O'Sullivan Beach is a coastal outer metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Onkaparinga Council. It is close to the O'Sullivan Beach.
Open-space access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked outer metropolitan suburbs. Rents sit a little below those in comparable places. Green cover is an exceptional strength, and recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places, with recorded road crashes 59% below the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are lower socio-economic advantage and more mapped flood cover.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising open space and lower rents over 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
Outer metropolitan suburb · compared with outer metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (64)
Strengths
Open-space access is exceptionally strong
Green cover is a relative strength
Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places
Rents sit a little below those in comparable places
Weaknesses
Socio-economic advantage sits below the peer median
A larger share of the suburb sits in mapped inundation than in comparable places
What stands out
O'Sullivan Beach
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 O'Sullivan Beach compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$780k
+9.7% change
Median rent
$525/wk
Houses $575 · Units $450
Population (ERP)
1,952
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.7%
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
#8
among Coastal & beach · Emerging
Crime rate
65th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
54th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
30%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
37th
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
37.9/100 — Below average
National rank
4939th in Australia
State rank
441st in SA
Peer rank
#8 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#50 among Coastal & beach 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)
$450
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$575
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$525
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
15
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$780,000
Median price change
+9.7%
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
1,952(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +6.6% over 5 years · 54th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.5%
5-year growth
+6.6%
Change in 1 year
+10
Change in 5 years
+121
Growth rank in SA
54th 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 (~2,050), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
1,844
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,072
Dwelling vacancy
9.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
88 of 906
Median monthly mortgage
$1,200
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$300
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
34.4% / 35.6% / 30%
Employment rate
47.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
7.9% / 2.6% / 73.3%
Walked or cycled to work
1.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
763 / 53 / 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.
9.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 22.4% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified9.8% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified7.4% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational22.4% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below60.5% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies20.2%
Society and culture19.2%
Management and commerce16%
Health11.4%
Architecture and building8.2%
Education7.9%
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)
$52,445
40th percentile in SA · -11% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$56,474
46th percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
9.0%
17th percentile in SA · -35% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$64,501
30th percentile in SA · +2% vs Australia
Residents with business income
13.0%
82nd percentile in SA · +25% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5166 — 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
1,065
Taxpayers reporting net rent
94
Median net rent
$0
Taxpayers reporting business income
137
Taxable income vs state median
-3%
Salary / wages vs state median
-2%
Rental investment vs state median
-25%
Super vs state median
-17%
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
4.9% speak a language other than English at home; 20.1% born overseas
Language at home
1,673 English only · 87 other
Non-English at home
4.9%
Born overseas
352 (20.1%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
77 (4.2%)
Australian citizens
1,655
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
4
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Afrikaans7 · 31.8%
Australian Indigenous languages6 · 27.3%
German6 · 27.3%
Persian3 · 13.6%
Religion
59.9%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 59.9%, while Christianity accounts for 30.4%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
59.9%
45.2%
Christianity
30.4%
40%
Other / not stated
9.7%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
9%
15.5%
Anglican
7.6%
7.2%
Uniting Church
4.4%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
2.9%
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)
96
Against the person
47
Against property
49
Rate per 1,000 residents
49.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 39 residents
State crime-rate percentile
64.7th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
35
Decrease (daily rate)
-12.7%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
22
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
11.27
Most common offence types
Common Assault16
Damage Or Destroy Property22
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences11
Serious Assault26
Theft From A Person5
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Southern Montessori SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1095 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 230 students · Top SEA quarter 35% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
O'Sullivan Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 926 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 84 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
St John The Apostle Parish SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1021 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 334 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
Christies Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 889 · 9th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 194 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Reasonably walkable — many shops and services reachable on foot or by bus
Great for outdoor family life — 12 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 16 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 24 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
51/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.54
Parks per 1,000 residents
6.51
Food & drink(1)
O'Sullivan Beach TakeawayRestaurant
Shopping(2)
Sip'n SaveBottle shop
Friendly GrocersSupermarket
Everyday services(1)
Australia PostPost office
Community(1)
Southern Montessori SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(39)
Beach (2)
Christie Creek Linear TrailCycling route
Park (10)
Yangara ReservePark
Yangara Road
Dinosaur PlaygroundPlayground
Playground (2)
Public toilets
Sports field
Swimming pool (20)
Transport(16)
16 bus stops
Other(9)
Lochness MonsterArtwork
Bench (4)
The Cardhub AustraliaGames
Information
Parking (13)
Parking Space
Picnic Table (2)
Shelter (3)
Waste Basket
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
Health access
Nearest hospital
Noarlunga Hospital (3.0 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%)
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
27° / 16°
Rainfall
49 mm · ~6 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 13°
Rainfall
94 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 8°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 11°
Rainfall
95 mm · ~12 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 92 proposals
September 2026
Ancillary Accommodation
41 TINGIRA DR O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling and retaining wall up to max height of 0.8m
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Land Division 1 into 3 allotments in accordance with 26028296
26 NORONGO ST O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Two-Storey Detached Dwellings and associated fencing up to 1.8m height.
LOT 10 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
August 2026
Three (3) x single storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement associated with removal of one (1) X Regulated (Malus domestica) tree within the property.
26 NORONGO ST O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling and retaining wall up to max height of 0.55m
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Building alterations, supply and install new commercial kitchen.
LOT 56 MARINE DR O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Change in hours of operation to 9am to 11pm and increase in liquor licence capacity to 120 people.
LOT 56 MARINE DR O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Excavation & installation of fiberglass swimming pool & associated safety barrier
5 TINGIRA DR O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling and retaining wall and associated fencing with a total combined height of 2.4m
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling and retaining wall and associated fencing with a total combined height of 2.6m
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling (Allotment 41)
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling with associated retaining wall and fence of maximum height of 2.7m (lot 37, Sandy Way).
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling.
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Torrens title land division (one into two) in accordance with built form DA 25037852
45 BADEN TCE O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling (lot 44)
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
July 2026
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Outbuilding (domestic storage shed)
43 MOORONG RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Three single storey dwellings in a terrace arrangement
15 YENDA ST O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Ancillary accommodation
21 WOOCALLA ST O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Retaining walls (Salt - Stage 3)
LOT 500 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Ancillary accommodation
34 BADEN TCE O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Ancillary structure with habitable area, in-ground swimming pool with safety barrier, attached verandah and carport on side boundary.
29 TINGIRA DR O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Retaining walls and associated fencing with a total combined height of 3.8m
8 JOHN TCE O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land Division 1 allotment into 2
1 SWORDSMAN RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
June 2026
Single Storey detached dwelling
LOT 64 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Land division to create an additional allotment (1 into 2)
86 GALLOWAY RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Deck and Verandah
48 SULLIVAN TCE O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Freestanding 2 level lift to be positioned on the northern side of dwelling
3 HILL ST O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Double storey detached dwelling with associated swimming pool and fence for new dwelling and carport attached to the existing dwelling,
25 GUMERACHA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
May 2026
Masonry fence of height 1.5m
24 BADEN TCE O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Two single storey detached dwelling
20 YANGARA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Torrens title land division - 3 allotments from 1 in association with 26001534
2 YANGARA RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Two (2) X Two-Storey Detached Dwellings, retaining wall and associated fencing.
9 MOORONG RD O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
Torrens title land division – 2 allotments from 1 and carport
5 PEARCE ST O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Decision Made
Double storey building alteration and dwelling addition
1 SUNSET CT O'SULLIVAN BEACH SA 5166Under Assessment
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.
Port NoarlungaLabor 73.8% · Coalition 26.2% TPP (2025)2.6 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%)