Tailem Bend is a rural locality in South Australia, in Coorong Council. It is close to the River Murray and Lake Alexandrina.
Everyday destinations are relatively walkable, well above typical levels for rural localities. Local amenities is an exceptional strength. Open-space access is exceptionally strong. Green cover is a relative strength. Trade-offs centre on lower school ICSEA scores and lower socio-economic advantage.
Overall, Tailem Bend suits people prioritising open space and walkability over school quality.
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
Green cover is a relative strength
Everyday destinations are relatively walkable
Local amenity access is stronger than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
School ICSEA scores are a relative weakness
Socio-economic advantage is well below comparable places
What stands out
River Murray
Lake Alexandrina
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 Tailem Bend compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
—
No data available
Median rent
$350/wk
Population (ERP)
1,757
-0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
15.4%
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
#157
among Country & regional · Mature
Crime rate
77th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
6th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
24%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
10th
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
28.7/100 — Below average
National rank
6537th in Australia
State rank
642nd in SA
Peer rank
#157 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#244 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
97%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$350
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
5
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 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
1,757(June 2025)
-0.1% annual · +1.1% over 5 years · 6th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.1%
5-year growth
+1.1%
Change in 1 year
-1
Change in 5 years
+19
Growth rank in SA
6th 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 (~1,750), extrapolated at -0.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
1,705
Median age
49
Median household income / week
$905
Dwelling vacancy
15.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
126 of 819
Median monthly mortgage
$867
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$225
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
42.7% / 33.6% / 23.7%
Employment rate
41.2%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
6.6% / 0.5% / 72.6%
Walked or cycled to work
3.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
652 / 31 / 0 (+ 10 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.
3.9% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 19.5% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified3.9% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified5% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational19.5% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below71.5% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies23.2%
Management and commerce18.1%
Society and culture17.6%
Food, hospitality and personal services11.2%
Health10.3%
Education6.7%
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)
$49,111
27th percentile in SA · -16% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$53,852
35th percentile in SA · -17% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
8.0%
8th percentile in SA · -42% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$47,780
13th percentile in SA · -25% vs Australia
Residents with business income
9.0%
29th percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5260 — 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
1,025
Taxpayers reporting net rent
80
Median net rent
$2,545
Taxpayers reporting business income
89
Taxable income vs state median
-10%
Salary / wages vs state median
-6%
Rental investment vs state median
-33%
Super vs state median
-39%
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
Seasonal & agricultural work
11.1% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 4.8× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 3.8% across South Australia.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
11.1%
51st percentile in SA · +383% vs Australia
Resident workers (2021)
67
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462
Postcode 5260
Occupation mix in this industry
2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.
Labourers26
Managers25
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 5260 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.
Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)
Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for South Australia - South East (SA4 407), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.
Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12134,568
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12143,627
Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 84151,363
Crop Farmers ANZSCO 12121,073
Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412992
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211833
Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 8413346
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8416308
Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419301
Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110
South Australia - South East is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.
Census employed residents counted in G54: 602 · AFF share +192% vs the state.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0
Community & culture
2% speak a language other than English at home; 7.6% born overseas
Language at home
1,482 English only · 31 other
Non-English at home
2%
Born overseas
115 (7.6%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
65 (3.8%)
Australian citizens
1,475
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
1
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Punjabi7 · 100%
Religion
48.7%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 48.7%, while Christianity accounts for 36.1%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
48.7%
45.2%
Christianity
36.1%
40%
Other / not stated
15.2%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
10.1%
15.5%
Anglican
8.1%
7.2%
Uniting Church
7.7%
4.8%
Lutheran
3.8%
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)
134
Against the person
36
Against property
98
Rate per 1,000 residents
76.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 47 residents
State crime-rate percentile
77.4th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
15
Increase (daily rate)
+55.8%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
54
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
30.73
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property23
Other Unlawful Entry With Intent10
Serious Assault17
Theft From A Person13
Theft From Retail Premises26
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Great for outdoor family life — 4 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
2.35
Sport & outdoors(1)
Poonthie Ruwe Conservation ParkNature reserve
Camping & holiday parks(3)
Campground
Tailem Bend South Rest AreaCampground
Waterfront Holiday ParkCampground
216 Princes Highway, Tailem Bend
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
Health access
Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
1
Nearest hospital
Tailem Bend District Hospital (3.5 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
On site
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
1
Residential aged-care places
24
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Tailem Bend District Hospital74 Princes HighwayPublic Hospital
Tailem Bend Multi-Purpose ServiceTAILEM BENDMulti-Purpose Service
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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
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%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 37 proposals
September 2026
Change of use from 4 display garages to 4 tourist accommodation units.
543 DUKES HWY TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
Proposed 4 x workers 1 bedroom accommodation & verandahs
9 -11 MYRTLE PL TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
Levelling out some earth and heaping some earth up in the same area. General maintenance of the area backstops, in keeping with SAPOL Firearms Branch requirements. The planned job has been sent to SAPOL F/B and approved. Please note, we will not be moving any soil away from the area, nor bringing any in, purely just moving it around, all within a 100 meter arc.
239 KULDE RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
Two storey detached dwelling
7 KULDE RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
August 2026
Construction of a double storey detached dwelling and associated deck
50 PRINCES HWY TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
New dwelling with verandahs
138 RAILWAY TCE TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
July 2026
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 2 TREVENA RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Variation of Development Application 63557- Sitework and drainage plan updated showing the width of the access to facilitate B-Double exit via a right turn at the rear of the site.
LOT 32 BIG OLIVE GR TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
June 2026
Single storey detached dwelling with associated garage and two separate outbuildings for domestic storage
114 KULDE RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
Outbuilding (shed) and above ground rainwater tank
47 TREVENA RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Outbuilding (shed)
LOT 5 ORLAND RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
May 2026
extend outwards of existing verandah
16 PARK TCE TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Carport
16 PARK TCE TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
40 ft shipping container for farming and associated storage
LOT 5 ORLAND RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
New office within the northwest portion of the existing motorsport workshop building, associated with Tenancy 5 divided from T1
543 DUKES HWY TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
SHED
16 -18 COOKE TCE TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
The proposed structure is a Stratco Gable shed 12224mm Wide x 8000mm Long and 3100mm High. Structure to be cladded in Colorbond material.
7 SEYMOUR ST TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
April 2026
Erection of single storey gable roof garage (12.1m x 7.6m x 3.6m) for the storing of vehicles and domestic items
52 PRINCES HWY TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Replacement of existing Floating Jetty with Fixed Jetty & Retaining Wall
114A PRINCES HWY TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 6 ORLAND RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling with garage
LOT 5 ORLAND RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Land division being a boundary re-alignment (2 into 2)
432 LIME KILN RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260;LOT 151 DUKES HWY TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 13 WESTBROOK RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
March 2026
Proposed internal renovations to existing outbuilding (Class 1a) to form new studio living space (including kitchenette) and bathroom. Existing store (Class 10a) to be converted to form new bathroom (class 1a). Minimal changes externally.
LOT 49 MAWSON AV TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
This project is being driven though a demand by Inghams Enterprises to expand their operations and provide more meat birds to meet the needs of consumers locally as well as interstate. To build 5 chicken sheds over and above the 11 that are there now and renovate 3 Water is supplied to the site via existing pipe work The development comprises: 8 chicken sheds approx 176m long x 18.2m wide having a wall height of 2.8m, having a roof area of approx 40960m Three (3) new 7500 litre gas tanks six (6)
338 ORLAND RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
40ft shipping container for farming and associated storage (agricultural building)
LOT 9 WESTBROOK RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
96 sqm Main Dwelling
LOT 7 ORLAND RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Agricultural building comprising a shed structure with two abutting containers
LOT 6 ORLAND RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
February 2026
Land division (1 into 2 Torrens)
358 KULDE RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Store - extension of existing shed (increase floor space) for more storage
239 KULDE RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Double storey detached dwelling
16 -18 COOKE TCE TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Build a shed for storage of tractor and farm equipment
LOT 13 WESTBROOK RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Outbuilding - 18m x 9.1m x 3.6m Gable Roof Shed for domestic storage and vehicles
3 SECOND AV TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 15 WESTBROOK RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
January 2026
Stratco Gable Carport, Size 6151mm Length x 6151mm Width x 3000mm Height. Structure rood will be cladded in Colourbond steel.
47 FIRST AV TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Single storey garage for parking of vehicles
151 RAILWAY TCE TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
I propose to build a 495 square metre shed at the front of the property. This building will be 33m long by 15m wide with 6m side walls. Colour of shed will be what council requirements are. (Colourbond-Wheat, River Gum, Merino) Vegetation at the rear of the property will be preserved unharmed and untouched. I plan to do site works so that there is smooth access for cars and trucks with space to turn around and park. I plan to build a disabled toilet and shower space within the building. I plan t
LOT 60 BIG OLIVE GR TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
2025· 8 proposals
December 2025
general storage shed and verandah
7 EAST TCE TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Store Building (x2) (Caravans and Boats) and Open (Not Enclosed) Storage Facility with Office and Associated Infrastructure
LOT 36 BIG OLIVE GR TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
November 2025
relocatable building with extension, deck & verandah, new wastewater system
LOT 14 WESTBROOK RD TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
14858 - Land division (1 into 2)
10 -12 PRETORIA ST TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Proposed Carport, Verandah & Shed
20 SECOND AV TAILEM BEND SA 5260Under Assessment
October 2025
Back veranda attached to existing dwelling
163 RAILWAY TCE TAILEM BEND SA 5260Decision Made
Single storey shed for storage of vehicles and domestic items
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 30.1 km away).
Coalition 65.3%Labor 34.7%
2.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Tailem BendLabor 41.5% · Coalition 58.5% TPP (2025)7.6 km away
JervoisLabor 29.7% · Coalition 70.3% TPP (2025)9.2 km away
WellingtonLabor 22.9% · Coalition 77.1% TPP (2025)15.3 km away
Woods PointLabor 32.2% · Coalition 67.8% TPP (2025)15.8 km away
CoomandookLabor 16.8% · Coalition 83.2% TPP (2025)26.0 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%)