SA · Mid Murray Council

Purnong, 5238

Est. population · Jun 2025

53

Growth (1 yr)

+1.9%

Growth (5 yr)

+6.0%

Median age

58

Median income

$860/wk

Employment rate

35.4%

University qualified

0%

Work from home

0%

Languages at home

7%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Rural living
What Purnong is known for: Rural living

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Purnong, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Purnong, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/purnong

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Suburb profile

Purnong is a rural locality in South Australia, in Mid Murray Council. It is close to the Murray River.

Everyday destinations are relatively walkable, well above typical levels for rural localities. Open-space access is exceptionally strong. Population has been growing faster than in comparable places. Employment rates sit below those of comparable places, with employment 42% below the peer median.

Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising open space and walkability over employment.

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

  • Open-space access is exceptionally strong
  • Everyday destinations are relatively walkable
  • Population has been growing faster than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Employment rates sit below those of comparable places

What stands out

  • Murray River

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Purnong 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)

53

+1.9% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

60.8%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

54th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

93rd

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

18%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

2/10

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

53(June 2025)

+1.9% annual · +6.0% over 5 years · 93th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.9%
5-year growth
+6.0%
Change in 1 year
+1
Change in 5 years
+3
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 (~50), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
55
Median age
58
Median household income / week
$860
Dwelling vacancy
60.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
31 of 51
Median monthly mortgage
$778
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$200
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
59.1% / 22.7% / 18.2%
Employment rate
35.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
0% / 0% / 92.3%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
21 / 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. 16.7% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • Trade / vocational16.7% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below83.3% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

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

  • Engineering and related technologies66.7%
  • Society and culture33.3%
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)
$43,949

10th percentile in SA · -25% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$50,060

22nd percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
11.0%

33rd percentile in SA · -20% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$80,169

54th percentile in SA · +27% vs Australia

Residents with business income
10.0%

41st percentile in SA · -4% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5238 — 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
2,409
Taxpayers reporting net rent
257
Median net rent
$1,562
Taxpayers reporting business income
241
Taxable income vs state median
-19%
Salary / wages vs state median
-13%
Rental investment vs state median
-8%
Super vs state median
+3%
Business income vs state median
-9%

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

7% speak a language other than English at home; 18.4% born overseas

Language at home
40 English only · 3 other
Non-English at home
7%
Born overseas
9 (18.4%)
Australian citizens
44

Religion

43.6%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 43.6%, while 34.5% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion34.5%45.2%
Christianity43.6%40%
Other / not stated21.8%14.7%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Anglican20%7.2%
Uniting Church18.2%4.8%

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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
2
Against the person
0
Against property
2
Rate per 1,000 residents
37.7
State crime-rate percentile
53.9th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
52
No change (daily rate)
0%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
1
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
18.87

Most common offence types

  • Arson1
  • Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences1

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

Public transport

2 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Purnong Rd - North side (Purnong District Hall)
  • Purnong Rd - South side (Purnong District Council)

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

1 mapped amenities

1 campgrounds

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb
Walkability proxy
3/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
36.36
Camping & holiday parks(1)
  • Purnong ReserveCampground

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)
2
Parks (OSM)
2
Typical summer maximum
31°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
Mannum District Hospital (30.2 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)
2
Participants per 1,000 residents
37.7

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

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
31° / 13°
Rainfall
56 mm · ~7 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
24° / 9°
Rainfall
72 mm · ~9 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
16° / 5°
Rainfall
114 mm · ~14 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
23° / 8°
Rainfall
102 mm · ~13 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 (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.

11 planning-related records

2025· 2 proposals
  • December 2025

  • Dwelling alteration and verandah
    104 DONHARTS HILL RD PURNONG SA 5238Under Assessment
  • February 2025

  • Outbuilding extension
    104 DONHARTS HILL RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
2024· 1 proposal
  • November 2024

  • Minor extension to an existing shed
    3202 PURNONG RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
2023· 4 proposals
  • October 2023

  • Elevated Dwelling with underfloor enclosure and associated excavation and filling in a flood plain
    146 DONHARTS HILL RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
  • September 2023

  • construction of shed on site
    192 PETTIFOR PARK RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
  • August 2023

  • To erect a kit form carport as BBQ shelter on the eastern wall of hall (not attached) Request for fee waiver as for community Not For Profit Organisation.
    3214 PURNONG RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
  • July 2023

  • Domestic Outbuilding (Shed)
    104 DONHARTS HILL RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
2022· 2 proposals
  • August 2022

  • Construction of a domestic outbuilding and replacement retaining wall
    LOT 157 DONHARTS HILL RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
  • January 2022

  • Construction of a domestic outbuilding (shed) in association with an existing dwelling
    3200 PURNONG RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
2021· 2 proposals
  • October 2021

  • Riverbank Retaining Wall (Timber) and associated excavation and filling in a flood plain
    LOT 11 SCRUBBY FLAT SHACK RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made
  • August 2021

  • shed
    202 KLUGE RD PURNONG SA 5238Decision Made

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • Former Post Office3188 Purnong Rd PURNONGLocal 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
Barker
Member of Parliament
Tony PASIN (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
127,045
Turnout (2025)
92.6%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+3.6 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 63.0%Labor 37.0%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 35.9 km away).

Coalition 71.9%Labor 28.1%

9.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +8.3 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • PurnongLabor 24.0% · Coalition 76.0% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
  • Walker FlatLabor 45.3% · Coalition 54.7% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
  • NildottieLabor 29.9% · Coalition 70.1% TPP (2025)16.3 km away
  • Swan ReachLabor 40.5% · Coalition 59.5% TPP (2025)28.1 km away
  • MannumLabor 43.8% · Coalition 56.2% TPP (2025)29.9 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)
2/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

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 Mid Murray Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.