SA · Wattle Range Council
Southend, 5280
Current weather
9.7°CModerate drizzle
73% humidity · 39.9 km/h wind · 13.9° / 9.7° today · 14.9 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Affordable
- Rural
- Established
- Residential
- Amenities
Suburb profile
Southend offers a slower smaller community life in Wattle Range, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Out in the wider region, it rewards those who value open country and a pace set by the land, not the clock. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 301
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,761
- Dwelling vacancy
- 35.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 66 of 184
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,487
- Employment rate
- 53.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 5 / 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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 11
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 36.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 60 residents
- State safety percentile
- 52.4th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 43
- Increase (daily rate)
- +1003%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Assault Police1
- Common Assault2
- Other Property Damage And Environmental2
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intent2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury1
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Period: 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
53 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
June 2026
- Outbuilding9 HARVEY ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
- Outbuilding15 YATES CT SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
April 2026
- Outbuilding26 ELIZA ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
- Replacement Outbuilding3 ELIZA ST SOUTHEND SA 5280;5 -7 ELIZA ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
March 2026
- New Shed (Stage 1) & Single Storey dwelling (Stage 2)28 CHRISTINA SMITH DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
February 2026
- Construction of a telecommunications facility (monopole 30m and associated antenna)LOT 460 ELIZA ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
January 2026
- Outbuilding (Shed)11 HARVEY ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
2025· 10 proposals
December 2025
- Detached dwelling and Outbuilding56 CHRISTINA SMITH DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
October 2025
- Outbuilding.5 CHRISTINA SMITH DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
September 2025
- Construction of a Detached Dwelling and ShedLOT 11 SOUTHERN PORTS HWY SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
- Verandah and deck2 -4 BONNEY ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
- Carport3 SMITH ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
August 2025
- 40 Lot land divisionLOT 1 SOUTHERN PORTS HWY SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
July 2025
- Carport2 UNDERWOOD ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
June 2025
- STAGE 1- Outbuilding STAGE 2 - Detached dwelling35 CAPE BUFFON DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
April 2025
- Two Carports (Carport 1 & Carport 2).11 UNDERWOOD ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
February 2025
- Outbuilding (Partially enclosed structure).LOT 4 SOUTHEND ACCESS RD SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
2024· 4 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling alteration and additions including a balcony extension and external ramps/stairs2 -4 MACDONALD ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
September 2024
- Detached dwelling, Tourist accommodation (change of use ) and Verandah3 EVELYN ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
June 2024
- Torrens title land division comprising one (1) allotment into two (2) allotments for the creation of one (1) additional allotment and the construction of a detached dwelling with an associated outbuilding and earthworks9610 SOUTHERN PORTS HWY SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
May 2024
- Land Division (1-in-106) in 5 stagesLOT 1 SOUTHERN PORTS HWY SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
2023· 8 proposals
December 2023
- Public ArtLOT 31 BRIDGES DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
November 2023
- Stage 1: Outbuilding (Shed), Stage 2: Dwelling60 CHRISTINA SMITH DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
October 2023
- Garage, porch and deck extension and renovation to existing dwelling6 CAPE BUFFON DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
- Shed26 ELIZA ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
September 2023
- Domestic ShedLOT 2 DASHWOOD ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
August 2023
- Pergola18 CAPE BUFFON DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
June 2023
- Detached Dwelling and Shed19 CHRISTINA SMITH DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
May 2023
- Domestic Shed (associated with new House Application ID: 23013699)36 CHRISTINA SMITH DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
2022· 7 proposals
December 2022
- Change of Use (Garage to a Sunroom)11 GEORGE ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
November 2022
- Detached Dwelling (Kit Home)LOT 6 SOUTHEND ACCESS RD SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
October 2022
- Variation to existing planning approval for proposed residential extension (reduction in floor area)17 CAPE BUFFON DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
September 2022
- Excavation and compaction and leveling of block to provide required building footprint. Construction of a suitable, concrete block retaining walls by Teagle Contracting, as per Regulation 88- Certificate of Compliance- Structural Design. Job Reference 1905E01 4/05/2019. Building of a Two Story Dwelling, Masonary- Concrete Block Ground floor, Timber frame, western red cedar clad second story. Colourbond roof cladding.15 YATES CT SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
July 2022
- To construct a shed for domestic storage including a car and a boat plus a small temporary living area.LOT 6 SOUTHEND ACCESS RD SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
June 2022
- Verandah - Pergola12 BAKER ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
- Proposed relocation of existing transportable building, new Carport and Verandah additions and proposed retaining wall5 YATES CT SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
2021· 4 proposals
December 2021
- Pergola17 CAPE BUFFON DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
November 2021
- Detached dwelling, carport and an outbuildingLOT 4 SOUTHEND ACCESS RD SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
September 2021
- Two-storey dwelling with integral garage3 EVELYN ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Under Assessment
August 2021
- Shed34-36 BRIDGES DR SOUTHEND SA 5280Decision Made
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Canunda National Park
Data sources & freshness
- National parks & reserves (SA) — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 15.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6823rd in Australia
- State rank
- 692nd in SA
- Peer rank
- #163 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #263 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 62%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Assault Policecrime1
- Common Assaultcrime2
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime2
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intentcrime2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime1
- Canunda National ParkgovernmentNational parks and reserves listing
- 40 Lot land divisionplanningLOT 1 SOUTHERN PORTS HWY SOUTHEND SA 5280Lodged 18 Aug 2025 · Under Assessment
- Carportplanning3 SMITH ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Lodged 16 Sep 2025 · Decision Made
- Carportplanning2 UNDERWOOD ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Lodged 09 Jul 2025 · Decision Made
- Change of Use (Garage to a Sunroom)planning11 GEORGE ST SOUTHEND SA 5280Lodged 20 Dec 2022 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- National parks & reserves (SA) — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Updated on site
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Updated on site
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
More in Wattle Range Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.