Median house price
$1.11M
+11% change
SA · Onkaparinga Council
McLaren Flat, 5171
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,742
Growth (1 yr)
+3.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+24.5%
Median age
40
Median income
$2,129/wk
Employment rate
68.9%
Median house price · Q1 2026
$1,112,000
Languages at home
3.4%non-English
Most common: Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Heritage area
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Onkaparinga Council, McLaren Flat is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
McLaren Flat snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$600/wk
Population (ERP)
1,742
+3.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.2%
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
#13
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
10th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
98th
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
60th
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
- 43.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 47% of South Australia's suburbs
- National rank
- 3207th in Australia
- State rank
- 329th in SA
- Peer rank
- #13 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #49 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $600
- Median house price (Q1 2026)
- $1,112,000
- Median price change
- +11.2%
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 (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
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
1,742(June 2025)
+3.8% annual · +24.5% over 5 years · 98th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +3.8%
- 5-year growth
- +24.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +63
- Change in 5 years
- +343
- Growth rank in SA
- 98th 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 (~2,000), extrapolated at +2.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,625
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $2,129
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 28 of 543
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,786
- Employment rate
- 68.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 517 / 0 / 0
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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 (2024–25)
- 18
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 14
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 10.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 406 residents
- State safety percentile
- 9.7th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 26
- Increase (daily rate)
- +12.8%
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental3
- Other Theft3
- Property Damage By Fire Or Explosion1
- Sct - Non Residence2
- Serious Assault Not 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 · 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated · Financial-year releases
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,030
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 60th
School list
- McLaren Flat Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1030 · 60th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 207 students · Top SEA quarter 16%View on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- Government education sites register — Government of South Australia · current · Updated
- School ICSEA (ACARA) — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
6 public transport stops in this suburb
- Stop 93A Kangarilla Rd - South side
- Stop 95 Main Rd - South side
- Stop 96 Main Rd - South side
- Stop 97 Oakley Rd - West side
- Stop 98 Oakley Rd - West side
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Adelaide Metro GTFS stops — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · current · Updated
Amenities
7 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 9/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.62
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Other(5)
- Gem Tree Wet Lands BBQBbq
- Gem Tree WetlandsNature Reserve
- Gem Tree Wetlands CarparkParking
- DogRidge WineryWine
129 Bagshaws Road, McLaren Flat
- Pruners Hut WineryWine
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 18
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Seaford Day Surgery (10.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Private Day Only Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- No emergency department listed
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 55
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 31.6
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 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 (15%)
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· 26 proposals
July 2026
- Verandah45 ROSE CR MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
June 2026
- Partial change in use from viticulture to residential by removing some vines to establish a dwelling, ancillary accommodation, carport, water tanks, deck and swimming pool in association with remaining viticulture use15 BLEWITT SPRINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- Carport and outbuilding (shed)4 BLEWITT SPRINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Installation of Fibreglass swimming pool and safety features3 SPRING CR MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Construction of a domestic outbuilding - garage (measuring 9.0m x 7.0m x 3.0m)52 TROTTS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
May 2026
- Alterations to the existing McLaren Flat Community Club, including installation of four (4) 3.5-metre-high light poles, construction of an accessible ramp, and installation of a shade sail to the non-heritage building entrance41 -47 MAIN RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- Single storey Detached Dwelling86 MAIN RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- addition to granny flat28 KANGARILLA RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- Retrospective application for canopy structure (marquee)215 DOUGLAS GULLY RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Swimming pool and safety barrier2 BLEWITT SPRINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Ancillary Accommodation built in conjunction with 2601363086 MAIN RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- In-ground swimming pool with safety barrier16 SUMMER ST MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
April 2026
- Verandah10 WILKINSON CT MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Carport41 ROSE CR MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- 2 bedrooms and ensuite2 WILKINSON CT MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Installation of Stratco gable shed75 OAKLEY RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
March 2026
- Carport97 OAKLEY RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Outbuilding- Shed139 BLEWITT SPRINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Installation of Fibreglass swimming Pool & associated safety barrier45 ROSE CR MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Outbuilding (shed)50 MAIN RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Outbuilding17 DOM ST MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Retrospective approval for four (4) shipping containers (outbuildings)LOT 31 BLEWITT SPRINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- Tourist accommodation consisting of two cabins with associated retaining walls42 WHITINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
February 2026
- Alteration and Renovation326 KANGARILLA RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Two (2) into Two (2) Land Division167 ELLIOTT RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
January 2026
- Outbuilding (garage)19 HUNT RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- In-ground swimming pool with safety barrier18 SWIFT GR MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Single storey dwelling addition with associated decking, verandah (2) and above ground water tank18 WHITINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- Carport and Verandah10 SWIFT GR MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Single storey dwelling addition20 MCLAREN FLAT RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- Ancillary accommodation (tiny house on wheels).265 SAND RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
November 2025
- Swimming Pool & Safety Fences14 SPRING CR MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Land division - boundary realignment58 SETTLEMENT RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171;65 WHITINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Single storey dwelling addition, verandah and building alterations8 -10 MAIN RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling51 WHITINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
October 2025
- Single Storey detached dwelling and agricultural shedLOT 31 BLEWITT SPRINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- Ancillary accommodation58 CHALK HILL RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
September 2025
- Extension of the existing cellar door (shop), building alterations and additions, associated car parking, and the construction of a deck.72 INGOLDBY RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Under Assessment
- Swimming Pool and Safety Barrier9A KOOKABURRA CT MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
- Outbuilding (Shed)18 WHITINGS RD MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
August 2025
- Carport (forward)19 GILLIGAN GR MCLAREN FLAT SA 5171Decision Made
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · 2026 · Updated
Heritage
6 heritage places
- Cottage172 Elliott Road MCLAREN FLATLocal heritage
- Dwelling, (Beltung), Associated Trees and garden.178 Blewitt Springs Road MCLAREN FLATLocal heritage
- Farm Complex - 'Wickham Park'330 McLaren Flat Road MCLAREN FLATLocal heritage
- McLaren Flat Memorial Hall41-47 Main Road MCLAREN FLATLocal heritage
- McLaren Flat Primary School49 Main Road MCLAREN FLATLocal heritage
- Shop/Post Office55 Main Road MCLAREN FLATLocal heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
- Bushfire safer places
- 1
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Mayo
- Member of Parliament
- Rebekha SHARKIE (Centre Alliance)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 137,818
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +3.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 45.0%Labor 55.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 15.7 km away).
Coalition 42.9%Labor 57.1%
2.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- McLaren FlatLabor 57.1% · Coalition 42.9% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- McLaren ValeLabor 56.8% · Coalition 43.2% TPP (2025)7.3 km away
- KangarillaLabor 53.3% · Coalition 46.7% TPP (2025)7.4 km away
- WillungaLabor 64.5% · Coalition 35.5% TPP (2025)8.7 km away
- ClarendonLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)10.2 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Onkaparinga Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.