime1
  • Serious Assault6

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1 (1 schools, 1 preschools)
Median school ICSEA
791
Median ICSEA percentile
3th
School list
  • Leigh Creek Area SchoolCombined · Government · ICSEA 791 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 56% · 42 students · Top SEA quarter 1%View on My School →
  • Leigh Creek KindergartenBlack Oak DrivePreschools

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Leigh Creek Kindergartenkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Childcare centres per 1,000 residents

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

1 mapped amenities

1 caravan parks

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Camping & holiday parks(1)
  • Leigh Creek Caravan ParkCaravan park

    Acacia Road

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
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
1
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
35°C

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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Roxby Downs Health Service (142.2 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
1
Participants per 1,000 residents
21.7

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.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

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
35° / 20°
Rainfall
64 mm · ~8 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
27° / 13°
Rainfall
45 mm · ~6 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
19° / 6°
Rainfall
36 mm · ~4 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
28° / 13°
Rainfall
42 mm · ~5 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.

2026· 2 proposals
  • May 2026

  • Single storey detached dwelling and ancillary accommodation
    14 BOOBIALLA PL LEIGH CREEK SA 5731Under Assessment
  • January 2026

  • Carport and Shed/Outbuilding
    31 COOLABAH ST LEIGH CREEK SA 5731Decision Made
2025· 1 proposal
  • December 2025

  • Internal fit out of an existing commercial property to create two (2) short term tourist accommodation rooms
    11 BLACK OAK DR LEIGH CREEK SA 5731Under Assessment
2023· 2 proposals
  • October 2023

  • Installation of an above-ground swimming pool, safety fencing and pool filtration equipment box
    1 BELAH ST LEIGH CREEK SA 5731Decision Made
  • May 2023

  • Installation of an above-ground swimming pool, safety fencing and pool filtration equipment box
    1 BELAH ST LEIGH CREEK SA 5731Decision Made
2020· 1 proposal
  • August 2020

  • Ground mounted solar arrays and 2 x outbuildings ancillary to the dwelling
    LOT 2 THE OUTBACK HWY LEIGH CREEK SA 5731Decision Made
Other· 4 proposals
  • LEIGH CREEK SERVICE STATION & CAFE PTY LTD
    Hydrocarbon and ChemicalEPA licence
  • SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATER CORPORATION
    Desalination PlantsEPA licence
  • SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATER CORPORATION
    Resource Recovery Waste Disposal and RelatedEPA licence
  • STARK AVIATION PTY LTD
    Hydrocarbon and ChemicalEPA licence

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

2 active roadworks / incidents

  • Asphalt WorksThe Outback Highway, Black Oak Dr10 Aug 2026 – 31 Oct 2026
  • Asphalt WorksThe Outback Highway, Leigh Creek Aerodrome Rd10 Aug 2026 – 31 Oct 2026

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
100% of suburb boundary

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.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Grey
Member of Parliament
Tom VENNING (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
128,707
Turnout (2025)
89.4%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+5.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.6%Labor 45.4%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 219.4 km away).

Coalition 34.9%Labor 65.1%

19.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -4.8 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • Leigh CreekLabor 65.1% · Coalition 34.9% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
  • AndamookaLabor 51.9% · Coalition 48.1% TPP (2025)118.8 km away
  • Roxby DownsLabor 49.6% · Coalition 50.4% TPP (2025)143.6 km away
  • HawkerLabor 40.0% · Coalition 60.0% TPP (2025)144.4 km away
  • WoomeraLabor 38.9% · Coalition 61.1% TPP (2025)164.1 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.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
4/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

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%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Unincorporated SA Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.