SA · Mount Barker Council

Mount Barker Summit, 5251

Est. population · Jun 2025

112

Growth (1 yr)

+1.8%

Growth (5 yr)

+10.9%

Median age

50

Median income

$1,625/wk

Employment rate

67.5%

University qualified

28.4%

Work from home

31.5%

Languages at home

3%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

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

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Mount Barker Summit, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Mount Barker Summit, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/mount-barker-summit

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Suburb profile

Mount Barker Summit is a semi-rural locality near Adelaide, in Mount Barker Council. It is close to Mount Barker and the mountain.

Working from home is an exceptional strength, with working from home 115% above the peer median, and population growth is a very strong feature of the suburb, with population growth 82% above the peer median, and socio-economic advantage sits well above the peer median, well above typical levels for semi-rural and lifestyle localities. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The main trade-offs are higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population and thinner mapped green cover within the suburb boundary, with recorded road crashes 113% above the peer median.

Mount Barker Summit is a better fit for people who value socio-economic advantage.

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

  • Working from home is a relative strength
  • Population growth is a relative strength
  • Socio-economic advantage sits well above the peer median

Weaknesses

  • Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated
  • Green cover is a relative weakness

What stands out

  • Mount Barker
  • Mountain
  • Mount Lofty Ranges
  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Mount Barker Summit compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$550/wk

Population (ERP)

112

+1.8% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

12.8%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

25th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

91st

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

0%

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

Housing

Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$550

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

112(June 2025)

+1.8% annual · +10.9% over 5 years · 91th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.8%
5-year growth
+10.9%
Change in 1 year
+2
Change in 5 years
+11
Growth rank in SA
91th 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 (~100), extrapolated at +1.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
100
Median age
50
Median household income / week
$1,625
Dwelling vacancy
12.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
5 of 39
Median monthly mortgage
$2,600
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$335
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
56.2% / 43.8% / 0%
Employment rate
67.5%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
31.5% / 0% / 46.3%
Walked or cycled to work
5.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
34 / 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

28.4% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 22.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified28.4% · 22.6% SA
  • Diploma qualified8.6% · 8.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational22.2% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below40.7% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

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

  • Agriculture and environment15.9%
  • Engineering and related technologies15.9%
  • Health12.7%
  • Natural and physical sciences11.1%
  • Education9.5%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services9.5%
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

3% speak a language other than English at home; 10.2% born overseas

Language at home
97 English only · 3 other
Non-English at home
3%
Born overseas
10 (10.2%)
Australian citizens
95

Religion

50%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 50%, while 45% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion45%45.2%
Christianity50%40%
Other / not stated5%14.7%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Anglican17%7.2%

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)
2
Against the person
1
Against property
1
Rate per 1,000 residents
17.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 100 residents
State crime-rate percentile
25th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
115
Decrease (daily rate)
-33.3%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
11
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
98.21

Most common offence types

  • Damage Or Destroy Property1
  • Serious 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

2 mapped amenities

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
Entertainment(1)
  • Viewpoint
Other(1)
  • Parking

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

Sporting clubs

1 named sporting club in this suburb

  • Mountain Pony Club

    Equestrian

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.

Data sources & freshness

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 (4.9 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)
4
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· 5 proposals
  • September 2026

  • Outbuilding (domestic greenhouse)
    573 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • Land Division (3 into 3 - boundary realignment)
    101 BACK CALLINGTON RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251;333 SUMMIT RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251;379 SUMMIT RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Under Assessment
  • August 2026

  • Alterations and additions to dwelling, including verandahs, carport and deck
    28 CATTLE ROUTE RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Under Assessment
  • February 2026

  • Parking of Heavy Vehicles (maximum of 5 commercial trucks and trailers) and associated landscaping
    13 SUMMIT FTRK MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Under Assessment
  • Relocation of the existing outbuilding and construction of a new outbuilding
    28 CATTLE ROUTE RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
2025· 2 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Outbuilding (Carport) and Verandah
    573 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • June 2025

  • Agricultural building (x2)
    76 CATTLE ROUTE RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
2024· 1 proposal
  • July 2024

  • Alterations to existing building to facilitate the retrospective establishment of two (2) independent tourist accommodation units, 2 spas and associated swimming pool safety features
    350 SUMMIT RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
2023· 3 proposals
  • December 2023

  • Agricultural building (hay shed and implement shed)
    32 SUMMIT FTRK MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • October 2023

  • Outbuilding (domestic storage)
    401 SUMMIT RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • September 2023

  • Alterations and additions to dwelling (enclosure of verandah to bedroom, ensuite and retreat room)
    334 SUMMIT RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
2022· 2 proposals
  • September 2022

  • Variation to DA# 590/912/19; Retrospective Building Works, including balcony, W/C, Verandah and deletion of carport.
    573 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • Internal alteration for Steinway D Piano Storage
    119 WILLIAMS RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
2021· 6 proposals
  • December 2021

  • Swimming pool (in ground)
    107 WILLIAMS RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • November 2021

  • Conversion of storeroom to office and additional toilets
    119 WILLIAMS RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • August 2021

  • Agricultural building
    573 SPRINGS RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • July 2021

  • Swimming pool and safety fence
    446 SUMMIT RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • June 2021

  • Outbuilding
    429 SUMMIT RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made
  • April 2021

  • Addition to the Existing Dwelling
    107 WILLIAMS RD MOUNT BARKER SUMMIT SA 5251Decision Made

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

5 heritage places

  • Lester farm - house & diary323 Springs Road MOUNT BARKER SUMMITLocal heritage
  • Mount Barker Summit Conservation ReserveMount Summit Road MOUNT BARKER SUMMITLocal heritage
  • Mount Farm - cott, house & barnMount Summit Road MOUNT BARKER SUMMITLocal heritage
  • Quambi - ruined house, tank, walls, cork & olive treesLot 11 Springs Road MOUNT BARKER SUMMITLocal heritage
  • fr Kavanagh Farm - dairy & barnCattle Route Road cnr Mount Summit Rd MOUNT BARKER SUMMITLocal heritage

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Heritage listings as established streetscape

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
99.5% 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 10.7 km away).

Coalition 39.6%Labor 60.4%

5.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +5.8 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • NairneLabor 65.8% · Coalition 34.2% TPP (2025)4.1 km away
  • Mount Barker EastLabor 55.2% · Coalition 44.8% TPP (2025)5.4 km away
  • LittlehamptonLabor 57.1% · Coalition 42.9% TPP (2025)5.5 km away
  • Mount Barker CentralLabor 58.3% · Coalition 41.7% TPP (2025)5.6 km away
  • Mount Barker SouthLabor 66.8% · Coalition 33.2% TPP (2025)5.7 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.