SA · Wattle Range Council
Penola, SA, 5277
Current weather
11.8°CThunderstorm
97% humidity · 19 km/h wind · 15.5° / 9.6° today · 9.4 mm rain
Desirability index
#140 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Penola is a small locality in the Wattle Range area, home to around 1,622 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 29 offences in 2024–25 (Jul–Jun), roughly 17.9 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $350 (flats $220, houses $350), 3 school and preschool sites in the area, limited but present public transport access, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 1,622
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,369
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 132 of 776
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,050
- Employment rate
- 61.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 50 / 43 / 8
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $220
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $350
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $350
- Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- 10
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- SA Housing Authority rent & sales reports — Government of South Australia · Period: 1 January - 31 March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 29
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 20
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 17.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 180 residents
- State safety percentile
- 22.8th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 25
- Year-on-year change
- 0%
Most common offence types
- Obtain Benefit By Deception3
- Other Property Damage And Environmental3
- Other Theft5
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intent3
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury8
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Period: 2024-25; 2024-25 → 2024-25 · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 3 (2 schools, 1 preschools)
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 977
- Mary MacKillop Memorial SchoolPrimary · ICSEA 1029
- McKay Children's Centre7 Scott StreetIntegrated Centres
- Penola High SchoolSecondary · ICSEA 933
- Penola Primary SchoolPrimary · ICSEA 977
Data sources & freshness
- Government education sites register — Government of South Australia · Period: current · Updated on site · Static register
- School ICSEA (ACARA) — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
1 public transport stops in this suburb
- Arthur St / Portland St - North side (Penola Tourist Info Centre)
Data sources & freshness
- Adelaide Metro GTFS stops — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Miscellaneous WorksChurch Street, Mcpherson St19 Jun 2026 – 03 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Traffic SA road events — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
219 planning-related records
2026· 14 proposals
June 2026
- Land Division 1 into 22280 V&A LANE PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
- Variation of Approved Development 25009685 Annex area was approved to replace weather boards, replace warped and damaged roof timber’s. Original plan was to replace original floor boards with structafloor on existing joists, replace weather boards onto original wall frames. On demolition, I discovered the wall frames and floor joists were damaged/ Rotten and need replacing. I proposed to the client, Will Colley that we concrete the annex area with a 250mm x 250mm edge beam with rebate to hold si35 ARTHUR ST PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
- Variation of Development Application 25032774 - Construction a separate change room and alterations and additions to existing community facilityLOT 30 CAMERON ST PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
May 2026
- Outbuilding (garage)LOT 3 OLD PORTLAND RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- 1 into 5 land division91 MAAOUPE RD PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
- Construction of a domestic outbuilding, and verandah attached tot he side of dwelling.29 QUEEN ST PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
- Building Alterations and Additions to Incorporate a New Shrine and Entry PorchLOT 121 PORTLAND ST PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
March 2026
- Outbuilding associated with Detached Dwelling DA 25036677.40 CAMERON ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Detached dwelling, Verandah, carport and outbuilding19 JULIAN ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Proposed 4m x 13.59m enclosed carport Colorbond - Classic Cream8A DAVIS CR PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
February 2026
- Dwelling Addition and Building Alteration1 CLAYFIELD ST PENOLA SA 5277;3 CLAYFIELD ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
January 2026
- Replacement Building in association with the race course. (Vet Building)121B RACECOURSE RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Outbuilding17 MCARTHUR ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Detached Dwelling.40 CAMERON ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
2025· 36 proposals
December 2025
- Horse Keeping , Horse Arena, and associated yards, Agricultural building, Water Tanks.LOT 329 HINZE LANE PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
- Agricultural BuildingLOT 50 OLD COMAUM RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Store (1 New Structure & 8 Containers as Retrospective)LOT 28 ELLEN ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Agricultural buildingLOT 11 MOUNT BURR RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
November 2025
- Establish a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility in the north-east corner of the site.16789 RIDDOCH HWY PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
October 2025
- Agricultural Building.209 MARKS RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Alterations and Additions to a Community Facility, Water TankLOT 30 CAMERON ST PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
- Land Division (1 into 2)LOT 100 DERGHOLM RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Dwelling Addition & Building Alteration.59 CHINAMANS LANE PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
August 2025
- Outbuilding20 -22 GORDON ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Building Alterations, Deck and Verandah18 CHURCH ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Carport, Verandah15 RIDDOCH ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Verandah8 PORTLAND ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
July 2025
- Outbuilding53 ARTHUR ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Building alteration (Repair and like for like restoration)35 ARTHUR ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
June 2025
- Verandah & Carport20 ROBE RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Dwelling.313 DERGHOLM RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Dwelling addition and Verandah1 DAVIS CR PENOLA SA 5277Under Assessment
May 2025
- Detached dwelling.LOT 4 ARTHUR ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Outbuilding9A RIDDOCH ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Partial change of use to workers and tourist accommodation.2280 V&A LANE PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Outbuilding121B RACECOURSE RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
April 2025
- Carport16C CHURCH ST PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- Roadside Billboard AdvertisementLOT 623 RIDDOCH HWY PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
March 2025
- Installation and operation of three (3) FrostBoss frost fans in association with the horticulture use of the land26 SHEPHERDS LANE PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
- 2 x Carports1305 CASTERTON RD PENOLA SA 5277Decision Made
2024· 31 proposals
31 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 26 proposals
26 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 33 proposals
33 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 49 proposals
49 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 19 proposals
19 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- On site
- Penola War Memorial Hospital18 Church StreetPublic Hospital
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
98 state heritage places
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- Heritage placeState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
- Bushfire safer places
- 1
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via SA Planning geohub. Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Data sources & freshness
- Bushfire & hazard overlays (SA) — Government of South Australia · Period: current · Updated on site
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 36.8/100
- Cohort rank
- #140 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
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Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Updated on site
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