Median house price
—
No data available
SA · Mount Barker Council
Petwood, 5254
Est. population · Jun 2025
101
Growth (1 yr)
+2.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+11.0%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,812/wk
Employment rate
72.5%
Languages at home
4.7%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Suburb profile
Petwood is a welcoming smaller community in Mount Barker Council, with a settled community character. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town.
Local amenities are on the light side, so many everyday needs are met by travelling to a neighbouring suburb or town. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Reported crime has been rising recently.
At a glance
Petwood snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
101
+2.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
0.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
71st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
93rd
percentile in SA
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
101(June 2025)
+2.0% annual · +11.0% over 5 years · 93th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.0%
- 5-year growth
- +11.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +2
- Change in 5 years
- +10
- Growth rank in SA
- 93th 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
- 90
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,812
- Dwelling vacancy
- 0%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 0 of 29
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,525
- Employment rate
- 72.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 28 / 0 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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 (2024–25)
- 6
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 59.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 90 residents
- State safety percentile
- 71.3th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 15
- Increase (daily rate)
- +501.6%
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental1
- Other Theft1
- Sct - Non Residence1
- Theft From Motor Vehicle1
- Theft/Illegal Use Of Mv1
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated · Financial-year releases
Family & Lifestyle
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Mount Barker District Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (8.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 3
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 29.7
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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 (15%)
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· 1 proposal
June 2026
- Outbuilding (domestic storage)103 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Under Assessment
2025· 2 proposals
November 2025
- Outbuilding (Domestic Garage/Carport)LOT 100 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
July 2025
- Carport191 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
2024· 5 proposals
November 2024
- Detached dwelling (Single storey) and Water tanks (above ground - three (3) x 60000L)LOT 100 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
October 2024
- Store374 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
September 2024
- Verandah191 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
May 2024
- Variation to development authorisation 23013152 (managers residence in association with existing function venue, in the form of a single-storey dwelling and associated deck) comprising an amended roof line, increased building height, re-location of building element and additional building link to manager's residence.271 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
January 2024
- Outbuilding (Shelter), Rainwater Tank, Swimming Pool (above ground) with associated Swimming Pool Safety Features and Deck155 PETWOOD RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
2023· 1 proposal
August 2023
- Managers residence in association with existing function venue, in the form of a single-storey dwelling and associated deck.271 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Under Assessment
2021· 4 proposals
December 2021
- Outbuilding431 PETWOOD RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
October 2021
- Agricultural building155 PETWOOD RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
August 2021
- Variation to DA 580/902/17 - Change in use to function centre, bed and breakfast and toilet block271 BACK CALLINGTON RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
July 2021
- Tourist accommodation including carparking and landscaping346 IRONSTONE RANGE RD PETWOOD SA 5254Decision Made
Other· 1 proposal
- MACA DEVELOPMENTS PTY. LTD.Resource Recovery Waste Disposal and RelatedEPA licence
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · 2026 · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Bushfire & hazard overlays (SA) — Government of South Australia · current · Updated
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 9.5 km away).
Coalition 41.2%Labor 58.8%
3.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- NairneLabor 65.8% · Coalition 34.2% TPP (2025)7.4 km away
- CallingtonLabor 50.3% · Coalition 49.7% TPP (2025)7.8 km away
- Mount Barker EastLabor 55.2% · Coalition 44.8% TPP (2025)9.1 km away
- Mount Barker SouthLabor 66.8% · Coalition 33.2% TPP (2025)9.2 km away
- Mount Barker CentralLabor 58.3% · Coalition 41.7% TPP (2025)9.3 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
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.