Lobethal is a semi-rural locality near Adelaide, in Adelaide Hills Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development. Notable landmarks include Lobethal Institute and Cinema and Prince of Peace Anglican Church.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Mapped flood cover is slightly stronger than in comparable places, and heritage listings are more concentrated than in comparable places, well above typical levels for semi-rural and lifestyle localities, and reported crime is lower than in most comparable places, with reported crime 44% below the peer median. Trade-offs centre on higher rents and lower socio-economic advantage, with median rents 14% above the peer median.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising daily services and heritage character over lower rents.
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
Semi-rural locality · compared with semi-rural and lifestyle localities in South Australia (227)
Strengths
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Mapped flood cover is a relative strength
Heritage listings are more concentrated than in comparable places
Reported crime is lower than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Rents run above those in comparable places
Socio-economic advantage is a relative weakness
What stands out
Lobethal Institute and Cinema
Prince of Peace Anglican Church
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 Lobethal compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$755k
+6.3% change
Median rent
$663/wk
Houses $663 · Units $720
Population (ERP)
2,677
+1.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.7%
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
#1
among Country & regional · Emerging
Crime rate
14th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
82nd
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
15%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
62nd
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
57.2/100 — Good
State standing
Top 5% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
821st in Australia
State rank
32nd in SA
Peer rank
#1 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#4 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
99%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$720
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$662.5
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$662.5
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
5
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$755,000
Median price change
+6.3%
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
2,677(June 2025)
+1.4% annual · +5.6% over 5 years · 82th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.4%
5-year growth
+5.6%
Change in 1 year
+36
Change in 5 years
+142
Growth rank in SA
82th 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 (~2,750), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
2,534
Median age
43
Median household income / week
$1,529
Dwelling vacancy
6.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
69 of 1,032
Median monthly mortgage
$1,473
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$310
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
34.5% / 50.1% / 15.4%
Employment rate
59.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
10% / 0.7% / 71.8%
Walked or cycled to work
2.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
872 / 83 / 5 (+ 3 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.
16.7% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 21.9% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified16.7% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified9.5% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational21.9% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below51.9% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies19.9%
Management and commerce16.9%
Society and culture15.7%
Health13%
Education9.7%
Food, hospitality and personal services6.6%
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)
$54,790
53rd percentile in SA · -7% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$59,404
56th percentile in SA · -9% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
9.0%
13th percentile in SA · -35% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$80,148
54th percentile in SA · +27% vs Australia
Residents with business income
10.0%
40th percentile in SA · -4% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5241 — 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
1,690
Taxpayers reporting net rent
150
Median net rent
$0
Taxpayers reporting business income
172
Taxable income vs state median
+1%
Salary / wages vs state median
+3%
Rental investment vs state median
-25%
Super vs state median
+3%
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
Seasonal & agricultural work
4.3% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 1.9× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 3.8% across South Australia.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
4.3%
40th percentile in SA · +87% vs Australia
Resident workers (2021)
53
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462
Postcode 5241
Occupation mix in this industry
2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.
Managers20
Labourers19
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 5241 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.
Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)
Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for Adelaide - Central and Hills (SA4 401), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.
Crop Farmers ANZSCO 1212553
Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1213541
Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415344
Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412304
Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419233
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 1214117
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 721144
Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 841320
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 841612
Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110
Adelaide - Central and Hills is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.
Census employed residents counted in G54: 1,232 · AFF share +13% vs the state.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0
Community & culture
5.4% speak a language other than English at home; 15.3% born overseas
Language at home
2,277 English only · 129 other
Non-English at home
5.4%
Born overseas
368 (15.3%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
16 (0.6%)
Australian citizens
2,326
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
6
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Vietnamese17 · 35.4%
Polish13 · 27.1%
Italian6 · 12.5%
Tagalog6 · 12.5%
Filipino3 · 6.2%
Punjabi3 · 6.2%
Religion
46.1%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 46.1%, while 44.8% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
44.8%
45.2%
Christianity
46.1%
40%
Other / not stated
9.2%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Lutheran
11%
2.4%
Catholic
8.6%
15.5%
Uniting Church
6.4%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
6.4%
2.6%
Anglican
5.4%
7.2%
Baptist
3.5%
1.5%
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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
34
Against the person
10
Against property
24
Rate per 1,000 residents
12.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 253 residents
State crime-rate percentile
14.3th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
10
No change (daily rate)
0%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
61
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
22.79
Most common offence types
Acts That Threaten, Harass, Or Control2
Damage Or Destroy Property9
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences6
Serious Assault7
Theft From A Person3
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Lobethal Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1033 · 61th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 148 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
Lobethal Lutheran SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1035 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 78 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
Lobethal Community Kindergarten1 Reserve AvenuePreschools
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
Decent local green space — 0 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 17 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 12 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
59/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.39
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
1.58
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink(4)
The Lobethal BakeryBakery
80 Main Street, Lobethal
Lobee's Cafe and TakeawayCafe
Lobethal HotelPub
Rising Sun HotelPub
Shopping(4)
SipnsaveBottle shop
Onkapargina MeatsButcher
Amber Light DeliConvenience store
FoodlandSupermarket
Lobethal
Everyday services(3)
ANZBank
Bridgestone Service CentrePetrol station
Australia PostPost office
Community(1)
Lobethal Lutheran SchoolSchool
48 Main Street, Lobethal
Sport & outdoors(16)
Amy Gillett BikewayCycling route
Lobethal Bushland ParkNature reserve
Picnic area
Playground
Public toilets
Lobethal OvalSports field
Sports field
Swimming pool (9)
Wineries & breweries(2)
Lobethal BierhausBrewery
Golding WinesWinery
Entertainment(2)
Lobethal Archives & Historical MuseumMuseum
48 Main Street, Lobethal
Viewpoint
Transport(13)
13 bus stops
Other(11)
Lobethal CFSFire station
2 Post Office Road, Lobethal
Garden
Parking (16)
Picnic Table
Hills Baptist Church LobethalPlace of worship
Lobethal Lutheran ChurchPlace of worship
50 Main Street, Lobethal
Shelter (2)
Valley of Praise Retirement VillageSocial Facility
85 Main Street, Lobethal
Telephone (2)
Adelaide HIlls Slot AcademyToys
Tracy PriorYes
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
Hills Baptist Church Lobethal
Lobethal Lutheran Church
50 Main Street, Lobethal
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· 49 proposals
September 2026
Boundary realignment
17 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241;19 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241;UNIT 1 17 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241;UNIT 2 17 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Land Division (2 in 4 Community Title)
17 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241;19 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241;UNIT 1 17 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241;UNIT 2 17 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Shed
26 KUMNICK ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Swimming Pool replacement
32 LOBETHAL RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
2 Spa pools
15 HUGHES PL LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
August 2026
Outbuilding (shed)
23 FRICK ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Shed
1784 LOBETHAL RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
3 x New Shadeport Structures to Educational Facility
48 MAIN ST LOBETHAL SA 5241;6 UNION ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
July 2026
Ancillary Accommodation adjacent to existing shedding
186 WESTERN BRANCH RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Carport and verandah
10 MOUNT TORRENS RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
June 2026
Outbuilding (shed)
UNIT 1 1 JUNIPER LANE LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Outbuilding (shed)
20 BON ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Variation to Development Authorisation 25031583 - Increase to floor area of outbuilding
5 TABOR LANE LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Dwelling addition
29 MOUNT TORRENS RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Construction of two carports attached to existing dwelling
33 COPELAND AV LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Carport
12 CHURCH ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Land Division 1 into 2 Community Title Lots
UNIT 1 21 KENTON VALLEY RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Construction of a two storey, detached dwelling with attached garage
28 MAGPIE CASTLE RD E LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Single Story Dwelling
15 GRAEBER RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
May 2026
Single storey detached dwelling
8 ONKAPARINGA ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Deck
16 MAIN ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Outbuilding and associated deck
17 POST OFFICE RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Verandah
121 MAIN ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Building alterations and repairs to State Heritage Place (Former Lobethal Woollen Mill)
SHOP 2 3 MAIN ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
April 2026
Partial demolition of dwelling, dwelling addition and deck
3 CHURCH ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Dwelling addition and verandah.
1759 LOBETHAL RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Outbuilding and carport, and variation to condition 9 of Development Authorisation 23001690 to modify landscaping plan of associated dwelling
11 SCHOOL RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Change of use of winery building to cellar door (shop), deck, 2 x verandahs, and associated advertising display
1760 LOBETHAL RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Ancillary accommodation with attached decking
23 MILL RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Outbuilding (garage)
4 HUGHES PL LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Expansion to existing retirement facility to include seven (7) additional group dwellings, combined fencing and retaining walls
3 BRIDGE ST LOBETHAL SA 5241;95 MAIN ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Concrete slab to State Heritage Place
BLDG 10-22E 1 LOBETHAL RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
March 2026
Single storey group dwelling & outbuilding
HSE 1 8 RILEY ST LOBETHAL SA 5241Under Assessment
Outbuilding (shed)
5 WOODSIDE RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
Outbuilding (garage)
UNIT 6 5 MOUNT TORRENS RD LOBETHAL SA 5241Decision Made
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 10.2 km away).
Coalition 50.6%Labor 49.4%
5.5 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
LobethalLabor 49.9% · Coalition 50.1% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
CharlestonLabor 48.7% · Coalition 51.3% TPP (2025)3.8 km away
LenswoodLabor 42.4% · Coalition 57.6% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
WoodsideLabor 51.7% · Coalition 48.3% TPP (2025)5.9 km away
Cudlee CreekLabor 47.7% · Coalition 52.3% TPP (2025)8.0 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%)