West Lakes is a coastal middle-ring metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Charles Sturt Council. It is close to the Delfin Island and the John Dyer Lake.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Open-space access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked middle-ring metropolitan suburbs. Mapped flood cover is a very strong feature of the suburb, with mapped flood cover 95% below the peer median, and socio-economic advantage is another area where the suburb performs particularly well. The main trade-offs are higher housing costs and limited school access, with median house prices 74% above the peer median.
West Lakes is a better fit for people who value open space and daily services more than lower housing costs.
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
Open-space access is exceptionally strong
Mapped flood cover is a relative strength
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Socio-economic advantage is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group
School access is sparse
What stands out
West Lakes Beach
Tennyson Beach
Delfin Island
John Dyer Lake
Westfield West Lakes
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 West Lakes compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.67M
+21% change
Median rent
$693/wk
Houses $700 · Units $600
Population (ERP)
6,988
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.1%
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
#19
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Crime rate
87th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
53rd
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
17%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
47th
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
48.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 28% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
2360th in Australia
State rank
192nd in SA
Peer rank
#19 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#21 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)
$600
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$700
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$692.5
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
35
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$1,667,500
Median price change
+21.1%
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
6,988(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +5.6% over 5 years · 53th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.5%
5-year growth
+5.6%
Change in 1 year
+32
Change in 5 years
+373
Growth rank in SA
53th 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 (~7,250), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
6,768
Median age
54
Median household income / week
$1,548
Dwelling vacancy
7.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
225 of 3,162
Median monthly mortgage
$1,788
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$370
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
54.4% / 28.7% / 16.9%
Employment rate
51.2%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
11.5% / 3.2% / 70.5%
Walked or cycled to work
1.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,702 / 957 / 275
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.
23.5% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 15.8% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified23.5% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified10.5% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational15.8% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below50.3% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce24.5%
Engineering and related technologies18.8%
Society and culture12%
Health11.9%
Education10.6%
Architecture and building6.5%
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)
$59,971
77th percentile in SA · +2% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$66,801
89th percentile in SA · +3% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
16.0%
83rd percentile in SA · +16% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$135,741
95th percentile in SA · +114% vs Australia
Residents with business income
8.0%
15th percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5021 — 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
4,695
Taxpayers reporting net rent
773
Median net rent
$1,465
Taxpayers reporting business income
389
Taxable income vs state median
+10%
Salary / wages vs state median
+16%
Rental investment vs state median
+33%
Super vs state median
+74%
Business income vs state median
-27%
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
19.2% speak a language other than English at home; 26.8% born overseas
Language at home
5,338 English only · 1,268 other
Non-English at home
19.2%
Born overseas
1,769 (26.8%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
58 (0.9%)
Australian citizens
6,198
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
26
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Greek85 · 17.2%
Italian81 · 16.4%
Mandarin51 · 10.3%
Serbian35 · 7.1%
Croatian29 · 5.9%
Russian25 · 5.1%
Cantonese24 · 4.8%
German23 · 4.6%
Religion
59.6%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 59.6%, while 33.2% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
33.2%
45.2%
Christianity
59.6%
40%
Other / not stated
7.2%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
27.3%
15.5%
Anglican
10.7%
7.2%
Uniting Church
6.6%
4.8%
Eastern Orthodox
5.2%
2.4%
Baptist
2.2%
1.5%
Christian (not further defined)
2%
2.6%
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)
789
Against the person
84
Against property
705
Rate per 1,000 residents
112.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 81 residents
State crime-rate percentile
87.4th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
57
Increase (daily rate)
+19.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
161
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
23.04
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property73
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences54
Serious Assault49
Theft From A Person64
Theft From Retail Premises409
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Hendon Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 965 · 31th percentile · LBOTE 36% · 270 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
West Lakes Shore SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1060 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 554 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Seaton High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1001 · 47th percentile · LBOTE 25% · 917 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
West Lakes Kindergarten & Early Childhood Centre294 Sportsmans DrivePreschools
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Good local dining options — 19 food & drink venues nearby
Great for outdoor family life — 29 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 44 public transport stops
Good everyday shopping nearby — 6 shops and services
Strong local sport and recreation — 183 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
85/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.44
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2.81
Parks per 1,000 residents
4.28
Food & drink(19)
Bakers DelightBakery
Brumby'sBakery
Muffin BreakCafe
San ChurroCafe
SpicesCafe
Carl's Jr.Fast food
Charlie ChanFast food
Domino'sFast food
Brebner Drive, West Lakes
Hungry Jack'sFast food
KFCFast food
Westfield West Lakes
McDonald'sFast food
Turner Drive, West Lakes
Yoghurt ShopFast food
Food court (2)
Lakes Resort HotelPub
Mosaic HotelPub
37 Turner Drive
LombraRestaurant
Nando'sRestaurant
Zayt & ZaatarRestaurant
Shopping(12)
Bottle shop
LiquorlandBottle shop
Springfield ButchersButcher
BP ShopConvenience store
40 Frederick Road
David JonesDepartment store
Harris ScarfeDepartment store
111 West Lakes Boulevard
KmartDepartment store
111 West Lakes Boulevard
Adams AppleGreengrocer
Westfield West Lakes Shopping CentreShopping centre
AldiSupermarket
44 Frederick Road
ColesSupermarket
111 West Lakes Boulevard
WoolworthsSupermarket
Everyday services(4)
BankSABank
Commonwealth BankBank
BPPetrol station
Petrol station
Community(1)
Ngutungka West Lakes (Community Hub and Library)Library
9 Charles Street
Sport & outdoors(222)
BBQ
Beach (9)
Tennyson BeachBeach
Boat ramp
Outer Harbour GreenwayCycling route
Sportsmans DriveCycling route
West Lakes Golf ClubGolf course
26 Lochside Drive, West Lakes
Anthea Court ReservePark
Corcoran ReservePark
Eildon ReservePark
Freshwater Lake ReservePark
Frome ReservePark
Hawaii ReservePark
Keppel Grove ReservePark
Lakeview ReservePark
Lakewood ReservePark
Lochside ReservePark
Maramba East ReservePark
Maramba ReservePark
Maramba West ReservePark
Martin Court ReservePark
McDonald ReservePark
Midcourse ReservePark
Park (5)
Powell Court ReservePark
Sir John Marks ReservePark
Woodlake ReservePark
Midcourse Reserve PlaygroundPlayground
Playground (4)
Public toilets
Sports field
Swimming pool (176)
Places to stay(1)
Mosaic HotelHotel
Turner Drive
Entertainment(1)
Reading Cinema West LakesCinema
Transport(38)
38 bus stops
Other(30)
Laser Clinics AustraliaBeauty salon
Bench (41)
Lakes Resort Bottle ShopBeverages
99 BikesBicycle
Standish CyclesBicycle
Bicycle Parking (6)
Car wash
Tip TopDry Cleaning
JB Hi-FiElectronics
111 West Lakes Boulevard
Fountain
Hairdresser (2)
HairhouseHairdresser Supply
Bloom Hearing SpecialistsHearing Aids
Radio RentalsHifi
Information (12)
Newsagency
Charles Sturt CouncilParking
Lakes Resort Car ParkParking
Parking (44)
Parking Space (2)
Picnic Table (2)
Shelter (4)
UGGShoes
Shower
Taxi (2)
TelstraTelephone
Smokemart and GiftTobacco
Vending machine
Waste Basket (15)
Yes (2)
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, 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
Nearest hospital
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (3.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
1
Residential aged-care places
108
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Aged-care services
UnitingSA West Lakes Aged CareWEST LAKESResidential
Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.
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
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· 168 proposals
September 2026
Single storey detached dwelling
7 GOLDEN WATTLE RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Single storey dwelling
11 GOLDEN WATTLE RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land Division - one allotment into two
3 MARTINIQUE CT WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Two storey dwelling
5 GOLDEN WATTLE RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Land division creating two allotments from one
1 HONOLULU GR WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Building Alterations - retail fit-out
111 WEST LAKES BVD WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Swimming pool & safety fences
4 HAYMAN CT WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Pharmacy tenancy fit out
20 -30 CHARLES ST WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
4 x 3-level residential flat buildings comprising a total of 24 dwellings
4 -18 CHARLES ST WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Front verandah & balcony
59 SIR JOHN MARKS DR WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Two storey detached dwelling with associated fencing, retaining wall at the rear, swimming pool and safety barrier fence
27 SIR JOHN MARKS DR WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Two Single storey detached Dwellings
25 WOODLAKE AV WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Installation of new security gates to an existing Kmart tenancy
111 WEST LAKES BVD WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Installation of new security gates to an existing Target tenancy
111 WEST LAKES BVD WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Verandah to the rear of the existing dwelling
5 LORD HOBART WAY WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
August 2026
Carport forward of dwelling
5 HUNTINGDALE AV WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Two storey detached dwelling
3 GOLDEN WATTLE RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Verandah to the rear of unit 80
60 -62 CORCORAN DR WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Pool outhouse to the rear and changes to the safety barrier fence
79 MARTIN CT WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Verandah to the rear of the existing dwelling
30 MARSDEN ST WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Two, two storey detached dwellings with associated swimming pools and safety barrier fence; removal of three Significant palm trees to the rear of the site
10 KERR GR WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Two, two storey detached dwellings
1 HONOLULU GR WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Two storey detached dwelling
35 GOLDEN WATTLE RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Shed located at the rear of the existing dwelling
7 MANITOBA WAY WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
15 GOLDEN WATTLE RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
NCC Part D door hardware upgrades for multiple doorsets
111 WEST LAKES BVD WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Reconfiguration of existing self-checkouts into a corral configuration and relocation of 1x manned register to facilitate changes. Amendments and additions to existing wanzl barriers and gates.
44 FREDERICK RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Alterations and additions forward of the existing dwelling
16 HAWAII CT WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Two storey detached dwelling with associated swimming pool and removal of two significant trees - phoenix canariensis
3 MARTINIQUE CT WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
July 2026
Torrens Title Land Division - one allotment into two
4 HUNTINGDALE AV WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Two-storey detached dwelling
19 GOLDEN WATTLE RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Verandah to the rear of the existing dwelling
134 SPORTSMANS DR WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Garage addition to the side of the existing dwelling
14 BIRKDALE GR WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Land division- one into two allotments
18 HOYLAKE CR WEST LAKES SA 5021Under Assessment
Retrospective application for the removal of one regulated tree (Eucalyptus cornuta) located in the southern car park of the shopping centre.
111 WEST LAKES BVD WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Capital improvement works for the Football Park oval including retaining wall up to 1.2m in height
LOT 1997 MAX RD WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Verandah
11 KERR GR WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Torrens Title Land Division - one allotment into two.
12 BIRKDALE GR WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Two, two storey detached dwellings
4 DRIVER CT WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision Made
Removal of one regulated Eucalyptus (gum) tree and one regulated Pine (Araucaria columnaris) tree located on common property within Strata Corporation
UNIT 3 250 TRIMMER PDE WEST LAKES SA 5021Decision 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 2.5 km away).
Coalition 32.0%Labor 68.0%
1.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Royal ParkLabor 67.3% · Coalition 32.7% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
West Lakes ShoreLabor 61.8% · Coalition 38.2% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
Royal Park SouthLabor 67.3% · Coalition 32.7% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
SeatonLabor 68.7% · Coalition 31.3% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
QueenstownLabor 73.5% · Coalition 26.5% TPP (2025)2.1 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%)