SA · Mount Barker Council

Mount Barker Springs, 5251

Est. population · Jun 2025

196

Growth (1 yr)

+2.1%

Growth (5 yr)

+10.7%

Median age

49

Median income

$3,028/wk

Employment rate

72.7%

University qualified

26.2%

Work from home

16.8%

Languages at home

5.5%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Rural living
What Mount Barker Springs is known for: Rural living

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Mount Barker Springs, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Mount Barker Springs, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/mount-barker-springs

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Suburb profile

Mount Barker Springs is a semi-rural locality near Adelaide, in Mount Barker Council.

Household incomes are a relative strength, with household incomes 80% above the peer median, and population growth is a very strong feature of the suburb, with population growth 79% above the peer median, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, with university qualifications 80% above the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The clearer weaknesses are thinner local amenities and thinner mapped green cover within the suburb boundary.

Overall, Mount Barker Springs suits people prioritising university qualifications over local amenities.

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

  • Household incomes are a relative strength
  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • University qualifications are more common than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Local amenity access is relatively limited
  • Green cover is a relative weakness

What stands out

  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Mount Barker Springs compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$200/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

196

+2.1% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

4.8%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

2nd

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

94th

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

14%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

9/10

national SEIFA decile

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

Population

Estimated resident population

196(June 2025)

+2.1% annual · +10.7% over 5 years · 94th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.1%
5-year growth
+10.7%
Change in 1 year
+4
Change in 5 years
+19
Growth rank in SA
94th 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 (~200), extrapolated at +1.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
174
Median age
49
Median household income / week
$3,028
Dwelling vacancy
4.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
3 of 63
Median monthly mortgage
$2,084
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$200
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
44.1% / 42.4% / 13.6%
Employment rate
72.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
16.8% / 0% / 62.4%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
57 / 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

26.2% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 19.9% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified26.2% · 22.6% SA
  • Diploma qualified13.5% · 8.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational19.9% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below40.4% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

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

  • Engineering and related technologies18.1%
  • Society and culture18.1%
  • Health15.7%
  • Management and commerce14.5%
  • Education9.6%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services6%
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)
$60,639

80th percentile in SA · +3% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$64,341

79th percentile in SA · -1% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
9.0%

17th percentile in SA · -35% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$72,931

42nd percentile in SA · +15% vs Australia

Residents with business income
9.0%

33rd percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5251 — 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
14,211
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,298
Median net rent
-$900
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,342
Taxable income vs state median
+12%
Salary / wages vs state median
+12%
Rental investment vs state median
-25%
Super vs state median
-6%
Business income vs state median
-18%

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

5.5% speak a language other than English at home; 21% born overseas

Language at home
155 English only · 9 other
Non-English at home
5.5%
Born overseas
33 (21%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
3 (1.7%)
Australian citizens
162

Religion

52.3%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 52.3%, while Christianity accounts for 38.5%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion52.3%45.2%
Christianity38.5%40%
Other / not stated9.2%14.7%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic13.2%15.5%
Anglican11.5%7.2%
Christian (not further defined)6.3%2.6%

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 decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
1
Against the person
1
Against property
0
Rate per 1,000 residents
5.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 174 residents
State crime-rate percentile
1.7th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
115
Decrease (daily rate)
-50%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
5
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
25.51

Most common offence types

  • Common Assault1

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

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

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)
0
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
29°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
Mount Barker District Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (4.6 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)
7
Participants per 1,000 residents
35.7

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
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%)

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· 7 proposals
  • August 2026

  • Alterations and additions to existing Detached Dwelling
    4 GOULD RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Under Assessment
  • July 2026

  • Outbuilding (domestic garage)
    75 SPRING LANE MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • Variation to development application 24019092 comprising the enclosing of the mezzanine space to form a second storey
    441 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • Agricultural building and Three (3) water tanks (Above Ground - 13500l) (Local Heritage Place ID 18506 - Burnbank Farm)
    441 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Under Assessment
  • June 2026

  • Outbuilding - Garage
    443 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Outbuilding (Garage); Internal Alterations
    5 BONNEY RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Under Assessment
  • February 2026

  • Change of use of existing agricultural building to function venue (wedding facility) and two (2) associated outbuildings (Amenities Building - Toilet)
    4 GOULD RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Under Assessment
2025· 5 proposals
  • October 2025

  • Alterations and additions to detached dwelling
    31 HENDER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Under Assessment
  • Ancillary accommodation (retrospective)
    439 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Under Assessment
  • August 2025

  • Tourist Accommodation and Deck
    556 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • Fibreglass swimming pool installation and safety fence
    159A HENDER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • May 2025

  • Outbuilding (shade structure) and carport
    7 HARPER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
2024· 8 proposals
  • November 2024

  • Two Outbuildings (domestic storage)
    159B HENDER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of new detached dwelling (single storey), outbuilding (domestic garage) and outbuilding (shade structure)
    437 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • October 2024

  • Alterations and additions for single storey dwelling, carport and verandah
    92 LAKEVIEW DR MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • July 2024

  • Variation of Development Application 23018781 - Comprising relocation of agricultural building and the constriction of one additional outbuilding, retaining walls and water tank.
    441 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • Demolition of existing slab barn (Local Heritage Place ID 18506 - Burnbank Farm) including adjacent agricultural building and lean-to structure, and construction of a replacement agricultural building, stone blade walls, concrete stairs, associated earthworks and rainwater tank.
    441 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • June 2024

  • Establishment of Dog Park Facility comprising a fenced exercise area and associated onsite parking area
    556 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • February 2024

  • Alterations and additions to existing Local Heritage Place (ID 18506) including demolition of 90s/2000s faux heritage additions, construction of a new two-story pavilion to the South of the existing house, new swimming pool and associated safety features, and refurbished tennis court.
    441 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • Outbuilding (domestic storage)
    555 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
2023· 2 proposals
  • August 2023

  • Swimming pool and safety fence
    159C HENDER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • July 2023

  • Agricultural buildings (2) (farm implement shed and hay shed) - Local Heritage Place (ID 18506 - Burnbank Farm)
    441 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
2022· 6 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Outbuilding
    11 SPRING LANE MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • August 2022

  • Alterations and additions to existing detached dwelling
    87 BLIGHT RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • July 2022

  • Shed
    87 BLIGHT RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • May 2022

  • Agricultural outbuilding
    4 GOULD RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • April 2022

  • Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of new single storey detached dwelling
    159C HENDER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • March 2022

  • Retrospective Spa and Safety Fencing
    506 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
2021· 6 proposals
  • November 2021

  • Agricultural Building
    159C HENDER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • October 2021

  • Swimming pool and safety fence
    92 LAKEVIEW DR MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • Dwelling alterations and additions, including partial demolition of existing dwelling, and associated retaining walls
    47 HARPER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • Outbuilding (caravan storage)
    31 HENDER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • September 2021

  • Outbuilding (shed)
    436 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made
  • August 2021

  • Alterations and Additions to Existing Detached Dwelling
    63 HARPER RD MOUNT BARKER SPRINGS SA 5251Decision Made

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

5 heritage places

  • Burnbank FarmLot 32 Springs Road MOUNT BARKER SPRINGSLocal heritage
  • Farmhouse & barn, E of Williams RdWilliams Road MOUNT BARKER SPRINGSLocal heritage
  • Stone bridge nr BurnbankSprings Road (adj 5459-818) MOUNT BARKER SPRINGSLocal heritage
  • Undermount - house & barn complex537 Springs Road MOUNT BARKER SPRINGSLocal heritage
  • Former Burnbank School (Exterior Only)427 Springs Road MOUNT BARKER SPRINGSState heritage

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Heritage listings as established streetscape

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
99.6% 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
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 11.0 km away).

Coalition 40.0%Labor 60.0%

5.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +5.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Mount Barker SouthLabor 66.8% · Coalition 33.2% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
  • Mount Barker EastLabor 55.2% · Coalition 44.8% TPP (2025)5.8 km away
  • Mount BarkerLabor 60.5% · Coalition 39.5% TPP (2025)6.1 km away
  • Mount Barker CentralLabor 58.3% · Coalition 41.7% TPP (2025)6.2 km away
  • NairneLabor 65.8% · Coalition 34.2% TPP (2025)6.2 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
9/10
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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Mount Barker Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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