SA · Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council

Polish Hill River, 5453

Est. population · Jun 2025

39

Growth (1 yr)

0.0%

Growth (5 yr)

0.0%

Median age

56

Median income

$2,750/wk

Employment rate

64.7%

University qualified

0%

Work from home

0%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Wine country
  • River access
  • Rural living
What Polish Hill River is known for: Wine country, River access, Rural living

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Polish Hill River, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Polish Hill River, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/polish-hill-river

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Suburb profile

Polish Hill River is a rural locality in South Australia, in Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council. It is close to the Hill River and the Hutt River.

Local amenities are a relative strength, placing it among the highest-ranked rural localities. Household incomes are a relative strength, with household incomes 100% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on fewer university qualifications and weaker population growth, with university qualifications 100% below the peer median.

Overall, Polish Hill River suits people prioritising local amenities over 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

Rural locality · compared with rural localities in South Australia (602)

Strengths

  • Local amenities are a relative strength
  • Household incomes are a relative strength

Weaknesses

  • University qualifications are less common than in comparable places
  • Population has been growing more slowly than in comparable places, or declining

What stands out

  • Hill River
  • Hutt River

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Polish Hill River compares

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

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$200/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

39

0.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

35.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

66th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

35th

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

0%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

8/10

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

39(June 2025)

0.0% annual · 0.0% over 5 years · 35th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
0.0%
5-year growth
0.0%
Change in 1 year
0
Change in 5 years
0
Growth rank in SA
35th 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 (~50), extrapolated at +0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
38
Median age
56
Median household income / week
$2,750
Dwelling vacancy
35%
Unoccupied private dwellings
7 of 20
Median monthly mortgage
$0
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$200
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
62.5% / 37.5% / 0%
Employment rate
64.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
0% / 0% / 100%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
14 / 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

0% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 8.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • Diploma qualified20% · 8.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational8.6% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below71.4% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

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

  • Health100%
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)
$54,499

51st percentile in SA · -7% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$56,960

48th percentile in SA · -12% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
14.0%

73rd percentile in SA · +1% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$99,427

73rd percentile in SA · +57% vs Australia

Residents with business income
11.0%

61st percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5453 — 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
3,185
Taxpayers reporting net rent
436
Median net rent
$1,178
Taxpayers reporting business income
352
Taxable income vs state median
0%
Salary / wages vs state median
-1%
Rental investment vs state median
+17%
Super vs state median
+28%
Business income vs state median
0%

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

10% born overseas

Language at home
39 English only · 0 other
Non-English at home
0%
Born overseas
3 (10%)
Australian citizens
32

Religion

68.4%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 68.4%, while 31.6% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion31.6%45.2%
Christianity68.4%40%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Anglican34.2%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

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2024–25)
2
Against the person
0
Against property
2
Rate per 1,000 residents
51.3
State crime-rate percentile
66th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
27
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
1
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
25.64

Most common offence types

  • Theft From Motor Vehicle1
  • Theft/Illegal Use Of Mv1

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

5 mapped amenities

3 wineries

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
Sport & outdoors(1)
  • Father Rogalski LoopCycling route
Wineries & breweries(3)
  • Hill River Clare EstateWinery

    406 Quarry Road

  • PaulettsWinery

    752 Jolly Way, Polish Hill River

  • Pikes WineryWinery
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

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
Clare Hospital (8.1 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)
1
Participants per 1,000 residents
25.6

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° / 13°
Rainfall
69 mm · ~9 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
22° / 9°
Rainfall
80 mm · ~10 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 5°
Rainfall
142 mm · ~18 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
21° / 8°
Rainfall
125 mm · ~16 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· 3 proposals
  • August 2026

  • Internal alterations to dwelling, verandah addition, outbuilding (shed), above ground rainwater tank and solar photovoltaic panels (roof mounted).
    273 POLISH HILL RIVER RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Under Assessment
  • Installation of five (5) new frost fans (three (3) x FrostBoss C59 model and two (2) x FrostBoss C49 model) and upgrade of one (1) existing frost fan to a FrostBoss C49 model (resulting in a total number of eight (8) frost fans) ancillary to existing vineyards
    233 POLISH HILL RIVER RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453;LOT 1 EDWARDS RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453;LOT 11 POLISH HILL RIVER RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453;LOT 91 POLISH HILL RIVER RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
  • February 2026

  • Horse keeping (2 horses)
    116 POLISH HILL RIVER RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
2025· 2 proposals
  • September 2025

  • Excavation & installation of fiberglass swimming pool.
    116 POLISH HILL RIVER RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
  • February 2025

  • Installation of four (4) Frost Fans (C49 FrostBoss) ancillary to existing vineyards
    406 QUARRY RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
2024· 1 proposal
  • August 2024

  • Installation of one (1) frost fan (FrostBoss C49) ancillary to existing vineyards
    406 QUARRY RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
2023· 2 proposals
  • April 2023

  • Vineyard education centre ancillary to an existing winery and verandah
    406 QUARRY RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Under Assessment
  • January 2023

  • Freestanding carport next to house
    18 EDWARDS RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
2022· 3 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Construction of eleven (11) tourist accommodation suites with associated verandahs and decking, signage, service sheds, rainwater tanks and ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels
    752 JOLLY WAY POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453;897 SPRING FARM RD PENWORTHAM SA 5453Under Assessment
  • July 2022

  • Verandah
    225B POLISH HILL RIVER RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
  • March 2022

  • To build a new wine tank onsite capable of storing 200,000 litres of wine with a tank size of diameter 5125mm Diameter 10,750mm high
    233 POLISH HILL RIVER RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
2021· 2 proposals
  • December 2021

  • Alterations and additions to an existing dwelling with associated verandah and deck
    803 SPRING FARM RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Under Assessment
  • October 2021

  • Amenities Block with attached Verandah (2.5m x 12m)
    242 QUARRY RD POLISH HILL RIVER SA 5453Decision Made
Other· 1 proposal
  • PIKES WINES PTY LTD
    Food Production and Animal Plant ProcessingEPA licence

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

2 heritage places

  • Church of St. StanislausPolish Hill Road POLISH HILL RIVERLocal heritage
  • Museum (former Polish Hill River Catholic Church of St Stanislaus)Polish Hill Road, near CLAREState heritage

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Heritage listings as established streetscape

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
Grey
Member of Parliament
Tom VENNING (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
128,707
Turnout (2025)
89.4%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+5.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.6%Labor 45.4%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 31.1 km away).

Coalition 62.0%Labor 38.0%

7.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • ClareLabor 37.2% · Coalition 62.8% TPP (2025)6.3 km away
  • WatervaleLabor 44.0% · Coalition 56.0% TPP (2025)9.0 km away
  • Farrell FlatLabor 30.4% · Coalition 69.6% TPP (2025)12.9 km away
  • AuburnLabor 47.4% · Coalition 52.6% TPP (2025)15.8 km away
  • BlythLabor 32.7% · Coalition 67.3% TPP (2025)17.3 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
8/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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 Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.