suburb.guide

SA · Kangaroo Island Council

Nepean Bay, 5223

Est. population · Jun 2025

150

Growth (1 yr)

+0.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+5.6%

Median age

51

Median income

$875/wk

Employment rate

52.1%

University qualified

19.2%

Work from home

16.9%

Languages at home

3.3%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Beach
  • Green suburb
  • Agricultural
  • Remote
What Nepean Bay is known for: Beach, Green suburb, Agricultural, Remote

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Suburb Guide, “Nepean Bay, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/nepean-bay

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Suburb profile

Nepean Bay is a remote locality in South Australia, in Kangaroo Island Council. The Kangaroo Island is part of the surrounding geography.

Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Rents sit a little below those in comparable places, with median rents 13% below the peer median. Green cover is stronger than in comparable places, well above typical levels for remote localities, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, and population has been growing faster than in comparable places. Household incomes sit below the peer median, with household incomes 33% below the peer median.

Nepean Bay is a better fit for people who value daily services and university qualifications.

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

  • Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
  • Green cover is stronger than in comparable places
  • University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
  • Population has been growing faster than in comparable places
  • Rents sit a little below those in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Household incomes sit below the peer median

What stands out

  • Nepean Bay Beach
  • Kangaroo Island

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Nepean Bay compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$330/wk

Population (ERP)

150

+0.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

29.1%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

29th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

60th

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

6%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

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)
$330

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

150(June 2025)

+0.7% annual · +5.6% over 5 years · 60th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+5.6%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
+8
Growth rank in SA
60th 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 (~150), extrapolated at +1.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
140
Median age
51
Median household income / week
$875
Dwelling vacancy
29.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
23 of 79
Median monthly mortgage
$940
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$235
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
54.9% / 39.2% / 5.9%
Employment rate
52.1%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
16.9% / 0% / 64.6%
Walked or cycled to work
6.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
55 / 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

19.2% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 14.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified19.2% · 22.6% SA
  • Diploma qualified3.3% · 8.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational14.2% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below63.3% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

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

  • Education19.2%
  • Society and culture19.2%
  • Engineering and related technologies17.3%
  • Agriculture and environment11.5%
  • Architecture and building9.6%
  • Management and commerce9.6%
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)
$45,076

14th percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$48,477

17th percentile in SA · -25% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
16.0%

88th percentile in SA · +16% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$65,968

32nd percentile in SA · +4% vs Australia

Residents with business income
18.0%

99th percentile in SA · +73% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5223 — 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
2,370
Taxpayers reporting net rent
376
Median net rent
$2,981
Taxpayers reporting business income
427
Taxable income vs state median
-17%
Salary / wages vs state median
-16%
Rental investment vs state median
+33%
Super vs state median
-15%
Business income vs state median
+64%

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

21.5% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 9.3× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 3.8% across South Australia.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing
21.5%

67th percentile in SA · +835% vs Australia

Resident workers (2021)
14
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462

Postcode 5223

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 5223 (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 South Australia - South East (SA4 407), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.

  • Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12134,568
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12143,627
  • Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 84151,363
  • Crop Farmers ANZSCO 12121,073
  • Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412992
  • Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211833
  • Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 8413346
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8416308
  • Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419301
  • Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110

South Australia - South East 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: 65 · AFF share +466% 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

3.3% speak a language other than English at home; 21.8% born overseas

Language at home
116 English only · 4 other
Non-English at home
3.3%
Born overseas
27 (21.8%)
Australian citizens
118

Religion

44.3%No religion

No religion is the most common response at 44.3%, while Christianity accounts for 38.6%.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion44.3%45.2%
Christianity38.6%40%
Other / not stated17.1%14.7%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Anglican15.7%7.2%
Uniting Church7.9%4.8%

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)
3
Against the person
0
Against property
3
Rate per 1,000 residents
20
State crime-rate percentile
29.3th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
17
Increase (daily rate)
+200.8%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
4
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
26.67

Most common offence types

  • Damage Or Destroy Property1
  • Theft From A Person2

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

Public transport

7 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Hog Bay Rd / Elsegood Rd - North side (Grace James' Corner)
  • Hog Bay Rd / Min-Oil Rd - North East side
  • Hog Bay Rd / Western Cove Rd - North East side (Western Cove)
  • Hog Bay Rd / Western Cove Rd - South West side (Western Cove)
  • Hog Bay Rd- South side (KI Kennels)

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

6 mapped amenities

1 swimming pools · 3 beaches

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
11/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Sport & outdoors(5)
  • Beach (3)
  • Nepean Bay Conservation ParkNature reserve
  • Swimming pool
Other(1)
  • MistereApartment

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
21.4%
Woodland / forest cover
21.4%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
19
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
23°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
Kangaroo Island Health Service (10.7 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
26.7

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
23° / 15°
Rainfall
55 mm · ~7 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
19° / 13°
Rainfall
129 mm · ~16 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 9°
Rainfall
260 mm · ~32 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 11°
Rainfall
135 mm · ~17 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

  • September 2026

  • Change of land use to tourist accommodation comprising the use of two caravans for short-term accommodation (holiday-let) and private use of one caravan
    36 NEPEAN ESP NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment

  • July 2026

  • Construction of a shed (outbuilding) for storage of vehicle and property maintenance equipment - retrospective development
    11 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made
  • Boundary fencing up to 2.1 metres in height and shed (outbuilding) - retrospective development
    36 NEPEAN ESP NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • June 2026

  • Construction of a boundary retaining wall fence up to 3.4 metres in height
    34 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment

  • March 2026

  • Variation to Development Application 25028904 - change to siting of outbuilding
    34 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made
  • Construction of a single storey detached dwelling and rainwater tank
    LOT 21 OCEAN VIEW DR NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment

  • January 2026

  • Construction of a single storey detached dwelling and garage
    LOT 217 FLEA CASTLE RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment
2025· 6 proposals

  • September 2025

  • Construction of an outbuilding
    34 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment

  • August 2025

  • Variation to Development Application 24022126 – increase floor area of upper level including reconfiguration of deck, internal alterations and change to window opening
    6 CAPSTAN ST NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made
  • Variation of Development Application 24008729 - construction of new upper level (addition to approved dwelling)
    86 WESTERN COVE RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • May 2025

  • Construction of a single storey detached detached including carport and deck, ancillary accommodation and garage and associated earthworks and rainwater tank
    4 HALYARD RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment

  • January 2025

  • Construction of a domestic store and associated earthworks
    64 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made
  • Single storey detached dwelling and 2 x 22,500 litre water tanks
    34 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made
2024· 2 proposals

  • December 2024

  • Two storey detached dwelling, two decks, verandah and 2 x 22,500 litre water tanks.
    6 CAPSTAN ST NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment

  • May 2024

  • Two storey residential dwelling
    LOT 49 OCEANVIEW DR TAPEROO SA 5017Decision Made
2023· 2 proposals

  • November 2023

  • Construction of a domestic outbuilding
    7 OCEAN VIEW DR NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • February 2023

  • Construction of a storage building
    45 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made
2022· 7 proposals

  • November 2022

  • Construction of outbuilding (domestic shed)
    40 NEPEAN ESP NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • October 2022

  • Construction of a domestic outbuilding
    78 NEPEAN ESP NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • September 2022

  • Shed to house caravan and home workshop with toilet / shower and roof mounted solar panels
    72 OCEAN VIEW DR NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • July 2022

  • Single storey detached dwelling and outbuilding
    50 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • June 2022

  • Verandah and deck
    66 OCEAN VIEW DR NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • May 2022

  • Construction of a single storey detached dwelling including associated earthworks
    78 NEPEAN ESP NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • February 2022

  • Addition to existing residence
    57 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made
2021· 4 proposals

  • December 2021

  • Construction of a single storey detached dwelling and outbuilding including associated water tank
    44 NEPEAN ESP NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment

  • November 2021

  • Construction of a single storey detached dwelling
    47 SEA VISTA RD NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Under Assessment

  • August 2021

  • Construction of a single storey detached dwelling and associated outbuilding (garage)
    56 OCEAN VIEW DR NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

  • July 2021

  • Construction of a single-storey detached dwelling with ancillary outbuilding
    58 NEPEAN ESP NEPEAN BAY SA 5223Decision Made

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
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 68.0 km away).

Coalition 61.6%Labor 38.4%

16.6 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -14.1 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • American RiverLabor 42.5% · Coalition 57.5% TPP (2025)10.2 km away
  • Special Hospital Team 5Labor 25.0% · Coalition 75.0% TPP (2025)10.8 km away
  • KingscoteLabor 44.9% · Coalition 55.1% TPP (2025)11.1 km away
  • PenneshawLabor 50.6% · Coalition 49.4% TPP (2025)23.6 km away
  • ParndanaLabor 21.6% · Coalition 78.4% TPP (2025)37.4 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)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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 Kangaroo Island Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

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