SA · Grant Council

Port Macdonnell, SA, 5291

Current weather

13.1°CLight drizzle

86% humidity · 27.1 km/h wind · 15.5° / 10.3° today · 9.5 mm rain

Desirability index

25.4/100

#115 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Port Macdonnell is a small locality in the Grant area, home to around 859 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 22 offences in 2024–25 (Jul–Jun), roughly 25.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $400, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

Population
859
Median age
53
Median household income / week
$1,288
Dwelling vacancy
39.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
224 of 569
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Employment rate
51.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
19 / 11 / 4

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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

Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$400

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 reportsGovernment of South Australia · Period: 1 January - 31 March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases

Crime & safety

Total offences (2024–25)
22
Against the person
4
Against property
18
Rate per 1,000 residents
25.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 215 residents
State safety percentile
37th (lower crime is better)
Family & domestic abuse offences
42
Year-on-year change
0%

Most common offence types

  • Other Property Damage And Environmental4
  • Other Theft6
  • Other Unlawful Entry With Intent2
  • Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury4
  • Theft From Motor Vehicle3

Data sources & freshness

  • SAPOL reported crime statisticsSouth Australia Police — OpenData · Period: 2024-25; 2024-25 → 2024-25 · Updated on site · Financial-year releases

Planning & development

Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.

184 planning-related records

2026· 22 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Detached Dwelling
    11 NAUTILUS DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Under Assessment
  • Detached Dwelling and Outbuilding
    LOT 33 EIGHT MILE CREEK RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Under Assessment
  • Dwelling alterations with upper level balconies, deck and external stairs
    1 SEA PDE PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Under Assessment
  • Outbuilding (Garage) and Carport
    26 SEA PDE PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Under Assessment
  • May 2026

  • Outbuilding (Shelter) over existing Fish Cleaning Tables
    12 BOAT RAMP ACCS PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Under Assessment
  • April 2026

  • Detached Dwelling
    LOT 15 LITHGOWS RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Under Assessment
  • Outbuilding (Garage/Carport)
    27 COMPTON ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Carport
    434 EIGHT MILE CREEK RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Carport extension
    23 CHURCH ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Land Division (1 into 2) to excise an existing dwelling
    102 YOUNGS RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Land Division - Boundary Realignment
    37 MILSTEAD ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291;50 SEA PDE PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • March 2026

  • Land Division - Boundary Realignment
    60 DINGLEY DELL RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291;68 DINGLEY DELL RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Outbuilding with amenities
    7 SMITHS RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Dwelling Addition
    6 -8 COWRIE CT PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Factory Extensions - new Kitchen, Staff Room and Chiller
    8 ELIZABETH ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Detached Dwelling and Outbuilding
    23 NAUTILUS DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Under Assessment
  • Detached Dwelling, Carport and Outbuilding with amenities
    5 NAUTILUS DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Under Assessment
  • February 2026

  • Retaining wall up to 2m high (retrospective)
    19 -21 SMITHS RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Replacement Building for storage of Boat
    20 COMPTON ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • January 2026

  • Land Division (1 into 3)
    2 PASCOE RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • In-ground Swimming Pool (Retrospective Approval)
    12 COMPTON ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Land division (boundary realignment)
    27 SEA PDE PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291;53 PASCOE RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
2025· 31 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Land division (boundary realignment)
    43 -45 PASCOE RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291;47 PASCOE RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • New shed building (142sqm) to be used as a pilates studio (indoor recreation facility)
    133 LOWER NELSON RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • November 2025

  • Replacement building of existing shed (to be demolished) due to storm damage
    139 LIGHTHOUSE RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Outbuilding with amenities
    19 -21 SMITHS RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Outbuilding
    42 COMPTON ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Adding a small verandah to the back of the dwelling (13.2m2)
    2 COWRIE CT PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • October 2025

  • Outbuilding
    91 SEA PDE PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Dwelling additions
    45 SEA PDE PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Extension of existing shed for storage of vehicles
    12 ELIZABETH ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Land Division - Realignment of boundaries
    92 SEA PDE PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291;93 SEA PDE PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • September 2025

  • Outbuilding Extension
    114 SMITHS RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • August 2025

  • Detached Dwelling, Outbuilding with mezzanine for storage and amenities; and Temporary Living within the Outbuilding whilst the dwelling is under construction
    LOT 35 EIGHT MILE CREEK RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Carport attached to existing Outbuilding
    13 SHELL DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Outbuilding
    16 NAUTILUS DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • July 2025

  • Outbuilding
    13 NAUTILUS DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • June 2025

  • Port MacDonnell Memorial Wall Precinct Area Project including a memorial wall, ship wheel monument, shade sails and associated landscaping
    12 BOAT RAMP ACCS PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291;Tenterden Reserve - Sea ParadeUnder Assessment
  • Convert former Holding Cell to Amenities Block, Building Additions and Internal Alterations
    3 CHARLES ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
  • Detached Dwelling and Outbuilding
    17 NAUTILUS DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Decision Made
2024· 29 proposals

29 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2023· 28 proposals

28 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2022· 23 proposals

23 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.

2021· 27 proposals

27 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

Amenities

4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Playground
  • Public toilets
  • Community GymSports centre
  • Sports field

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Dingley Dell Conservation Park

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

3 state heritage places

  • Heritage placeState heritage
  • Heritage placeState heritage
  • Heritage placeState heritage

Data sources & freshness

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
3
Parks (OSM)
3

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
25.4/100
Cohort rank
#115 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Heritage placeheritageState heritage
  • Heritage placeheritageState heritage
  • Heritage placeheritageState heritage
  • Dingley Dell Conservation ParkgovernmentNational parks and reserves listing
  • Adding a small verandah to the back of the dwelling (13.2m2)planning2 COWRIE CT PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Lodged 04 Nov 2025 · Decision Made
  • Carportplanning434 EIGHT MILE CREEK RD PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Lodged 10 Apr 2026 · Decision Made
  • Carport attached to existing Outbuildingplanning13 SHELL DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Lodged 14 Aug 2025 · Decision Made
  • Carport extensionplanning23 CHURCH ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Lodged 10 Apr 2026 · Decision Made
  • Convert former Holding Cell to Amenities Block, Building Additions and Internal Alterationsplanning3 CHARLES ST PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Lodged 20 Jun 2025 · Decision Made
  • Detached Dwellingplanning11 NAUTILUS DR PORT MACDONNELL SA 5291Lodged 30 Jun 2026 · Under Assessment

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a comparable population profile, socio-economic decile, and location.