Semaphore Park is a coastal middle-ring metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Charles Sturt Council. It is close to the West Lakes and the Lefevre Peninsula.
Local amenity access is stronger than in most comparable places, with local amenities 81% above the peer median. Mapped flood cover is a very strong feature of the suburb, with mapped flood cover 94% below the peer median, and recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places, with recorded road crashes 62% below the peer median, and working from home is another of the suburb's defining strengths. Trade-offs centre on higher crime and weaker employment.
Semaphore Park is a better fit for people who value local amenities more than peace and quiet.
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
Middle-ring metropolitan suburb · compared with middle-ring metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (106)
Strengths
Mapped flood cover is a relative strength
Local amenity access is stronger than in most comparable places
Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places
Working from home is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Reported crime is elevated relative to comparable places
Employment rates sit below those of comparable places
What stands out
Semaphore Park Beach
West Lakes Shore Beach
West Lakes
Lefevre Peninsula
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★☆☆☆
Professionals★☆☆☆☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★☆☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Semaphore Park compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.11M
+13% change
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $680 · Units $540
Population (ERP)
4,543
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.3%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#45
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Crime rate
87th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
52nd
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
39%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
63rd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
34.9/100 — Below average
National rank
5632nd in Australia
State rank
531st in SA
Peer rank
#45 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#60 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
99%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$540
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$680
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$650
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
25
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$1,115,000
Median price change
+13.2%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Median house sale prices cover metropolitan Adelaide and selected fringe councils (19 LGAs, including Adelaide Hills and Gawler), not all of regional South Australia.
Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band
Data sources & freshness
SA rent report & metro median house sales — Government of South Australia · 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
4,543(June 2025)
+0.4% annual · +5.7% over 5 years · 52th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.4%
5-year growth
+5.7%
Change in 1 year
+20
Change in 5 years
+243
Growth rank in SA
52th 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 (~4,700), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
4,541
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$1,262
Dwelling vacancy
9.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
195 of 2,090
Median monthly mortgage
$1,786
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$250
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
31% / 30.1% / 39%
Employment rate
49.2%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
10.9% / 3.1% / 70%
Walked or cycled to work
1.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,020 / 753 / 98 (+ 19 other)
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.
18.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 18.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified18.8% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified8.8% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational18.2% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below54.2% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce20.4%
Engineering and related technologies17.7%
Society and culture15.4%
Health12.1%
Education10.4%
Architecture and building7.2%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 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)
$62,450
87th percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$68,312
93rd percentile in SA · +5% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
15.0%
80th percentile in SA · +9% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$109,598
80th percentile in SA · +73% vs Australia
Residents with business income
9.0%
33rd percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5019 — 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
5,642
Taxpayers reporting net rent
827
Median net rent
-$16
Taxpayers reporting business income
510
Taxable income vs state median
+15%
Salary / wages vs state median
+19%
Rental investment vs state median
+25%
Super vs state median
+41%
Business income vs state median
-18%
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
10.7% speak a language other than English at home; 20.8% born overseas
Language at home
3,788 English only · 453 other
Non-English at home
10.7%
Born overseas
887 (20.8%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
113 (2.5%)
Australian citizens
4,031
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
21
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Italian34 · 19.2%
Greek23 · 13%
Polish17 · 9.6%
Punjabi11 · 6.2%
Vietnamese10 · 5.6%
Mandarin9 · 5.1%
Persian8 · 4.5%
Spanish8 · 4.5%
Religion
47.2%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 47.2%, while Christianity accounts for 42.5%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
47.2%
45.2%
Christianity
42.5%
40%
Other / not stated
10.3%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
18.5%
15.5%
Anglican
8.5%
7.2%
Uniting Church
4.5%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
2.5%
2.6%
Eastern Orthodox
2.4%
2.4%
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
495
Against the person
152
Against property
343
Rate per 1,000 residents
109
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 30 residents
State crime-rate percentile
86.6th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
192
Increase (daily rate)
+13.8%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
41
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
9.02
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property120
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences42
Sct - Residence66
Serious Assault101
Theft From A Person63
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Westport Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1025 · 58th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 421 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
West Lakes Shore SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1060 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 554 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
Portside Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1067 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 626 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Le Fevre High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 951 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 456 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Le Fevre Peninsula Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 902 · 11th percentile · LBOTE 26% · 232 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Dominican SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1048 · 68th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 230 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Westport Preschool53 West StreetPreschools
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 25 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
32/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.22
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.22
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.1
Food & drink(1)
Fort Deli CafeCafe
368 Military Road
Community(3)
Bower CottagesCommunity centre
Bower Cottages Community CentreCommunity centre
200 Bower Road
Westport Primary SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(23)
BBQ
Beach (3)
Semaphore Park BeachBeach
West Lakes Shore BeachBeach
Boat ramp
Coastal PathCycling route
Kingfisher Drive WalkwayCycling route
Outer Harbour GreenwayCycling route
Drinking water
Fort Glanville Conservation ParkNature reserve
Beachway ReservePark
Frederick Miller ReservePark
Park
Trust ReservePark
Victoria Parade Allotment ReservePark
Playground (3)
Public toilets
Sports field
Swimming pool
Camping & holiday parks(1)
Adelaide Beachfront Tourist ParkCaravan park
349 Military Road
Transport(26)
25 bus stops · 1 train stations
Other(19)
Bench (17)
Bicycle Parking (2)
Bicycle Repair Station
Chalet (54)
Garden
Fort GlanvilleInformation
Information (2)
Oasiz Massage TherapyMassage
132a
Parking (48)
Parking Space
Picnic Table
Place of worship
Australia PostPost Box
Post Box
Recycling
Peta jossShelter
Shelter (3)
TelstraTelephone
Waste Basket (9)
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap and the SA Sports Vouchers venue list, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Place of worship
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
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.
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
27° / 16°
Rainfall
49 mm · ~6 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 13°
Rainfall
94 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 8°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 11°
Rainfall
95 mm · ~12 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 52 proposals
September 2026
Alteration and addition to the front of the exisitng dwelling with associated garage to the side.
12 CORAL AV SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Outbuilding (replacement storage shed)
12 CORAL AV SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Swimming pool and associated safety barriers to the rear of the existing dwelling
8A FOURTH AV SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
August 2026
Verandah and shed located at the rear of the existing dwelling
8 FAIRFORD TCE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Removal of the Yellow Gumtree sited in the front yard with a 1.75 metres circumference
18 GRANVILLE ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Single storey dwelling.
32 -37 PLOVER GR SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
July 2026
Partial Demolition of the existing structure to the rear and construction of a single storey addition to the rear of the existing dwelling.
27 BRAY AV SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
1.8 metres high masonry fence
28 ST ALBANS TCE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019;28A ST ALBANS TCE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Outbuilding (garage)
1B BRAY AV SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Removal of significant tree - (Washingtonia filifera) located to the side of the existing dwelling.
4A ST ALBANS TCE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Spa and safety barriers
1 DUNSTONE RD SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Variation to DA 24018899 – Amendments to Four-Storey Residential Flat Building (Increase in Building Height and Changes to Building Footprint and Elevations)
377 ESPLANADE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Two storey detached dwelling and a two, two storey group dwelling to the rear with associated landscaping (three dwellings)
28 BRAY AV SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Verandah to the rear of the existing dwelling
7 AYR ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
June 2026
Internal Dwelling Alterations - New Toilet
15 GORDON ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Verandah to rear of existing dwelling
3 -5 GEORGE ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Torrens Title Land Division - one allotment into two
9 ILUKA PL SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Variation to 25033948 comprising wall and floor plan layout changes, a swimming pool and associated safety fencing, increase in floor area of proposed outbuilding and urban tree canopy overlay relocated to front yard for northern dwelling on proposed lot 1 and front facade changes to both dwellings.
385 ESPLANADE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Garage to the rear of the existing dwelling, replacing the existing structure, to provide car parking with a vehicle hoist and storage space.
20 SUTHERLAND AV SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Torrens Title land division one into two allotments
5 TERN PL SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Conventional land division two into four allotments
5 FIFTH AV SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Alterations to the existing garage - installation of a sliding door to the rear
335 MILITARY RD SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Outbuilding (Garage) at rear to replace existing shed.
24 RECREATION PDE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
May 2026
Verandah to the side of the existing dwelling
15A WEST ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Carport to the front and verandah to the rear of the existing dwelling with associated alteration and additions.
41 KINGFISHER DR SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Verandah to the front of the existing dwelling
22 RECREATION PDE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
April 2026
Torrens Title land division - one allotment into three
23 RECREATION PDE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Carport & verandah
82 SANSOM RD SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Torrens Title Land Division - one allotment into two
17 TOMKINSON RD SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Verandah to the rear of unit 2
UNIT 2 5 BARTLETT TCE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
March 2026
Torrens title land division - one allotment into two
6 ST ALBANS TCE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Two, two-storey detached dwellings.
17 TOMKINSON RD SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Alterations and additions to the existing dwelling, verandah to the rear, shed to the side and fence to the primary and secondary street boundary
1 ILUKA PL SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Under Assessment
Alterations and addition to the side of the existing dwelling
7 GRANVILLE ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Internal building alterations, verandah to the rear, swimming pool and associated safety features to the rear of the dwelling
14A WEST ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Replace existing verandah with bigger verandah
12 VICTORIA ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling and two storey detached dwelling
5 TERN PL SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Removal of regulated tree (Gum tree) from the rear of the property
11 RECREATION PDE SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
February 2026
Demolition of rear lean-to; construction of a dwelling addition & verandah
72 BOWER RD SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
Single story detached dwelling.
6A GRANVILLE ST SEMAPHORE PARK SA 5019Decision Made
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.
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.1 km away).
Coalition 28.4%Labor 71.6%
5.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Semaphore ParkLabor 74.5% · Coalition 25.5% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
Semaphore Park WestLabor 67.1% · Coalition 32.9% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
West Lakes ShoreLabor 61.8% · Coalition 38.2% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
Port AdelaideLabor 80.4% · Coalition 19.6% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
Semaphore SouthLabor 76.5% · Coalition 23.5% TPP (2025)1.6 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.
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%)